Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-27
Questions Ans,vered
The Calendar

To the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger:
sir--wiii you kindly advise me as to who
designed the present-day calendar?
WHO determined the names OF the months
Of the year, and for what reason or tor
whom they hear the names they have?
When was calendar FIRST determined
upon. and by whom? q. Il. d.
Dalanco. ~. j.. April 20. 1922.
The calendar Of today ms used in the
United States. the whole Western Hem
isphere and in most countries OF the Old
World is the Gregorisn modlfca tion of the
Julian calendar. which latter was adapted
iron that of the old Romans. Their year
consisted originally OF only ten months.
Under Numa Ponpilius. successor to Romu-
ius ir the Roman tradition. two months were
added consisting Of twenty-nine and thirty
days, alternately. making total of only
854. an additional month Ct twenty-five or
twenty-three Gays being attached every two
or three years to make UP for lost time.
Jalius Caesar. in 10 b. c.. reformed this
calendar, extending the year to 3G5 days
every fourth year. This is about eleven
minutes and fourteen seconds longer than the
solar year.
When the sixteenth century arrived about
ten days had been gained over the actual
time elapse since Caesar reformed the CAL
cndar. To remedy this defect. Pope Gregory.
in 1852, issued Lull desisnatln October 5
as October IL. Leap years introduced
every fourth year approximately correct err
rors IN this reckoning of actual time. Thin
Is the "Gregoran calendar now In use
here.
were not accepted at once by Protestant
countries and the ''old style was used in
England and America until 1862. when by
an act OF Parliament September became
exact 'ate of events occurring before 1852.
1t Is necessary to take account Of this
eleven doys difference. For example. George
Washington's birthday is celebrated Febru-
ary 10. whereas he actually was born on
February II. 1892. under the ''od style"
The Greek Church and the countries OF that
faith still use the Julian calendar and their
dates vary thirteen days from those OF the
rest of Europe.
The names by which the months are des-
ignated throughout Christendom were given
by the Romans when the year comprised
cnly ten months Martius. Aprilis, Maia.
Junius are named for Latin deitics. The
remaining six months were numbered as the
hfth sixth. ETC. 90 Qulntilis. 0 Sextilis,
~ ssptembris ts) octob-Is. 90 Novembris.
G0) ceinbris.
Januarius and Fohruaras were added dur
ing the time Of the Roman kings the former
ma rled for an old Latin deity OF that name.
and February designated in recognition Of
Roman festival OF publication observed
at that time Of the year.
The month Cuirtilis received the name
Of Julius tour July). when Caesar reformed
tie cilerdai. while SeStilis was called Au-
gustis. in the latter's hos or: so we have
Septembrs. Octobris, Novembris and De-
cembric, which retained their former names,
the meanings OF which, seventh. eighth.
ninth and tenth are obvious, even though
they are not exact in indicating the order
of tNe.c months " the modern twelve.
Az to when calendars were first determined
upon, the reckoning of dates goes back to
remote antiquity. as the existence OF chi
rcse calendar extending to 1000 Il. c. IN
dicates.
| To the Editor of the Evening Public Ledger!
sir--What is the proper maine Of the plant
| often called "fag'? Is 1t not member OF
| the iris family @. c. y.
| Atlantic City. April %.
| Yes. There are about SI5 species OF iris.
| the name OF the plant YOU mention. They
/ are chiefly natives OF temperate climates.
| Iris versicolor, the large blue nag. IL COM
! mon In wet places through the United
States as far west as Minnesota and Ar
kansas.
| Michael Haywein--Any department or nov
! city store probably can supply the article
for which YOU ask.
! A Subscriber--Apply to the superintend
ent OF Police. City Hall. for peddler's H.
cense.