140 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. II. 



to the "universal day " (the world's standard unit of time), which the 

 representatives of all nations present determined, should be sub-divided 

 into a single series of hours numbered from zero to twenty-four. The 

 old custom of counting the day by halves has no more to recommend it 

 than dividing the month into halves, a custom which prevailed in Europe 

 before the fifteenth century. Each month of thirty days was divided 

 into equal parts; each month of thirty-one days into a first part of sixteen 

 days, numbered one to sixteen and distinguished by the word tntrantey 

 the second part of fifteen days numbered in reverse order, fifteen to one, 

 and known as restante. But the division of the day into two sets of 

 twelve hours similarly named has positive disadvantages. In these days 

 of railways the possibility of error is increased by it, in itself no light 

 consideration. In the printing of time-tables, or the giving and receiving of 

 train orders, a misprint or misapprehension of a single letter may cause 

 a mistake or mishap; while the degree of uncertainty which in some cases 

 exists, may lead to confusion, and confusion not infrequently results in 

 consequences more or less serious. 



The twenty-four hour notation, so called, removes all doubt, and 

 assures safety. The change from the old custom is easily effected, and 

 without danger. Experience has established that timepieces now in use 

 can readily be adapted to the new notation by inscribing on their dials 

 the afternoon hours in some such manner as the diagram indicates. 



Hours having a lower number than twelve are known to belong abso- 

 lutely to the first part of the day ; those having a higher number to the 

 after part. The new notation has been widely used in Canada for 

 four or five years, being exclusively employed for railway purposes in 

 the Provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, 

 Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia, and in portions of Ontario 



