Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-06-10
CALENDAR REFORMS.
Room for Better Division Of the Weeks
and Months.

and Months.
During the past few years many
innovations, proposed long ago, have
been accepted. For examples related
more or less with astronomy. we have
daylight saving, and the unification of
the astronomical and civil days which
is being put into effect. Considering
that the present time affords a good
opportunity to get out of ruts, the ad-
vocates Of calender reform have come
to the FORE particularly in France.
Previous efforts to reform the civil
calendar led the International Asso-
citation of Academies, at its meeting in
Petrograd during 1913, TO pass reso-
luton relating to the uniflcation and
simplifcation of the calendar, but the
outbreak Of the war prevented further
action. The discussion Is now revived
by two plans published recently in the
Complies Rendus, the official organ of
the French Academy Of Sciences. One
of these is presented by Guillaume
Bigourdan, who received, during the
past year, the gold medal Of the Brit
ish Royal Astronomical society in re-
cognition Of his observations Of nebu-
lac. The other plan, which is the more
radical, is urged by H. Deslandres, and
is essentially the same which won. in
1887, a prize Of 5000 francs.
The Proposed Division.
One Of the difficulties with the pres
ent calendar correspondence between
remembered correspondence between
the days Of the week and the day OF the
month. The proposition Is to divide
the year into four quarters, each OF
which shall consist Of 1S weeks divid-
ed into two months Of 80 days each
and one month Of 81 days. According
to the plan Of Mr.. Deslandres. the first
month Of each quarter will begin al
ways on Monday, the second month on
Friday. Four quarters Of 81 days each
make 364 days. The additional day
required to complete the number OF
365 he would insert between June and
July With the designation of Peace
Day." Leap Day" Gin leap years.
would occur at the end Of December.
Both Of these days would be undated
and stand entirely outside and without
name in the week. He claims the ad-
vantage for this arrangement that
every year would be like every
other year, and consequently there
would be no need of changing
our calendars from year to year.
Mr.. Bisourdan's Plan.
Mr.. Bigourdan does not approve OF
the rupture Of the continuity Of the
week involved in the above scheme,
and as an alternative proposes that
each quarter consist Of a first month
of 81 days followed by two months
Of 80 days each, except that the last
month of the last quarter OF the year
shall have 81 days. Thus, he would
make up 365 days. For leap year ne
would add the extra day to the last
month of the third quarter. Accord
ing to this plan, each quarter, for at
least the first nine months OF the year,
would have the same days Of the week
on the same days Of the corresponding
months. Therefore, the order Of the
days in the several qua 'ters, with the
exception of the last quarter OF
leap year, would be duplicated, and
this would be accomplished without
breaking the continuity of the week.
So much reference to the calendar
is made simply to find on what day
given date will fall, it would seem
worth while, if some feasible plan
could be found Of obviating the dif-
ficulty. It is suggested by Mr.. Des-
landres that for a definite solution the
matter should be taken in hand by
the newly-constituted league OF ma
tions.