EASTKR SUNDAY AND THE DOMINICAL LETTER. 23 



In fact, as stated, the years 1700, iSoo and 1900 are by 

 special enactment not leap years, so that three years must be 

 subtracted from 2380 as not operative to back the letter, leav- 

 ing 2377. Throw out the sevens and find that we must back 

 four places from C, landing on F, which is still wrong. But 

 furthermore, the rule which gives B starts from G, and we from 

 C, three places in advance. We make ourselves solid with the 

 rule — we pay these three places back by a farther subtraction 

 to that amount from 2377, leaving 2374. Throw the sevens 

 out and get a remainder of one. We then back one from C to 

 B, which is correct. 



Again, 1899 and a quarter thereof is 2373, which is meas- 

 ured by seven. We do not move from C. But, as before, the 

 arbitraiy rule has moved the letter forward thi'ee places before 

 beginning to back. And 1700 and 1900 are inoperative. 



Subtract 5, therefore, from 2373. Get 2368, throw out the 

 sevens, get remainder of 2 and back from C to A, which is 

 correct. 



In the seventeen hundreds there is four to subtract from 

 sum of date and a quarter thereof; namely, the one centiny 

 year, 1700, and the same three as before. 



And so of the other centuries. 



The summarv' presupposes knowledge of certain specific facts. 



The rule of Phillips brings out the same results mechanic- 

 ally and generally, requiring knowledge of nothing but the date. 



What follows will probably rather edify than entertain. 



RULE FOR FINDING EASTER. 



In that previously mentioned " Million of Facts," b}^ Sir 

 Richard Phillips, will be found a curt rule for computing Easter. 



This is a rule without any reasons subjoined, and one 

 which rather disregards astronomical facts. It is based upon 

 the principle of a thirty days lunation and upon the coinci- 

 dence that the age of the moon is the same on the first of 

 March as on the first of Januaiy. It is a kind of arithmetical 

 puzzle or trick which, however, always works correcth\ 



