[cotsworth] the need OF A " RATIONAL ALMANAC " , 211 



Mr. Cotswortii's Paper. 



We naturally assume that the methods of our ancestors are best until 

 necessity, the mother of invention, causes someone to initiate an im- 

 provement which we adopt when convinced it will benefit us. 



Thibetans continue carrying merchandise on pack-horses between 

 their cities, over mountains and valleys; whilst we speed across the 

 Eocky mountains, through tunnels and over bridges, along tracks now 

 being reduced in grade to economize time and expense. 



Similarly, we may avoid the needless and tiresome almanac ups 

 and downs of our 28, 29, 30 and 31 day months, and ensure the smooth- 

 est possible gliding of the almanac register of our 365 days' year, in 

 weeks and months through all future years, if we simply legislate that 

 either Christmas Day, or ISTew Year's Day, shall not have a week-day 

 name, and that our easiest present month of* February shall permanently 

 measure future months as per the following: — 



Model Month. 



Sundays 1 8 15 22 



Mondays 2 9 16 23 



Tuesdays 3 10 17 24 



Wednesdays 4 11 18 25 



Thursdays 5 12 19 26 



Fridays 6 13 20 27 



Saturdays 7 14 21 28 



We most easily recognize the month's length in February, especially 

 when it begins on Sunday, as it consists of four of the weekly .units 

 by which we work and pay. The fact that the 28 days are exhausted 

 by the regular multiple of 7 days per week, which expires with the 

 month, makes it very easy to remember both the day of the week and 

 the date. 



If all other months were of that length, the week-day names for 

 those dates would be permanent and many important advantages would 

 result, giving increased facilities to everybody. But when the 1st of 

 February, registers successive week-days in the following years, that 

 simplicity and convenience disappears, as the month then contains three 

 complete weeks, with parts of two other weeks as the first and last days 

 of the month. That confusing result, unfortunately, affects other 



Sec. III., 1908. 14. 



