Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-15

Considering the fact that the sun
dial is at least $500 years old, it still
is remarkably little known to the ma
jority of moderns.
Many who carry expensive watches
in their pockets have no idea Of how
to tell time by the most ancient Of
time-telling devices.
Clerks who sell the dials in stores
are utterly at loss to explain to Gus
toners how to erect pedestal and dial
II think you put it in the ground,
said a woman clerk to potential
customer.
Probably not person out of 10000
could name, much less spell, the up
right piece called the "gnomon." which
casts the shadow upon the plate or dial
proper.
This entire instrument, carrying with
it the flavor of antiquity. deserves tc
be better known, since it so neatly
bridges the ancient and modern worlds
There is scarcely any other one thing
which we possess which does It, Our
eating utensils and plates are surpris-
ingly modern. Our clothes are so diff
ferent in design that a Greek or Roman
would laugh at them.
But the sundial, with its perpendicu-
lar pedestal, and its leaning style point
ing to true North is the same today
as when it stood in the gardens of the
Caesars.
Preferably the sundial should be
placed in the sun. but really it is not
necessary; for one no longer can re-
gard its time-telling ability as its main
usage.
True as the dial to the sun,
Although it be not Shined upon"
So said Butler in his "Hudbras." and
his point is we'll taken. although a
favorite motto for dials is the ancient:
Il mark only sunny hours"
The truth is that no human being
today needs a sundial to tell the time
when he can purchase fairly accurate
watch for as little as dollar.
As q matter of fact, the average per-
son nowadays can guess the time of
day with accuracy. Many persons can
guess almost to the minute, and some
few can do the same for the time at
night. although this is much more
difficult.
How do you tell the time by this
thing?" asked a curious visitor to a
garden in which time ancient and
modern shook hands.
WELL" smiled his host, "the best
way Is 10 take OUT your WaCCn, note
what time 1t is, then shift the plate
around on the pedestal until the shadow
falls across the proper marks"
X
Mathematician have great sport To-
eating sundials accurately, so that they
will tell the so-called sun time as it
should be told, both in the morning and
afternoon, especially. the early morning
and late afternoon hours.
Calculus almost is invoked by those
who want to set their dials once and
forever according to the best dictates
of astronomy, chronology and plain
common sense.
The person with a non-ma thematical
mind-and this includes the vast bulk
of the population, in all probability
will be appalled, at the calculations
which must be made to place sundial
to the best advantage.
The longitude and latitude of the
location must be known, and then the
absolute North must be ascertained and
the absolute level secured for the face
Of the plate.
There are four times of the year
May % Is one of them-when a sundial
may be set the easiest. For most per-
sons the setting need cause no par
ticular worry, mathematics or no math-
ematics.
All one has to do is true up the
pedestal so that its top upper face) Is