30 BULLETIN OP THE 



Mr. E. B. Elliott spoke of the desirableness of a change in 

 the calendar, but not in the way proposed ; and of the great ad- 

 vantages in having the months 30 and 31 days in length alter- 

 nately, and putting the intercalary day at the end of the year 

 instead of February. 



The simplification of certain astronomical tables by this last 

 change was referred to by Mr. Stone. 



Mr. Parker remarked that in China lOur new year's days 

 occurred within a few days of each other without serious incon- 

 veniences — those of Zoroaster, the Jews, the English, and the 

 Russians. 



Mr. Taylor objected to the change proposed in the bill before 

 Congress, and described at length a year commencing with the 

 vernal equinox witii months alternately of 31 and 30 days, drop- 

 ping one day at the end of each common year, advocating it 

 as a desirable change, could it be effected. 



Mr. HiLGARD I'ead part of an article in the Encyclopasdia 

 Britannica on the calendar, and of the British Statute of 1751, 

 adopting the Gregorian calendar " for that portion of Great 

 Britain called England ;" remarking that the year at that time 

 in England commenced on the 25th of March, and in Scotland 

 on a different day. 



He remarked in substance that the conclusion generally arrived 

 at appeared to be that the calendar could be greatly improved — 



1st. By beginning tiie year at the winter solstice. 



2d. By having months alternately of 30 and 31 days, the last 

 month having 31 days in leap years, 30 days in common years. 



3d By placing the intercalary day at the end of the year, in- 

 stead of the second month, but otherwise adhering to the Gre- 

 gorian mode of intercalation. 



The change should be made, if made at all, at the commence- 

 ment of the next century. But no one undertakes to say that 

 the advantages gained would balance the inconveniences arising 

 from such a change. 



