The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-04
THE SIMPLEST CALENDAR.
Prof. Gr0scIaude's scheme would
Fix Christmas on Monday.

Prof. Gr0scIaude's scheme would
Fix Christmas on Monday.
From the New York EFsuing Post
Geneva has had many famous sons.
and one In whom Americans should have
quite lively interest is Prof. L. A. Gros-
claude. the father Of the sifnplified cal
endar." who was for fifteen years resi-
dent OF the United States. He had been
until recently professor in the university
that was made famous by Calvin, but
retired 70 devote hts whole time to the
promotion Of what he has himself called
THE invariable calendar"
His proposal, which was made. original
", ten years ago at meeting Of the Sec
ton d'horlozerie of the Societe des Arts.
Geneva, received such wide recognition
that It has been approved by many cham
bers OF commerce and business organiza-
tons throughout the continent, and was
presented for commentator 10 the Inter
national Chambers OF Commerce at its
meeting in London. which was we'll at
tended by delegates from America.
Americans are thus able to share with
Switzerland the honor of producing the
originator Of the new calendar. for he
iifArA iitANN " lHlffh Jul the UIDD-
lem while young man in the United
States. The anomalies OF the Gregorian
calendar, by Prof. Grosclaudes system.
II universally adopted. would be over
come. II would effect an equalization of
the days OF the month; establish a coin
cidence between the date and the day OF
the week. and bring about a reform Of
the greatest Inconsistency of all, the vari-
able date Of Easter.
The first change would prove an extra
ordinary relief in calculating interest. and
also in simplifying periodical settlements,
for the months would nave an equal num-
Der OF business days. This Improvement
would be Of immense utility in regard TO
the working days of the month. the num-
Der of which would also be the same for
each, namely, twenty-six
In regard to the second reform, for in
stance, July would always fall on the
same day of the week Thanksgiving,
likewise. would always be held on the
date and day upon which it originally
fell, or would be designated. Christmas
would always fall on Monday.
The means by which these reforms were
made possible by Prof. Grosclaude was
the elimination from the calendar of one
day, the year having fifty-two weeks and
a Jay HS wei dH uEdlilE Win lilE GAlt 4
day OF the leap years The odd. or 555th
day, would be treated as a sort of extra
calendar day, and. according to Prof
GIosclaude's plan. would be intercalated
between the last day Of December and
the first day Of January. and be recon-
mended as a univs sal holiday. Similarly
IN every leap year the extra day would
be intercalated between the last day OF
June and the first of July and, called
leap day." would be regarded as a day
to be disposed Of by each individual as
he saw TT There would be twelve nor
nal" months Of thirty days each. that Is
twenty-six week days" plus four Sun
days This accounts for $50 days and
leaves four Sundays to be accounted for
and Prof. Grosclaude assigns one OF
these four Sundays 10 the end OF each
I-quarteT, In this way the regular num-
Der OF Sundays is maintained. and, being
days OF rest" they would not interfere
with the normal condition OF what might
be called IN the future the regular work
ing calendar of the year.