The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-11
ALMANACS OF LONG AGO.
SOME or THE MILE POST REC
oRDS or ANCIENT HISTORY.

SOME or THE MILE POST REC
oRDS or ANCIENT HISTORY.
Their origin and Growth-DatIng Rack
Over Three thousand Years-E Early STYLES
aud Deviccs-Built to Suit the Tastes Of
the Day.
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 10 passed until an entire
flock got by, then enumerating another
tock In the same way, and finally de-
termining the relative numbcrs 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 ives and tens with the fingers; and
finally the Arabic notation, with its ten
symbols or figures, superseded all other
methods.
PEBBLES AND CHALK MARKS.
It is easy 10 understand that, while
the world was thus slowly learning how
90 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 notchcd sticks only am
swered the crude purposes Of a life that
took no account Of yesterday or tOmOr-
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 10 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 "a thousand years as one day.
Therewas no intellectual growth, no
permanent escape from the right Of saw
agery, so long as the gift Of measuring
space and time was absent; men 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, ia 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 in the way of
harmonizing themselves with their en-
vironment and accomplishing sane and
useful results Time was invested with
appreciate value, and the procession Of
the days took on a 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 AIMANACs.
The first almanacs-that is TO say,
the first histories-were Of Arabian orr
gin. and reflected the local genius of the
people in a very striking way. They
served as models in other countries for
hundreds of years The Oldest known
copy of such a work is preserved in the
British Museum, and dates back to the
time Of Rameses the Great, of Egypt,
who lived 200 years before the birth OF
Christ 1t is written on papyrus, in red
ink, and covers q 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 at all this day
it will be fortune" is another entry.
Look not at a rat this day, "Wash not
with water this day" and SEQ 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 a mummy for future explorers 10
dig up aud dissect i'm 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 versed in papyrus
making, had calendars engraved on ak
helves, walking sticks and other articles
of personal use. The days were nOtchod, |
with broad mark for Sunday, and the
saints DAYS were symbolizcd in various |
devices, such as a harp for st. Dayid's, /
cridiron for St. Lawrcnces, a lovers |
knot for st. Valentines, and 50 on. The /
Saxon almanacs are numerous and con- /
tain historical as well as ecclesiastical |
entries. It is possible 10 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 a 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.
Resembllnces In Married Couples.