UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC TIME. 235 
associated in our minds with the hour of 12, but among the Jews 
noon was the 6th hour, and astronomers have almost invariably recog- 
nized it as the 24th hour. Fora year back throughout the United 
States and Canada the agreement between 12 o’clock and _ precise 
noon has been atan end. It may be said that, except on four or five 
meridians, i2 o’clock is nowhere coincident with mean solar noon. 
This departure from an old usage must tend to unloosen the tradi- 
tional idea that the mere numbers of the hours have any necessary 
connection with the position of the sun in the heavens. If this 
innovation has any effect it must help to pave the way for still] farther 
and more important changes than have yet been introduced. The 
Meridians by which time is regulated in North America are 5, 6,7 
and 8 hours of longitude west from the Prime Meridian. It will only 
be necessary to move forward our clocks 5, 6, 7, and 8 hours respec- 
tively to bring them all into agreement with the time of the Prime 
Meridian, which is Cosmic Time, and thus obtain complete uniformity. 
It cannot, however, be looked for that Cosmic Time will at once be 
adopted in ordinary affairs. A generation probably will pass away 
before it will obtain general acceptance. The difticulties to be over- 
come cannot be ignored, and we may assume that it will only be step 
by step that the change will be made, the more advanced nations 
taking the lead. On this continent positive progress has been 
mide, to be succeeded before long, I do not doubt, by anotker 
advance in public opinion, and a general acceptance of the principles 
recently recognized. In the course of years the prejudices en- 
gendered by inherited customs will be greatly modified, and the 
masses will gradually have their minds familiarized with new ideas. 
It is a significant fact that the principles of the new system should 
be unanimously recommended by delegates from all civilized nations. 
T do not doubt that the several peoples they represent’ will sooner or 
later understand that one uniform reckoning of time for every piu~ 
pose throughout the globe is the only rational system, and the one 
notation which in coming years will properly meet the necessities 
and requirements of mankind. 
In these remarks I have narrated the events which have taken 
place on both sides of the Atlantic to influence and determine the 
conclusions which, a few weeks back, the President submitted to the 
Congress of the United States. 
On this oceasion I cannot think that I am entirely wrong when t 
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