Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-03-07
ALMANACS OF LONG AGO.
SOME OF THE MILE POST REC
OROS OF ANCIENT HISTORY.

The invention of the almanac was the
beginning of history, in the sense that
history is philosophy teaching by ex-
ample. Previous to that important and
convenient revelation, there was practi-
cally no basis of comparison, no process
OF marking the course of time, no means
of connecting the past with the present
and the present with the future
The art of calculation, the whole great
system of mathematics, had its origin in
the pebble device, used to count sheep
by dropping a pebble in a basket for
each one as it passed until an entire
flock got by, then enumerating another
tiock in the same way, and finally de-
termining the relative numbers of the
two by alternately taking pebble from
each basket until one was exhausted.
Next came the chalk marks, or straight
lines in blocks of five, the last being
drawn across the other four at an angle,
which plan is still largely employed;
then the plan of two notched sticks-the
first double entry idea-was evolved;
then came the digit system, or counting
in fives and tens with the fingers; and
finally the Arabic notation, with its ten
symbols or figures, superseded all other
methods.
PEBBLES AND CHALK MARKS.
1t is easy to understand that, while
the world was thus slowly learning how
to count, it could have no history. There
was no way to record events or to adj
just and combine facts. The pebbles and
chalk marks and notched sticks only an
swered the crude purposes of a lie that
took no account of yesterday or to NOR
row. 1t was not possible for the aver
age mind to have any conception of
dates or periods, distances or localities.
The relation of what was to what had
been and what might be did not enter
into the prevailing order of thought and
feeling. One day was as a thousand
years, and thousand years as one day.
There was no intellectual growth, no
permanent escape from the right of saw
agery, 50 long as the gift of measuring
space and time was absent; mon began
to be men only when they acquired that
advantage, and were able to connect the
experiences of one generation with the
necessities of the next, or, il. other words,
to grasp the doctrine of accumulation,
which is the source of all development.
When they came to see that the whole
was greater than any part, and that
part was nothing unless rooted to the
whole, they were placed i'm the way of
harmonizing themselves with their en-
vironnent and accomplishing sane and
useful results. Time was invested with
appreciaDe value, and the procession of
the days took on practical purport.
Wings were provided for intelligence.
The Gagged reason of the race secured the
soaring privilege, and its horizon widened
with every effort. First the pebbles were
cast away. then the notched sticks, then
the digital device; and thus the dawn of
history slowly but surely approached.
EARLY ALMANACS.
The first almanacS-that is to say,
the first histories-were of Arabian ori-
gin, and reflected the local genius of the
people in IA very striking way, They
served as models in other countries for
hundreds of years The oldest known
copy of such work is preserved in the
British Museum, and dates back to the
time Of Rameses the Great. OF Egypt,
who lived 1900 years before the birth of
Christ. 1t is written on papyrus. in red
ink. and covers IL period of six years
The entries relate TO religious cere-
monies, to the fates of children born on
given days, and to the regulation of
business enterprises in accordance with
planetary influences. DO nothing at
all this day" is one of the warnings.
If thou seest anything Mt all this day
it will be fortune" is another entry.
Look not at Il rat this day, Wash not
with watcr thii day and Go not out
before daylight this day" are some of
the additional cautions. This almanac
was found in an old tomb, and is sup.
posed to have been buried with its
Egyptian owner when he was converted
into mummy for future explorers to
dig up and dissect in the interest of sci. |
ence and literature.
Next after this in point of age among
the existing specimens of ancient alma |
macs are some composed in the Fourth |
century. They are Roman church calen-
dars, giving the names of the saints and |
other religious Information. The Baltic |
nations, who were not veTsad in papyrus |
making, had calendars engraved on AK
hclvcs, walking sticks ana other articles
of personal use. The days were uotched, |
with broad mark for Sunday, and the |
saints days were symbolizcd in various |
devices, such as a harp for 81. pQgid's, a |
gridiron for ST. Lawrence's, lovers |
knot for So, Valentines, and SO on. The |
Saxon aluanac5 are numerous and CON |
tain historical as well as ecclesiastical |
entries 1t is possible to trace in these
curious records all the changes OF popu-
lar belief and taste They were pre-
pared to meet the current demand and |
to constitute u systematic story Of what |
took place in successive periods and how
knowledge increased with the revolving |
years. We owe to them most that we |
know of the people for whom they were
made and by whom they were indorsed, |
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
ResembIances in Married Couples.
At a recent meeting OF the Photo.
graphic Society of Geneva, Switzerland, |
Professor II Fol nresented n naner on /,