Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-12
A NEW CALENDAR
BY Frederic J. Haskin

important countries Of Europe 70
agree on a change from the Gregorian
system 10 something better. The de-
tails, such as holidays, and names,
need not be the same In different coun-
tries, but there should be some agree
nent as 10 the arrangement Of day.,
weeks. and months.
Efforts at Calendar Reform.
u is recognized abroad, ~ well az
IN this country, that the Gregorisa
calendar is not the most convenient
possible. Beginning in 1s0G,s Furooc
mas had bills and conventions on tho
subject jf calendar reform. Recentiy,
Commission on the Reform Of the
calendar has been put TO work agair.
The hve members are from Belgium,
France, Great Britain, Holland and
the United States.
Mr.. Sohal thinks that if Congress
set the example in passing the liberty
calendar bill and fixing 1923 as the
year 10 start the new system, other
countries would fall in line promptly.
The only other calendar which has
received serious consideration Of late
Is Swiss invention. This provides
~ months Of 81 days each. As we
understand this calendar, the months
would not be alike. as in the liberty
calendar. That is. the 18th OF jan
uary would not fan on the same day
Of the week az the 18th Of February
or March. Every year, however, the
18th lof January would fan on the
same week day. From this, IL can
"a silly be scen that the Swiss calendar
I Il mt cfr --sfx !.
and II does not do away with tho
necessity for consulting geide in
calculating dates.
Representative Schall. who Is blind.
fays whimsically that the simple call
endar would be very useful to him be-
cause he would no longer have 20
bother his secretary 70 look UP dates
for him. THAT is something am al
ways asking her to do. now" be said.
He reminded US that change IN
! the calendar Is not so great and un-
precedented step as some persons
think II is less than 200 years since
this country adopted its present sys-
tenn. George Washington was born
under the old Julian calendar, which
placed his birthday eleven days earlier
than II now stands.
The Gregorian calendar has gradual
ly replaced the Julian in most civilized
countries. Old Russia never made the
change. but Soviet Russia has. Ching.
J and Japan use the prevailing system.
If the change to the liberty calendar
were made in 1922 or 1928. or follow
: ing any year ending on Saturday or
: Sunday. IL would be easy enough 10
? slip from one system TO the other, and
I begin the new year on Monday. IL
9 the change were made after year
: ending on Saturday, New Years Day
could be observed as Sunday 10 COM
, pIete the week.
: 1t is now too late 10 establish III
I new calendar by the first of next year
But Representative Schall thinks that
? the matter should be discussed and
$ other countries consulted and action
! taken now, SO that the civilized world
: would be ready for the change at the
7 r.ext convenient time. 1928.
: IF the people would stop to think
about H." says Mr.. S-hail, and If Trey
would write TO the Chairman Of the
! Judiciary Committee expressing their
: wishes and interest, we would soon
have a calendar that compares with
J. the steam tractor and not with th'
$ plow."