The silver star., 1898-12-22

which was the proper date to recognize
- the beginning OF the year. This
naturally would cause more or less dif-
culty In arriving at the proper time
N settlement Of accounts, renewing
\ eAeir obligations and determining the
<0ates for holidays, feasts. etc.. which
! were strictly observed by various kinds
OF religious and other Organisations.
state Of Affairs and the possibilities OF
what could arise from such . condi-
tion from which they were obliged to
base their calculations a momentary
dance at history will be necessary. In
those ancient days. the friction Of
thought relating to these conditions
we'll served its purpose In bringing
about . much needed reform. How
ever. like most other innovations on
methods which have become stereotyp-
"a ON the minds Of the people by Gus
tom and long usage. 1t required CEN
turtles before the change was univer-
sally adopted and used a. It is at the
present day. The uncertainty Of ac-
euracy in the Julian or old style meth
od oe computation Of the year had long
been noticed by ancient astronomers,
consequently In October. 1882. Pope
Gregory XIII. undertook to reform the
Roman calendar. The alteration made
b. him created what Is commonly
. tsrmed the new style. which recognizes
january flrst ~ the beginning Of the
Hsar in nearly all civilized countries
After great consideration that pontiK
/ published his calendar, by which he
| ordered that ten days should be de-
Quoted from the year 1859. by calling
what, according to the old calendar.
would have been the NTH Of October.
the fifteenth Of October. 1889.
Previous to this Spain had commenc-
"a the year for time on March 26th.
then Dec. 26th. but since 1852 on Janu-
ary 1st. In Portugal the new style
calendar was adopted In 1889. but pre-
viously the new year came. nrst ON
March 26th. then Dec. 26th. Some
provinces In Holland commenced the
year 1t Christmas. but in others It be-
gan 1t Easter. In 1876 the duke Of
ReQuesens, governor Of the Low Coun-
tries. ordered that It should begin jan
uary let. In Denmark the year began
January 1st. after having sometimes
co0menced on Christmas. and on Aug.
18th, which was the date Of the feast
Of et. Tiburcs. In Switzerland, In the
fourteenth century the year began jan
uary 1st. It was later changed to
March 16th, which continued until the
adoption Of the 0rsgorian calendar.
In the greater part Of Italy. during the
fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth CEN
turies the year began at Christmas. In
1851 the 0regorian calendar was adopt
a. In Germany. Christmas was gen
efaIly considered the beginning Of the
year, but this was not universal. At
some places Il began at Easter. The
University Of Cologne considered
March SSth - the hrst Of the year. The
new style was adopted by the Catho-
lies IN 1884 and by the Protsstants IN
100. In France. II was the custom
about the ninth century to commence
the year with Christmas. From the
end Of the eleventh century TO the year
1859 Il began at Easter. or rather on
Holy Saturday (Eastsr evs). The
0regorian calendar was adopted In
1859. Bngland and ireland had been
commencing the year on March 9Sth.
but In 1851 II was enacted that the FIRST
Of January, 17s1. should be the begin
ning Of that year. and all future ysars.