588 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



present absurd method, involving two sets of twelve hours each, all 

 marked with the necessary appendages, "morning," "afternoon," 

 " evening," " A.M.," " P.M." and so forth. All this is just as sensible 

 as it would be to name months enough for half a year only, and then 

 to repeat them during the last half, with some cabalistic letters attached 

 to distinguish them from the first set. It is surely more logical and definite 

 to commence the day at midnight and number it straight through, as 

 we would number any other series of parts belonging to a whole. If 

 our clocks, watches and railway time-tables were numbered in this way, 

 it would require but a few months for everybody to become entirely 

 conversant with the new method. The writer has long carried his 

 watch with the hours from 13 to 24 marked in red figures below the 

 usual black ones. Any old time-piece can be so marked and the new 

 scheme thus automatically becomes familiar. 



The improved numeration has long been in use by the big Canadian 

 railways and by various railways in Europe. It is also used by the 

 general public in some places on the continent, but just to what extent 

 I am not fully informed. Only to-day the news is cabled that the 24- 

 hour scheme has been adopted in France. 



Some years ago this numeration was advocated and practised at its 

 conventions by so scientific a body as the American Society of Civil 

 Engineers. Thus, they habitually, upon their programs, etc., appointed 

 afternoon meetings at 14 o'clock; dinners at 19.30 o'clock and dances at 

 21 o'clock, and so on. They have for a few years allowed the matter to 

 drop, but it is to be hoped only temporarily. 



In the diagram below I have tabulated the chief points of the Geneva 

 scheme before referred to, except that I have used the German spelling 

 "kalender" which I suggest for future use, to distinguish it from the 

 old "calendar" previously used. It is better thus to place the 31-day 

 months at the beginning of the season rather than at the end; firstly, 

 because in such case there are two less of the old months to change the 

 length of than is the case by the other plan ; and, secondly, because with 

 a 30-day month at the end of the season, the "leap day" following 

 June and the "extra-day" following December can, if desired, be con- 

 sidered as part of the month preceding them, thus giving it thirty- 

 one days. This need not affect the position of the weeks, but it might 

 be convenient in some cases involving monthly stipends, as in paying 

 for domestic service, etc. Thus, there never would be thirty-two days 

 to consider as perhaps belonging to a month, which would be the case 

 with the other arrangement. 



An inspection of the table will show the fortunate circumstance that 

 all of our present American holidays occur on week-days, with one 

 exception. This is Lincoln's birthday, which com.es upon Sunday, 

 February 12. It is perhaps better so, as another holiday, Washington's 



