The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-08
WHEN THE CENTURY ENDS.
A Dispassionate Consideration of the
Question.
London Times.

London Times.
Let us suppose a person to be writing a
of Christ. How will he date his letter?
VIII he write, say July 10, year !, or July
10, year 2? If he write the former he will
consistently hold that the next century
begins Jan. ], 1900; If he writes the latter
he will hold that il begins Jan. l. 1901
The first view is based on the theory that
the time specified is one year, six months
and nine days, and some hours. TO be ex-
act, after the birth of our Lord.
The second view is based on the theory
that the time specified Is the second year,
sixth month and tenth day after the same
event. According to the first view Feb. 10.
1885, means 1886 years, one month, nine
days and some hours after the birth OF
Christ. and we are consequently in the
l.S97th year. According to the second view
Feb. 10. 1896. means the 1S96th year sec
ond month and tenth day, and we are con-
sequently in the 1.Se6th year.
According TO the first view. the num-
Der OF the year is cardinal number.
according to the second view II is an
ordinal number. Both of these methods
can conceivably be maintained. and.
stated above, both are in use. If we
write letter in the afternoon and wish
TO specify the exact time We date e. g
$50 p. m, which means four hours and
thirty minutes after II o'clock. There
we use a cardinal number. We might
but as fact We do not so write. Again,
In walking, as soon as you reach the
tenth milestone from a given starting
place you have completed ten miles. So,
when boy is twelve years old we say he
is in his thirteenth year. and he does not
have to wait another year before getting
into his teens. All these calculations are
based on the reasonable ground that in
concrete reckonings of time and space we
do not begin with /, but with 0, and that
there Is the same space between and az
there is between 1 and 2. The question.
then. is, when we write 1896 are we using a
cardinal or an ordinal number? IL is clear
that If we are using a cardinal number the
last day of the century is Dec 81, 1899, while
II We are using an ordinal number the last
day of the century is Dec. 81. 1900.
The Times concluded in favor of Dec. 81.
1900. Here are its reasons:
j. In English We use the ordinal number
in the day of the month. We say LIST, I'd. Sd,
ETC., and j, 2, 3, etc. The name of the month
also is equivalent to an ordinal number,
because by February. e. e., we mean the
second month. 1t would thus be illogical to
suppose that the year is cardinal number
when the month and day are ordinal.
2. If we turn the year into Latin il is an
ordinal number viz. Ammo millesimo nona-
gesimo sexto. If IL is objected that the
Latin number may be ordinal and yet the
English be cardinal, the obvious reply is
that by this number the Latin means the
same year we mean by 1896, and not
what we mean by 1885.
3. The parallel tables of years made by
chronologists in comparing one system or
dating with another make .B. G. followed
Immediately Dy A u mus, IN Eufnpt =
Annals Go take well-known book the
year of Rome CA. L. Co 753 corresponds
with b. c. /, and the next year. 7A. with
A ID. i. And that is, of course. not an
arbitrary calculation Of Zumpt, but he Is
merely carrying on the accepted mode OF
reckoning. Strictly speaking. A. ID. (Anno
DOMINO is applicable only TO this mode OF
dating, for If q cardinal number is used il
should be L. G. (post-Christum) On the
whole, We may consider we are tolerably
safe in holding that the next century be-
gins Jan. /, 1901, though great names
may be quoted on the other side.