The state herald., 1897-11-26
TWENTIETH CENTURY
EXACTLY WHEN DOES 1T BEGIN
Boarder~ of the Alfalfs Hotel Have y
Warm Discussion Of This Question.

->'~'r~--
"Say. when does the twentieth cen
fury legin?' asked the frecklcd boy,
who was tipped back ags inst the wall,
smoking long cigar.
The dentist. the veterinary student
and doc" Horne looked up when the
question was asked and then glanced
at one another inquiringly.
Don't you knowy' asked the dcn-
tist!"
mo, i heard two fellows arguin'
about 1t. / wondered which was
right
at begins in three yeacs now" said
the dentist. 1t begins in 1900"
"What day in 1902
"Why. tue first day, Of course-the
list Of January"
That's what one of the fellows said
that was maxim the talk"
"Wcll. it's right. isn't lii'
~ don't know. just asked"
81 don't see how there could he any
question about it," said the dentist.
''Do you:"
"Wcll, | have figured, Of course. that
the twentieth century will begin in
Qy0O. That's the year of the French
exposition. 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.
"Well, I'D like TO chance Il little
something that you're wrong" said the
freckled boy. I'm not positive. but
I'm willing TO risk II little money that
you're both wrong
els 1t a trick?" asked the dentist.
"Trick? Certainly not. l just ask
you the question. When does the
twentieth century begin-whai day.
You say It's January |. 1900. Well. |
offer to bet Il small amount that you're
wrong"
81 don't see why I'm wrong"
well. II you're so sure. why don't
you bet?''
ITS the nineteenth century UP to
midnight on December ~. 1890. ana
then at midnight we begin TO count
another hundred and change our first
two figures from lS- 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"
I'm bet you n dollar I'm right"
Make II two
"I'll take the other dollar" said the
veterinary student. cxciiedly.
The freckled boy searched his pockets
and brought out Il silver dollar. three
quarters. two dimes and n nickel. The
dentist produced two half-dollars and
gave them to the student in exchange
for a 50 bill.
"YOu hold the money. Doc" said
the dentist. handing him the bill.
"NQw. who will you leave it to?'
"Ill leave 1t to Doe here. il he'll
take five minutes to figure on it," said
the freckled boy. dropping his coins
into Docs" hand.
I'm willing" said the dentist. with
a smile of confidence.
IT'S hardly fair that should act"
said Doe" Il have already expressed
an opinion"
"You needn't decide the bet ill
you've had time To think over the bus
incss.' said the frcckled boy. Then
you'll find out that the twentieth CEN
tury begins on January I. l901.''
Yes he WILL" said the dentist. deris-
lively.
Certainly he will. What's goln' to
he the last year In the nineteenth cen
turyy'
"Why. lS99.''
''Is that so? say it's 1900"
''How do you make that out:'
''S'p1sc you start 10 count n hundred.
Are you through when you've counted
ninety-nine-huh:"
'Oh. that's not the same at all.
Hcre.' The dentist went to n writing
table and picked up a piece of paper
He drew line and made rough cross
marks on II. suppose we want Ia
count up to a hundred. by wears. Al
the end Of ~ we come to ~. AMI nj
the end OF N, we round on 100 and
start In with a new count"
"No-no." said doc" Horne. frown-
Ing heavily aud looking M the floor.
"'rbc question Is somewhat pnzzling
at first. but I'm inclined to think that
our young friend Is right"
stop minute and think. Doc. "
said the dentist. earnestly. Hes try
ing 10 count IOi years FOR every cen
tury."
Doe" reached for the paper and he
gan TO make some diagrams on his own
account.
Now. gentlemen. the simple method
by which Ia arrive at a conclusion Is
10 go back 10 the beginning of the
Christian era" said he. "It Is evident
that we cannot agree as 10. the day