The coastland times., 1956-11-16
@ LIN P S E S
T n E P A S T
By CAROLYN LLOYD

by CAhULIN LLO1O
The month of November, in
case anyone is interested, is so
named because, in the calendar of
the ancient Romans. it was the
ninth month. The Latin word for
nine is "novem"- simple, isn't it?
This month became the eleventh
month when Julius Caesar set
about reforming the calendar,
which, as it was, had even the
Romans confused. 1t might be said
of the Romans that they truly
didn't know what day it was,
since the calendar had only ten
months, the first being March, and
355 days. Just how they explained
the extra ten days left when the
year was over is a mystery. Any
how, when Caesar became dictator
he proposed to do something about
it. At first he was a little con-
fused himself, but it was obvious
that the months and seasons could
be brought into their true relation
only by the addition of extra days.
Accordingly two additional months
were put in between November and
December-of the year 46 BE-, Civ
ing this year a total of 445 days.
That year is referred to as "Annus
Confusionis" (the year of confu-
| sion), but by 45 BIC. they had the
whole thing Strengthened out and
the calendar was set up much as it
is today.
Somehow Caesars Annus Con-
fusionis seems appealing today.
Just think what two extra months
between now and Christmas would
mean in 1856: two additional pay
checks before Christmas, sixty
extra days to put off Christmas
shopping-the possibilities are
endless. Almost everyone would
agree that 1856 has been pretty
much an "Annus Confusionis" any
how, so it wouldn't do any harm
to addle people a little more. In
this country the charges and coun-
ter charges of candidates for Of
flee have been enough to confuse
any ordinary citizen. "Chaos" is a
better word for what the year has
brought in Europe and the Middle
East and to the mind of the aver
age man, who wants nothing more
than to live out his life in peace.
It seems more and more ironic
that November marks the anniver-
sary of Armistice Day. Perhaps
then, it is just as we'll not to add
two extra months to such a year,
for there is always hope that 1857
will be better.
November also marks the ami
versary of Ferdinand de Lesseps,
French diplomat and promoter of
the. Suez Canal. One wonders what
he might think of his canal now,
blocked to traffic by sunken
Egyptian ships and the source of
world controversy.
One hundred and fifty-six years
ago in November Congress met for
the first time in Washington, D.
c. The nations capital today is a
far cry from the overgrown viii
lage of muddy streets that was
our capital then. Far different,
too, were the problems that beset
our Congressman then, though in
twelve years this young nation
was once again to put mighty
Great Britain in her place. How
those early solons would have SCOT
fed at the idea Of a United Ma
tions,, for few could foresee that
someday we could not avoid being
concerned with the troubles of
even the most obscure countries.
Perhaps if we could go back to
the old Roman days when there
were ten days left over at the end
of the year, we could declare
them as "time out" for all trouble
"a sort of world Sabbath when
every nation should forget its am
bitions and spend the time making
friends with others. Not that such
a thought every occurred to the
Romans. Peace was the least of
their worries as long as they were
the top dogs, and very few of
them ever sat around thinking
wishful thoughts-or writing them,
either. Maybe there is lesson