The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-25

ing heavily and looking at he floor.
The question is somewhat puzzling at
first, but I'm inclined to think that our
young friend is right"
stop a minute and think, DOC"
said the dentist earnestly. Hes tryicg
to count 10l years for every century"
DOC" reached for the paper and be-
gan to make some diagrams on MS own
account.
"NCw gentlemen, the simple method
by which to arrive at a conclusion is to
go back to the beginning of the Christ
ian ora," said he. 1T Is evident that
we cannot agree as to the day which
begins the nineteenth century or the
eighteenth century or any other CEN
tury except the first. But we cannot
fail to agree as to the day upon which
the first century began II began on
the first day Of the first month OF the
year l. You will admit that
The dentist seemed to be puzzled. II
suppose So" he said.
The freckled boy grinned confidently
and shifted the cigar in his mouth. AS
for the veterinary student he was at
tempting to follow Docs" line of ar
gument, but he was evidently in great
doubt.
Furthermore. the second year Of the
Christian era began on the first day or
the first month of the year 2. Nothing
he simpler Bearing that in mind, let
me ask you the date upon which the
first century ended"
"It ended Jan. 1, in the year 1OO,"
said the dentist.
impossible! You would have the
first century include only 80 years. A
century consists of 100 years. The first
century would not end until the Tooth
year had been completed"
"How's that?" asked the dentist.
II say century consists Of 100 years
The first century did not end until the
Tooth year had been completed. 1t con-
sisted of 100 full years. 1t ended at
midnight on Dec. 81 in the year 100.
The second century began within an
infintesimal period of time after mid
night on the morning of Jan. l in the
year 1O1. The first day of the second
century was Jan. l, 10l, and the first
cay of the twentieth century, ] am
compelled to say, will be Jan l, 1901.
we have come to believe that the
year 1900 will ushercd in the next CEN
tury, and ] was of that opinion my
self when asked the question. but l
now perceive that he will BE- living in
tho nineteenth century until Jan. l,
1901. | shall have to decide that you
lose" He said this to the dentist, who
sat staring at him with an expression
of mingled bewilderment and disgust.
The freckled boy leaned back and
laughed boisterously
"I'l be darned if | understand it yet"
said the student.
"Here" exclaimed "DoC." "We've
got nineteen centurics-.10O years each.
How many years does that Make
"Wcll-l90O."
And after the 100oth year is IN we
start on the next century. and the 6rst
day of that century is the 1st o, an
/ uary, 1901
II suppose that's right" said the
student, de gondontly, but ,.u kno"
mighty well that everybody figures on
1o0o being the twentieth century"
they Ou~ht to know nrtrer.' II
i.. rrrckl.s boy. "Ta', about ..ar
cinches! ! heard two Board cf Trade
mon taikin' anou. this be-. It came up
or tie board The ether day a'd a lot
of them sure-tLins guys lost money N
it,"
u sur.ose that's your i'ol Of bot
ting" -at' the dentist. "Go and get on
some 0'e thing and then try to catch
the people at it,"
"T@re it good-natured," said the
frec'.led boy. Don't roar when you
! lose"
"Doc" said: We'll il there's no OBJ
| lection, I'll pay over the money"