The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-22
FINDINGS and LININGs
THE VIM. HI. BLOCK CO., & East Washington Street

which by the common consent of nations the
day is conceived TO begin-is commonly, and,
generally speaking, correctly stated to be
the 1S0th meridian of longitude, located half
way around the globe from the prime me-
ridian" of Greenwich. The day has different
names on the two sides of this line. When
it is Sunday the east side it is Monday
on the west side; Monday on the east side,
Tuesday on the west Side and on through
the week, although the same sun shines
and it is really the same day. The reason
for this rather curious arrangement will APP
pear at once If one will imagine himself to
travel westward around the earth as rap
idly as the sun travels or appears to travel
that is, so rapidly that the sun will seem
to him TO stand still in the heavens. HE
starts from Philadelphia, we will say at
noon on Sunday. In three hours, he
reaches San Francisco. The sun is still on
the meridian and it is still noon for him,
though in Philadelphia the time now is 8
p. m. Across the ocean to Hong-Kong. 1t
is still noon. On to London, speeding across
Asia and Europe at the rate of fifteen de-
greeS of longitude every hour, and still IL
is MONDAY. AT the end of twenty-four
hours he is back in Philadelphia, and there
If he has been unconscious of the lapse
of time he may imagine that it is still Sun
day: but really it is now Monday at Phila-
deiphia. The question arises where in the
course of his flying journey did the day
change its name-what part of his trip was
performed on Sunday; what part on Mon
day? The answer is that 1t was sunday
until he reached the 1S0th meridian, and
after crossing that line it was Monday.
Now, the Philippine islands lie westward
of this meridian-four hours westward,
Manila being very nearly in longitude l20
degrees east from Greenwich. Accordingly,
if this scheme of dating were adhered to
strictly when it is Sunday at the Philip
pines it would be Saturday on our. side of
the line But for some reason-doubtless a
good and sufficient reaSon-the actual date
line as it is laid down upon chart does
not follow exactly the 1S0th meridian. 1t
comes down through Boring strait, which
is ten degrees east of this meridian; then,
taking a southwesterly course, running
parallel with the eastern coast of Asia,
it curves around the Philippine Islands,
passing between them and the continent.
and then, taking a southeasterly course,
passes eastward of Australia ana New Aea-
land.
The Philippines being thus located east
ward of the date line" have American
time, so to say. Hong-Kong lies on the other
side of the line, and accordingly. although
the difference between Manila ana hong
Kong time is less than half an hour, the
day bears different names in the TWO places
At the time when Commodore Dewey began
his attack which all accounts say was on
Sunday morning. it was Monday morning.
about 5:30-according to the Hong Kong cal
endar This fact is brought out very clearly
in the brief dispatch from Hong-kong,
dated May 2, announcing, prematurely,. cow
ever, that the bombardment OF Manila had
begun.
We need to keep the points well in mind
to avoid confusion respecting dates in fol-
lowing these Eastern events.
Another point, since il is Monuay morn
| ing in Hong Kong while it is still Sunday
| afternoon with us telegram coming 10 US
| from Hong-Kong seems to reacL US oeIore
1t was sent. Thus the McCulloch arrived at
| Hong-Kong Sin the forenoon Of May Z.
The cablegram announcing the TACT reached
us about daybreak on the same day On
| the other hand, dispatch clrect from
| Manila, however quickly 1t may como, must
| seem TO us to have been about eleVcn EourS
| in its transmission.