The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-25
HE rWEN 'ICrB GIN UKY
Report Of \ Conversation as to
II ~ II j"Illv .Ili Ec&In.


"'h ~ II j'"HIiv an iic.In.
From tho Chicago Record.
Say, when does the twentieth GEN.
turY begin?" asked the rrccll~d boy.
who was tipped back against the wall
srohing a Ions cigar.
The dentist, the veterinary student,
ana Doc" Horne looked uD whea tie
question was asked, and then glanced
at ore another inqulinEly.
Don't you know?" asked the dentist.
no. | heard two fellows argUa'
about it. | wonder which vas right?"
1T begins in three years now" said
the dentist 1T bc~ins in 1900"
what day in l9pl?'
Why, the first day, of course--the
lst of January"
That's what one of the fellows said
that was maxim the talk"
"Well it's right, isn't it?"
II don't know. ! just asked"
| don't see how there could I've any
question about it," said the dentist.
"Do yOu?"
"Well, / have figured of course. that
the twentieth century will begin in
1900. That's the year of the French ex-
position, isn't it?'
"The twentieth century begins as
soon as We start to use 1900 instead Of
1900" said the student
That's it," remarked the dentist.
"N ellId like to chance a little some
thing that you're wrong" said the
frcclded boy. I'm not positive, but
I'm willing to risk little money that
you're both wrong"
"Is it a trick?" asked the dentist
Trick? Certainly not. | Just ask
you the question, When does the twen-
ticth century hcgin-what day" You
say it's Jan. l, 1900. Well, offer to bet
a snail amount that you're wrong"
Il don't seq why I'm wrong"
We'll, if you're SO sure why don't
you bet?"
IT'S the nineteenth century up to
midnight of Dec. 81, 1899, and then at
midnight he begin to count another
hundred, and change our first two fig
urcs from IS. to 10. As soon as we
begin counting on 10 then we're in
the twentieth century, amt we?"
That's what you say, but you won't
bet"
IN bet you dollar I'm right"
Make it two"
I'm take the other dollar" said the
veterinary Slutl'lll, tNtlIeulN.
The freCkled boy searched his pock-
cts and brought out a silver dollar,
three quarters, two dimes. and a nickel.
The dentist produced two half dollars,
ard gave them to the student in eX-
change for a s. bill.
you hold the money Doc said the
dentist, handing him the bill. Now,
who will you leave it tor
L to l. n
take five minutes to figure on It," said
| the freCkled boy, dropping his coins
| into DOCS" hand.
Pm willing" said the dentist, With
| a srilc Of confidence.
It's hardly fair that should act"
| sald Doe Il have already expressed
an opinion"
"You needn't decide the bet till
! you've had time to think over the bus
iness,' said the freclIed boy, Then
| you'll find out that the twentieth CEN
| tury begins on Jan. 1, 1901"
Yes, he Will" said the dentist, de-
| rislVely.
Certainly he will, What's gon' to
be the last year in the nineteenth CEN
| tury?"
"Why, 1890"
rs that SO? l say it's 1900"
How do you make that out?"
"S'puse you start to count q hundred.
| Are you through when you've counted
ninety-ninc, huh?"
"Oh, that's not the same at all
| lIere!" The dentist went to a writing
| table and picked up a piece of paper.
He drew line and made rough cross
marks on II. Suppose we want to
count up to a hundred, by years. At
the end of 9S we come to 90, and at the
end Of so we round off 100 and start in
with a new count"