New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-14

SOME HISTORICAL OCCURRENCES THAT DID NOT
TAKE PLACE ON THE UNLUcKY DAY.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Again call upon The Tribune to help In the
work OF correcting popular error. say popular
error. supposng that an erroneous statement that
has been for years going the rounds OF the press
and which Notwithstanding repeated contradic-
lions. still finds place and circulation In the col
umns of reputable papers may be SO regarded
Within six years have seen the statement In
various papers OF all kinds. daies and weelslies,
religious papers and secular papers, papers for
children and papers for grown people. papers for
the specialist and papers for the general reader six
times have written to correct the error but still
It continues to appear at varying and uncertain In
tervas. Twice within a month have seen II in
New-York City publications. one hrst-class re-
ligious weekly the other a daily paper hawked
about the streets an Extra"
The paragraph as IT has appeared in various pub
lications IL substantially the same. though differ
entity headed and differently introduced. In most
OF them nineteen historical occurrences are men
toned as having taken place on Friday. No dates
given. the simple fact that the events named
took place Friday being regarded Of sufficient
interest and all important ! think It we'll to
know the day OF the week OF important occurrences.
In fact. have passion for associatins days with
dates. and think the two should be more generally
recorded together. but with the day az we'll
with the date OF an event IL Is necessary 10 be
accurate.
Following are the nineteen events said to have oc-
Cured on Friday. They are generally given with
out order OF arrangement. beginning with the
render OF Lee then going back TO the burning OF
Moscow. etc. give them In chronological order.
and give also the date OF each event and the day
OF the week on which It really d!d occur. As will
be seen. only three OF the nineteen events happened
on Friday. Every day OF the week comes in for n
share Of the distinction. and Sunday and Wednes
day each can claim a larger share than Friday For
all events occurring prior TO 1872 the time OF the
adoption OF the Gresoran Calendar. or new style"
by England and her colonies. give the date accord
ing to both the Julian Calendar old style %. s..
and the Gregoran. or new style (N. 81
Caesar was assasslnated Wednesday. March 10
o. s.. ~ y. s, ~ b. C.. Joan OF Arc was burned
Wednesday. May 80 o. s.. June ". s.. 1881; Amer
lea was discovered Friday. october II O. S. Fl
y. S 1892 Shakespeare was born-cxact date not
nb time out w ts saSdsy AP v'6 May
y. S. 1854: the Maynower landed Monday, Decem;
Tuesday. January 20 o. s. February y. s.. 1919;
Washington was born Friday. February II o s..
10 1909 Bunker Hi fought Saturday. June II,
i775; the Declaration OF Independence was signed
w "11S3 July IS 10 sarenso was foHsh,
SATURDAY. Jun T. $50: MOSCOW was burned
Der is-i9 iS2; cw-Qrleans was fought sunday day
H. $40. Sumter was bombarded Friday April u.
1851. Richmond evacuated Sunday or Monday,
April . g. 1876. and Lee surrcndcl Sunday April
.. 1873.
Where. should Ike 20 know. is the Friday heni
who set this paragraph IN circulation He should
b. iarrel and foatherel. though that would not
correct the error. II editors and their assistants
are 80 ready 70 take from unidentified exchanges
and accent as correct such statements without
taking the trouble 70 establish their truth or
fals!iy ~, g.,
II is not strtrge that mistake as 10 the Gay
u Caesars assassination. or OF other events sever n
centuries back should pass - certain extent
but ,hal similar mistakes In reference to occur
FENCES so near Time as the surrender or
Lee 10 say nothing Of the battle ~ Ncw-orleans
AMI other Occurrences OF familiar history. can |iand
AZ all II unaccountably strange. The fact that the
Pilgrims landed on Monday. when they might bave
landed on sunday but for their religious scrupes.
Is almost as wei known ns the fact that they
lanleI at NIL some papers omit Caesars assnssna-
ton and put the Assassination Of Lincoln In its
place They improve the paraer1ph to TIE extent
Of one more correct statement, AS Lincoln was
murdered Friday, April ~ 1863. .,
WfLMOT II. THOMPSON.
Ornnge. y j Amgust Z. ls9A