Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-15
A LAsT-CHANCEv YEAR.
II VIII lie Long Time Before
Women Can Propose Again.
cThe Edinburgh Scotsman.)

The leap-year which now begins Is,
however, to a certain extent, peculiar.
since another viii not occur for eight
years. Such an interval has occurred
twice before In the history Of Scotland,
and only once in the history OF England,
and two centuries viii elapse before II
occurs again. The last year Of the pres
ent century, 1909 will not be a leap
year: but 900 the last year OF the sue
ceeding century. will. The year 2lo0
will again be a common year, so that the
next period Of seven consecutive common
years will be between 2os6 and 2ioi.
The rule by which this seemingly ar
bltrary Interference with an established
order Of things is regulated is compare
lively simple; but It's history Is In many
respects both curious and interesting. AS
every one knows, the earth revolves
round its axis and also travels round
the sun. the one revolution causing the
alienation of day and night, the other
that OF the seasons. From the earliest
times men have made use OF both these
series OF changes as a means OF reck-
oning time, and had there been SIM
pie numerical relation between them
there need never had been any trouble
with leap-years and such devices.
Unfortunately. however, this is not at
present the case. The number OF reyo-
lutions which the earth makes when II
goes once round the sun, instead OF be-
ing whole number. Is a number and
a fraction; or In other words. the earth
goes round the sun in 800 days hours
ls minutes rs seconds: or 365.2i22 days.
This was not. however. discovered In
day. Various guesses were made at the
proper length OF the year. and the calen-
1EF ri m In rfar "a
tnem. But I'm the course OF time the
error accumulated. with the result that
the seasons changed places, and the
yernal equinox, instead OF remaining at
a fixed place In the calendar, moved
backward or forward, according as the
approximation was In excess or defect.
and extra days had to be intercalated or
omitted to set things right.
BY the time OF Julius Caesar the Roman
year. which consisted OF 355 days, had
worked loose by three months, so that the
winter months had been carried back into
autumn. In order to prevent such confu-
sion In future. with the aid OF Sosigenes.
he fixed the length OF the year at S6J l..
days. or three years OF 1858 days, followed
by one OF S66. At the same time, 70
bring back the equinox TO its proper
place. he intercalated 30 days into the cur
rent year Of 355 days, making IL AS days
probably the longest year on record. This
was the Julian calendar, and TO IL we
owe TO this day the leap year, which
comes every four years.
But the approximation on which the call
endar was based, though much more ac-
curate and convenient than any that had
preceded 1t. gave too long a year by the
difference between $685. and 3s5. 1922, the
error amounting TO day in l2s years. In
the course OF the centuries the equinox
gradually receded toward the beginning OF
the year. Caesar had fixed 1t on March
18th; by the time OF the Council OF Nice,
held in 325, II fell on the 2ist OF March.
and by l5s2 IL had receded to March 18th.
In order to restore the equinox 10 the
position ii occupied In 325. when the Coun-
Gil Of Nice had drawn up regulations for
the fixing OF Easter. Pope Gregory. in
1852, directed ten days 10 be suppressed,
and as the error was found 10 amount
to three days In 100 years, he laid down
that in future tho last year OF every cen
fury should be an ordinary year. unless
1t is divisible by 400. In which case II
was 10 be a leap year. Thus 1900 will be
an ordinary year, but 200 will be a leap
year.
Pope Gregory's correction gives an ave-
rage year OF 1856 2i25 days, or twenty-six
seconds longer than the true year. These
odd seconds will amount 10 a whole year
In 1893 years. and II has been proposed
10 allow for this error by providing that
the year 1000. and all Its multiples, shall
be common years. But this would be
pendantic foresight. and II Is unnecessary
TO discuss the question whether the year
1000 ought or ought not TO be a leap year
In ages yet 10 come, when the friction
Of the tides has so retarded the rotation
OF the earth that 3s days make a year.
leap years viii be unnecessary. But that
IL still remoter contingency. and In the
mean time Pope Gregory's calendar l.
likely to remain Ia It's present form.