The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-04

The old saying that there Is nothing
new under the sun Is once more proved
by the fact that the new" plan adopted
by practically every nation in Europe
to save one hour Of daylight by turn
ing the clock ahead, was suggested by
benjamin Franklin 132 years ago In a
letter 10 a Paris newspaper.
The able article championing the idea
was written by the American statesman
when he was IS years old and when he
was serving ms United States Minister
to France.
The measures advocated by Franklin
were considerably more forceful than
merely setting the clock ahead. since he
advocated the ringing Of church bells
and the firing Of cannon at sunrise. but
the idea IL precisely the same.
Germany. where the idea Of economy
in all things Ia ever present. was the
Ars, In Europe to adopt the daylight
saving plan. but the scheme was not
long in reaching the Entente Allies. al
though 1t came via Holland. a neutral.
rather than straight from the enemy.
wv
Real Origin in Cleveland.
Put II was not the Germans who res
directed the long buried md apparently
un,ried idea. To the city of Cleveland.
ohio. belongs the distinction. In that
city the citizens have been arising an
hour cfore their compatriots In other
more sluggish cities. for the past two
years.
Although Cleveland has not officially
adopted Franklin's early to bed and
early to rise" motto. its citizens individu-
ally assuredly have. for II 10 very popu-
lar there. Indeed. so enthusiastic have
the citizens been in booming the plan
have adopted II.
Some citizens. Of New York. receiving
the idea via Europe. are urgently re-
questing that New York. too. he put on
a new time schedule. and the idea has
been favorably considered BY city oni-
cials. notably by Marcus N. Marks.
Borough President Of Manhattan.
A translation Of the article In which
Franklin originally made public his
idea Is rs follows:
You often entertain us with accounts
Of new discoveries. Permit ms TO COM
municate 10 the public through your
parer one that has lately been made by
myself and which I conceive may he OF
great utility.
II was the other evening In a Grand
company. where the new lamp ~ Meesrs.
Quinquet and Lange was introduced, and
much admired for its splendor but IA
general Inquiry was made whether the
oil Il consumed was no. in proportion
To- the light 4; afforded. IN which ease
there would he no saving In the use Of
It.. No one present could satisfy us In
that point, which ali agreed ought to be
known, Il being a very desirable thing
10 lessen ~ possible the expense Of light
ing our apartments when every other
article OF family expense was so much
augmented.
II was pleased TO see this general con-
Germ for economy. for ! love economy
exceedingly.
Awakens with the sun.
"r went home n to bed three or four
hours after midnight with my head full
81 the subject. An accidental sudden
noise walked me about q in the morning,
when ! wac surprised to ind my room
filled with light and I imagined at first
that a number Of those lamps had been
brought into T.. hut rubbing my eyes
| perceived the light came In at the
windows. 7 got up and looked out TO
see Wnaf might ne tne occasion or u
who I saw the sun Just rising above
tine horizon. from whence he poured his
rays plent,fully into my chamber. my
domestic having negligently omitted the
preceding evening 20 close the shutters.
Il looked at my watch. which goes
very we'll. and found that II was but i
o'clock and still thinking It something
extraordinary that the sun should rise
so early I looked into the almanac.
49, .. IL - - No. 80. -. HAs
his rising on that day. l looked forward
too and found he was to rise still earlier
every day TIL toward the end OF June
and that at no time In the year he re-
tarded his rising so long as till 8 o'clock.
Your readers who with me have
never seen n signs Of sunshine before
noon and seld ,m regard the astronomical
Part NJ the almanac. will he as much
~astonished as I was when they hear OF
his rising so early. and especially when
| assure them that he gives light as soon
as he rises. I am convinced OF this. ]
am certain Of my fact. One cannot be
more certain Of any fact. 7 saw II
with my own eyes. And having re-
peatcd this observation the three fol-
lowing mornings I found always pre-
cisely the same result.
Late sleepers Are Scepttcal
Yet II 80 happens that when I speak
Of This discovery to others ] can easily
perceive from their ~countenances. though
they forbear expressing II In words. that
they do not quite believe me, one in
deed, who IL a learned natural philoso-
pher, has assured me that I must GER
tainly be mistaken as to the circum-
stance ~ the light coming into my
room, for II being we'll known. as nc
g,ys THAI tharA could hA M 1i0hf aIroat