The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-01-18
A Singular Controversy.


1t seems to me strange, that men
OF learning, whose education, and
talents are highly spoken Of by
large circles Of society, AS well as
smaller lights, should engage in a
discussion about 80 plain matter
as what century we are now figur-
Ing In whether the 10Th or Goth.
To my mind 1t Ia very plain where
we are in the great circle Of time,
and needs no disagreement among
learned men, nor even among men
Of ordinary learning and judge
ment. This controversy only arises
from want of a little time to think.
a year is period of 3654 days, and
a century is period Of 100 years,
or 36525 days. So you see that
centuries have days too, as well as
years. Our system Of dates began
about the time of Christs birth.
The 25th of December Is supposed
to be His birthday, (though this is
net certain.) Then just seUen days
after the 25th of December, our
present system of dates began, and
we're very imperfect for a while.
This would make 1t January 1st for
the commencement of the first year
and the first century of the Chris
tian Era.
Now | want you to remember
right here, that every instrument
of writing, such as letters, checks,
notes, deeds, etc, all have four
dates written upon them except
this year, which has hut three, un-
Ill the first of January next-then
we will have four dates again for
80 more years, unless our system of
dates undergoes a change. See
this date, January lst 1899. This
gives 1st the month, End the day of
the month, 3rd the century (lS00)
and 4th the full year, (99.) Please
re member that the dates of years
and centuries are never given till
their end comes, while the other
two dates are given when you date
anything.
See this date again, one year
later than the above date, January
lst, 1900. The year is now ended,
and is now put in the date, max
ing one present date 1900. This
shows that 1900 .tuU gears have
passed since our system of dates
began. Now we are going on our
first year in the Goth century, and
can use but three dates in giving
the dates Of letters, checks, ETC.,
till this year ends. See these dates,
January ls,, 1900, June Goth 1900,
etc, lst the month, End the day of
the month, 3rd the century. No
year given in these dates, neither
indeed can be, until the present
year ends, and is one full year on
the Goth century. Then our date
will be 1901. Now all critics admit
that this tull year is full gear on
the Goth century. Where did this
| full year come from? 1t came
from the 3654 days that have pass
ed since the first of January 1900.
But ut This writing, Is days have
already passed since the 10Th cen
tury ended, and was recorded 1900.
Then if these l6 days are not going
on the goth century, how can the
end of this year be recorded as one
full year on the Goth century? We
must have these 1G days and 349t
more to make the full year.
Hence, it is evident, that we are
noW going on the 10th century, full
16 days already: for century i
made up of years, months, weeks
days, hours, minutes and seconds
as we'll as years are. Counting $685.
days to the year, century w0ulo
have 36525 days and 16 of then
have already passed on the goth
century.
l will now make short recapi
tulation of the whole subject, and
then will end it-(unless we have
to wait to the end of this year be
fore the subject ends.) In the frs,
place, we must establish our frs
date in the Christian Era. This
have done, according to history
and according to established usage
Then recollect that years and cen
turtles are never dated till they end
Years aud centuries, both have
months, weeks, days, hours, min
utes and seconds ia their makeup
1t is said, at is a poor rule tina
will not work both ways" W.
find the ru e works good in this case
Take your first date, January lst
in the first year of the Christian
Era, and count 100 years; tina
III axes the first century and Dec