The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-31
TALK ABOUT The
TWENTIETH CENTURY
Many important Things are TO
Occur When the World
PASSES lis NEXT MILE POST
The Russian Government Will Adopt
New Calendar : Endless Com
pIications Will Neces-
sarily Arise
PASSES lis NEXT MILE POST

AS this is the last year of the nineteenth
century it is but natural that the mind OF
man should turn with considerable inter-
est to contemplate some of the many things
that will be experienced by those who live
during the next hundred years OF course
those who are alive today will not be pres
ent to witness m.iny of the occurrences,
but in spite of that, 1t is something to be
living at the dawn of a century, and one
should be pardoned for taking more than
passing interest in the things that are to
happen.
One of the most important events that
can now be predicted is that the Russian
government proposes TO adopt a new calen-
dar at the close of this new year For
years the Russian authorities have been
discussing this matter, and the fact that
they have finally decided to act upon the
suggestion is of the utmost Importance
Doth in that country and elsewhere. The
calendar that is now followed is twelve
days behind that which is in universal use,
and this fact has proved a serious annoy
ance to Russians doing business with for
eign countries, as well as with those who
have had business relations with tradesmen
in Russia. Under the present system 1t
has been necessary for those who were not
in harmony as to dates to double-date all
correspondence, and confusion has natural
ly resulted.
Those who are acquainted with such mat
tiers realize that it is not easy matter
to put new calendar into operation, es-
pecially when THE old one is nearly two
weeks behind. Endless compiled lions will
necessarily arise, commercial transactions
will Zoe all at sea, to say nothing of the
complications that will follow the effort to
harmonic historical dates
Just how the feat will be accomplished is
not known. In such thoroughly autocrat-
ic country as Russia it may be possible to
do this without much trouble, as there are
several ways in which the new conditions
could be brought about. For instance, Rus
eia might follow the example of Gregory,
and call the 4th of some particular month
the 10Th, or it might initiate the British
parliament and decree that the Sd of some
month should be followed by the 18th. On
the other hand 1t might drop one day out
of each year, as was done by the Neither
lands, until the required number has been
dropped. IT might drop two OF three days
out of each year.
1t is quite probable that the first method
would present fewer obstacles and cause
less confusion. In any case the business
world will have to make the necessary ad-
justmerts of rents, commercial paper and
all other financial transactions, as the
month out of which these twelve days are
dropped will present itself as one contain
ing a period during which every activity
was completely suspended 1t will be
period without births or deaths, and every
one will be able to gain Twelve days on his
next birthday without having lived an
hour longer.
1t has been year since this project was
first proposed, but the proposal has met
with little success. In adopting 1t, now,
however, Russia becomes the last of the
civilized countries of Europe to accept the
universal calendar.
As to the twentieth century itself, there
are many points of interest about 1t.
Strange as it may seem, the question that
is most generally asked is when will the
century begin?' Why there should be diff
ferent answers to this question Is a little
puzzling as few fundamental facts ought
to settle the controversy once for all. If
one will look back to the first century he
will find that 1t opened with the year l,
and closed with the year 100. In the same
manner the second century began with the
year 101 and closed with the year 200. III
this method of computation is carried up
to the present time it may easily be seen
that the nineteenth century closes upon
the last day of 1900. and that Immediately
after midnight of December 81, 1900, the
twentieth century begins.
Another fact that is not generally known
is that It takes some time for a date to
pass around the globe. For instance, at
the moment when the twentieth century
dawns upon the international date line,
the greater part of the world will still be
living in the nineteenth century. Twelve
hours later. however, 1t will have become
the twentieth century upon one-half of the
earth, and with twelve hours more the
nineteenth century will have entirely pass
ed away. In other words, full days time
must pass before the new century can gain
complete control of affairs.
If any one will prepare calendar for the
next hundred years he will find that the
twentieth century opens on Tuesday and
closes on Sunday. 1t will also be seen that
| 1t has the greatest number of leap years
| possible to that given period.
Another peculiar fact is that on three
wears February will have five Sundays, in
| 1920 1913 and 1876 In 1901 Decoration Day,
| Fourth of July and Thanksgiving Day will
occur on the same day of the week, and
| this will happen again at the intervals of
| 6, II, II, 6, II, II, years and so on. In the
| years 1912, 1910, 1869 and 1896 there are four
| holidays that will fall upon the same day
| of the week. During the next century in
augural day, March 4, will fall upon Sun
day three times, in the years 1917 1915 and
1878.
The same calendar that was used for 1895
can be put ito second use in 1901, after
which it can be used at intervals of II, 6
and II years to the close of the century
In a similar manner the calendar used in
1891 can be recalled in 1903 and at intervals
of II, II and years; 1892 in 1904 and at in
tervals of 2S years; 1899 in 1905, and at inter-
walls of 6, IL. II years; 1894 in 1906, at inter-
walls of IL, and IL years; 1896 in 1908 and
every % years thereafter; 1897 in 1909, and
| at intervals of 6, II and II years. 1898 in
| 1910 at intervals of IL, and II years; 1872
| in 1912, and every 2sth year thereafter; 1876
in 1916; 1880 in 1920; 1884 in 1924; 1888 in 1925
the last four cases also being at intervals
| of 2S years.
AS usual Easter will fall upon widely
diversified collection of dates during the
next century. The earliest date on which
| Easter can occur is March %. Once in 1918
| this day of feasting fell upon that date,
| but this will not occur during the twenti-
| eth century. The latest possible date for
| Easter is April 25 and this will occur but
| once during the next century, in 1913. When
| Easter is fixed for March q, or April 3, 10,
| II or "a, Christmas falls upon the same day
of the week.
/ The twentieth century will contain exact
| 1y $685. days. and this lacks but one day
| of being exactly 5,21S weeks. The middle
| day of the century will be January ], 1851.
| The day of the week that will not occur as
| often as each Of the others is Monday. Fiji
| teen out of all of the hundred years will
begin ON Wednesday, fifteen will begin on
| Friday, and the remainder will be appor-