New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-20

feelings this city. Certainly the large hearted PEG
pie Of York and the society for the prevention o
cruelty 10 Animals ought to take some steps to""iu
remedying this barbarlty.
II. as i, claimed by the owners Of tie hne the re-
ceips are not sufficient to enable them properly 10
care for their horses hope that the public senii-
ment will be too strong to allow t trE s.IOc" u
tinue. M1.Ni RI r. ,cOt-rrv
no Al East sixty-nnth-st New York Feb H. l0'-'
THE DATE OF COLUMBUS- DISCONtkl'
NOT OCTOBER u. BUT OCTOBER H. IL THE
GREGOEIAN CALENDAR
To the Editor Of Tine ibnhe'
sir: Two year, ago You kindly gave space LOT
communication from me calling attention ID u'c ia''
that October l. + regarded the anniversary VI "o
landing of Columbus Notwithstanding it IS nine DAYS
from the tue anniversary. since that uho "'u'" ''s
been said and written about october II, ana an act OF
Congress approved oh April -, 1890, PROVIDES lor te
dedication. with appropriate ceremonies oil 'he fN
position buildings in Chicago On tie 1@th ol 'o'ooe
1aJ3. that being taken the lcOth anniversary OF
the discovery OF America.
As explained in my former letter, the day Columbus
landed not October II, according t. the s'Hdhfu
BIZ which We now reckon tine lut october ~ inc
difference between tie old ST. lie or Jnan calendar anu
the style Grgorian calendar being nine uaSs
IN the fifteenth century. rs 1t was ten DAYS III 'he
sixteenth. when the reform was Instituted anu ee'eh
days in the eighteenth century, when Ehsiu a"'p'od
the new style since that time the year 1900 passing
as "A leap in the o'G style and a common year Ia the
new made the difference twelve DAYS during TINS
century aud soon year 1900 will in the same way
make it thirteen
This growing difference arises from inaccuracies IN
the julian calendar which regards the solar year as
365 IA DAYS and makes up the quarter day for each
wear by ntercalculatng day in every ionfth year,
making what is known leap year. THIS arrange
ment was more convenient THAI accurate, n II gave TO
the average solar year excess OF more tiin eleven
minutes. not enough to disturb one generation ano'nV
ing q only about three iourths OF day Ia century
but causing difference that in the course OF centuries
became noticeable and In 1j-2 Pore Gregory Mi ana
the scientific men OF hi, time proved that they were
ten DAYS behind In their true rcckonnSs. The error
was recined by eliminating ten DAYS from that year
rs decree of the Pope the day after october was
called October 10. the dates 10 - inclusive being
suppressed. To guard against tie accumulation
Of errors In tie future scheme was adopted
providing for the omission Of Of the utcrcalcnlaung
days in each century rather that three OF these DAYS
Ice omitted every four centuries, the rcct!fyng onis-
,ous to occur in crntesimal years 100, 1900 l"oO,
leaving every fourth ccnesmal year, ~ 1000, 1000
etc (cvcry wear evenly divisble 10y 4OO TO be leap
YEAR,. before. Thus practically reefonrths oil
DAY +, dropped from each century and the difference
between the average solar year and the calendar year
reduced 10 d minimum.
The Inmedlat" effect OF TINS reform IN tHc 'a'nhd
wa, to pat difference OF ten DAYS between the old
style and the new. P1pal countries at once adopted
tire Gregoran scheme. but Protestant nations were not
- ready 10 accept il. Germany continued 10 Use the
old STYLE for than century. until 100 and Eng
land until 11J4. Before thai time the wear 100 had
passed A, leap the Julian calendar, making the
difference between that and tho new style eleven DAYS
and when England. by act Of Parliament adopted the
new STYLE It was necessary 10 suppress eleven DAYS
robbed of that much time. aud that their lives we're
c,pondincv shortened; but In vain they cried.
.Glvo H. back our eleven days. Washington was
BON February II. 1872. and In his twenty hFst
year when TIT, sudden vauItng ahead in tie dates
brought The anniversary Of his birth February ~
When Gregory rcctlncd tho calendar in l172 tho
error a. have ,ccn. ten DAYS. Had tho change
been made a century earlier. before the year 1900
passed receiving an intcrcalcull day that should not
have been given It, the difference would have been
nine days As In changing from old style TO new
STYLE 10 add ten days TO dates In tho sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries eleven DAYS In the eighteenth
century and twelve DAYS in the nineteenth century
80 for all date, In the fifteenth century should. TO
get the CORES pondng date by the Grgoian calendar
add nine day, and Friday, August >, the day toium'
bus sailed from ralo,. should be-. according 10 our
standard. Friday. August II. and Friday. october II.
the day LAID discovered, should b. Friday, octo-
BI observing October L.. y. = 1907 tho 4ooth
make our-cvc, fidiculou, =, Nation BY r"cognh-
Ing both IN" old and the new. aud conforming -
neither T., bee cOn-i -"ni, should celebrate Wash
usion', birtLday February IL and the landing ~
the Pilgrim, on December H. IN tead OF December II.
There are other y,d Tor observing he .l't
Instead ~ tho l4th the fourth centennial OF Colun
bu-, landing. IN ID" hreorIan calendar IN" oicr OF
DAYS and dates l. repeated 400 yrarn. In the
Julian calcudar every 200 All dates Ia Thu. the
nineteenth century. fall on IN" san" week DAYS as
CORE, pond!nc dates (r.nd"rcd the style. of
rour-I In the fifteenth century. october l.. other
wise OctOhrr u. 1872. cam" on Friday. and october
II l-a2 the AOOfh anniversary. comes Friday. IL
i, A h,t0 ical fact that Columbus landed Fl.lay.
The Interest Anniversary - aWav> grraer when
IL fan. ON the day 81 the week ~ M" event com
mcnor4rd Is all mean. then. lei tn, h',t grand
celebration Of the discovery OF the Ncw World take
place on Friday.
II IS not unlikely that contractor and managers
having the matter in hand will br glad of even mn"
day. extension 81 the time IN which 10 complete their
work too li" for tOngr"~~ - amend IN" act
providing for appropriate ceremonies pctpl"r L..
I-g2.~ fixing tic correct anniversary date 'ciob"
u. If IA" chang" T. to b. made. II should be
made now. and should BEGIN e. teach ti" children
- ~ Gly The correct date of event - important.
VIII not Tho Tribune give lis powerful Endorsement 10
this suggestion and take the matter mp ~ a way 7"
attract the attention II Consc-s and the general pub
lie WlbMOT II. TliDMIHoN.
Orange, y. j.. Jan. Il. l-J2.