The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
a Report OF u Conversation ne 60 when I
Really Will Begin.

THE
A Report OF u Conversation ms to whom It
Really Will Begin.
From the Chicago Record.
Say, when docs the twentieth century be-
| gin1" asked the freckled boy, who was tipped
back against the wall smoking a long cigar.
The dentist, 1.-THE neutrality-suspicious., and Doc
Horne looked up when the question was asked,
and then glanced at one another inquiringly.
Don't you knowi' asked the dentist.
mo. I heard two fellows arguin' about II. I
wonder which was righti'
1T begins in three years now" said the dem
list. 1T begins in 1900"
what day in 19OOf"
"Why, the first day. of course-the LIST Of Jan
uary."
THAT'S what one of the fellows said that was
maxim the talk"
"Well. it's right. isn't it,
81 don't know. I just asked"
IT don't see how there could be any question
about it, said the dentist. do your
well, I have figured, Of course, that the
twentieth century will begin in 1900. That's
the year of the French Exposition, isn't 1T"
Tho twentieth century begins as soon 90 we
start to use 1900 instead of 1soo.' said tho stu
dent.
'That's It," remarked the dentint.
well, I'd like to chance a little something
that you're wrong" said the freckled boy. Il m
not positive, but I'm willing to risk a little
money that you're both wrong"
rs 1t a tricki" asked the dentist.
"Trickf Certainly not. i just ask you the
question, When does the twentieth century be
Vol" i Offer 70 bet a small amount that you're
wrong"
wei, If you're so sure, why don't you betf"
Its the nineteenth century up to midn light Of
Dec. 81, 1899, and then at midnight we begin
/ 4 mr. nnnfhar hnnhrnd nnn NhAnOan III HrQf
two figures from IS to i9-. As soon as We
begin counting on 10 then wo'ro in the TWEEN
That's what You say, but you won't bet"
IN bet you a dollar I'm right"
I'm take the other dollar" said the veterin-
ary student, ,eXcitedly. .
brought out a silver dollar, three quarters, two
dimes, and n nickel. The dentist produced two
h eaabs SHl,sf fsr sn l. f siif' them to the student in
You hold the money. Doc said the den.
tist. handing him tho bill. Now, who will
I'm leave it to Doc, here, il he'll take five
minutes n to IN fgG nnfn on id it, s.hdo the freckled boy
I'm willing" said the dentist, with a smile
its hardly fair that I should act" said
Doc" g have already expressed an opinion"
You needn't decide the bet till you've had
freelled boy. Tier y OF p and out that "a the
tw.entieth century begins on Jan: !; 1901"
.G Sss, h9 WIZ IL; w shia " Mh dtnti sSia a!'F to be tho
last year i iad the nineteenth century,"
rs that sol / ay.it's 1900.
How do you make that outf',
"Spose you start to count a hundred. Arc
you through when you've counted ninety-nine,
"oh, that's not the same at all. Here," The
dentist went to a writing table and picked up n
piece of paper. He drew n line and made rough
cross marks on it. Suppose we want to count
we come TO 30. and at the end of 90 we round
OIL 100 and start In with a now count"
and do io @S; s"'a at the the li borne "'TT2RS s Question fHas'i Is
sS%eswhat pazzlins at tTst; but Tn inclined to
dentist earnestly ,sspS.e t %He s" trying toe to co s%,s i t6S
Doc" reached for the paper and began to
make some diagrams on his own account.
to arrive At 2 Conclusion IS to 20 back to the be-
ginning of tho Christian cra,' said he. 1T 10
wihich:beEins the nineteenth century or the eiehs.
f frsf S sefft wE, or aR ~, G'h tn century Sst e1 fSnp the the
on the first day Of the :irst month of the year
The dentist seemed to be puzzled. 81 suppose
The, freckled boy. erinned confidently and
Docs" line Of argument but he was evidently
'Furthermore. the second yeaI Of the Chris
ian era began on the first day Of the first month
Bearing that in mind, let me ask you the date
upon which the first century ended
"it ended Jan. l. in the year 100" said the
Impossible! You would have tho first CEN
fury include only 90 years. A century con
end until the Tooth year had been completed"
Flows thatH' asked the dentist.
say a century consists Of 100 years; Tho
first century did not end until the Tooth year
years. 1t ended at midnight on Dec. 81 In the
year 100. The second century began within
an infinitesimal period OF time after midnight
on tho morning OF Jan. ! in the year lOl. The
first day Of the second century was Jan. l, l0l,
and the first day OF the, twentieth century, I
I'VE have come to believe that the year 1900
will usher In the next century. and ! was OF
that opinion myself when asked the question.
nineteenth Century UNI jan i. yi0oi' 1 shall
have to decide that you lose" lie said this TO
the dentist, who sat staring at him with an ex-
preston OF mingled bewildeTment and disgust.
The freckled boy leaned back and laughed bols-
I'm be darned II l understand it yet" said
"Herel exclaimed Doc We've got nine-
years does that makei"
And after the l0OOth year is up We start on
tury is the LIST Of January, 1901"
II suppose that's right said tho student,
eyeTybody figures on 1900 being the twentieth
They oughtsto know better" said tho freckIed
boy. Talk about your cincbes! ! heard two
Board OF Trade men talkin' about this bot. II
came up OF, the board the other day and II lot OF
II suppose that's your idea OF betting said
the dentist; Go and get on some sure thing
and ar then tTy to soS sStSs psS99l: at sa "a" tn. ,,ooE,.d
ssDOci said Wen, Il there's no objection. IN
pay over the money"