Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-12-29

SS Opinlonb u u
which was the proper date to recognize
MS the beginning of the year. This
naturally would cause more or less dif-
ficulty In arriving Mt the proper time
for settlement of accounts, renewing
their obligations and determining tho
dates for holidays. feasts. ETC.. which
were strictly observed by various kinds
of religious and other organizations.
In order to more clearly illustrate the
state OF affairs and the possibilities OF
what could arise from such q condi-
ton from which they were obliged to
base their calculations momentary
glance at history will be necessary. In
those ancient days. the friction OF
thought relating to these conditions
well served It's purpose In bringing
about a much needed reform. How
ever. like most other innovations on
methods which have become stcreotyp-
Cd on the minds Of the people by GUS
tom and long usage. 1t required CEN
turtles before the change vas univer-
sally adopted and used rs 1t Is ut the
present day. The unccrtp,nty Of ac-
curacy In the Julian or old style meth
cd of computation OF the year had long
been noticed by anc!en. astronomers.
consequently In October, 1889. Pope
Gregory Mi. undertook to reform the
Roman calendar. The alteration made
by him created what Is commonly
termed the new style. which recognizes
January hrst as the beginning of the
year in nearly all civilized countries.
After great consideration that pontiff
published his calendar. by which he
ordered that ten days should be de-
Quoted from the year 1852. by calling
what. according to the old calendar.
would have been the ff,h of October.
the fifteenth of October. 1852.
Previous to this Spain had commenc-
ed the year for time on March 25th.
then Dec. 25th. but since 1882 on Janu-
airy lst. In Portugal the new style
calendar was adopted in 1882. but pre-
viously the new year came. first on
March 25,h. then Dec. s5th. Some
provinces In Holland commenced the
year at Christmas. but in others II be-
gan at Easter. In 1875 the duke of
Requesens. governor of the Low Coun-
tries, ordered that II should begin jan
uary 1st. In Denmark the year began
January 1st, after having sometimes
commenced on Christmas. and on Aug.
18th. which was the date of the feast
of st. Tiburce. In Switzerland. in the
fourteenth century the year began jan
unry LIST. 1t was later changed to
March e5th. which continued until the
adoption OF the Gregorian calendar.
In the greater part of Italy, during the
fourteenth. fifteenth and sixteenth CEN
turies the year began at Christmas. In
1851 the Gregorian calendar was adopt
ed. In Germany. Christmas was gen.
orally considered the beginning OF the
year. but this was not universal. AT
some places It began at Easter. The
University of Cologne considered
March 25th as the first of the year. The
new style was adopted by the Catho-
lies in 1884 and by the Protes,ants in
1900. In France, 1t was the custom
about tn. ninth century to commence
the year with Christmas. From the
end OF the eleventh century to the year
1863 1t began at Easter. or rather on
Holy Saturday easter eve5. The
Gregorian calendar was adopted in
1852. England and ireland had been
CONNIE ncing the year on March 25th.
hut in 1851 It was enacted that the first
of January. 1859. should bo the begin
ming o. bat year, and all fslu-c years.