The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-22
The Twentieth Century.

To THE EDiIoR oF The SUs-Sir! II seems eItraor.
binary that despite all theconclusiye proofs 10 tho
contrary which have been offered through the col.
umnsof your admirable paper, there should he poo.
pie OF intellect obtuse 10 st hold that tho TWEEN
tieth century will begin with the year 1900 There
seems but small hope OF enlightening their be-
fuddled minds; but their present condition ~ per.
yersity and error Is 50 ptisbc that 1t is but act
OF charity TO make moro effort to convert them.
with this end in view let commend the follow.
ing analogy to all Adhorents OF the faacous theory
that the twentieth century will begin with the lrst
day OF January next ensuing.
Let us suppose literary work TO consist Of twenty
volumes and each volume to consist Of 100 chaptsrs
II then follows that Vol l. contains Chap TO Chap.
100 inclusive; Vol. H. contains Chap. iOi to Chap.
200 inclusive; Vol III. contains Chap 2OI To Chap
300 inclusive; Vol ", contains Chap. sol 10 Chap
VOL xG s sSn: Chap Chap cRsgS
40 o,n n. Vol VIZ contains Chap COL 70 clap
500 neia.vs Vol * contains ShsT ao oi to c Ra
yoo inclusive Vol; \. contains Chap nol to Chap,
dSsp iioe inclusive Vol XII sstain: Chap SI, ,o y
to Chap 200 INCLUSIVE; Vol XII contains ohsp.
Chap. Iaoi !: Chap, LOO inclusive Vol Sv com,
ta win Chap iAoi to Chap, 600 inclusive; Vol
Vol xviii contain: Chap. 1901 I" CHAP TOO in:
Sis on Vol XVII! contains @T Chap 76i 70 Chap
c6sP iSo" va %X Contains "a phap. Is5i
to the end OF tn IspNth chapter which srontnned
IN he same time som%sneo the t%Sn,rth Volumes D
Manifsstly not: for Vol Ky. does not contsn the
XIX TaS tw'nt. rSiaSs P SsS S SSSbYy i
II. In the above table, We substitute the word
chapter we shall at once soc its anplicatibn to
the question at issue, submit that the analogy X
able. namely, that the :wsntieth century viii Gssn
with the year 1901. The methods OF my drdu ION
things which have becn write in support of the
theories OF the ,ln0otweuueth'centurv hcmds,"
kndrrsarten methods seem most likely to prove
CONVINCING. W. NJ DESSErr.
NEW Y0RE. Dec. 20
To rHE EDITOR or TuE SuN-Sr May not light
be shed upon the problem by going back TO tho year
| preceding the marking tho beginning Of the
Christian era2 Can the year immediately proceed ng
the birth Of Christ be other than what is known ~
the year u G.; which ended wewiil say, the in
h. 81 ya ns Us Lord Sssa ,0 tue year
nisregsrding for The purpose Of tho argument tho
the year D. o. ended on Dec 81, IL p. NJ, and the
year One known IS the year Of Our Lord. began nj
The year : Of, Our Lord be.an whom the year
had ended namely, Dec ~ of the year One. and tho
dAy,of the nIst month Of Tho second year. rndrr the
same rule Of rcaSoning the hIst DAY Of The !yoot
iHih years, counting from the closing of the year
prcSioa.iy Slated, the twentieth centur, canno,
6ssnd nn III LOO "sE. from the 6irh Of Christ Haye
Dec. ~ - p H. Of the year 1000 In Other wor H.
| not until Jan 1901, At yer, clock In the morning
T. II. McGrAw.
| TO THE EDITOR ~ THF SUS-Sr' Here aye q
few questions and answers Tor some simple smons
| Quest inflow many years in one century
| Answor-lOO
| Ques'ion-Huw many IN nineteen centuries
| in all OF the year LOO;