556 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXII. No. 825 



and engineering subjects, while they may be 

 conscientiously carrying on scientific research 

 in their own line, are much more likely to 

 become broad, efficient teachers if they come 

 more frequently in contact, in a professional 

 way, with men who are engaged in work out- 

 side of the institutions of learning. 



It is also true that the advantages are not, 

 by any means, all one-sided, as the man in 

 practical life, who has a problem to solve or 

 who is working on the solution of some prob- 

 lem, can very frequently obtain valuable in- 

 formation by consultation with some man 

 who is working along the same line in an 

 educational institution. He may also fre- 

 quently find it possible for him to work with 

 a scientist who is well acquainted with that 

 particular line of work, to their mutual ad- 

 vantage. 



What can be done has been shown in one 

 way at the University of Kansas with her in- 

 dustrial fellowships. This particular case may 

 be the best possible thing for this place but, 

 on the other hand, might prove anything but 

 a success if undertaken at some other insti- 

 tution or under some other man, who did not 

 have the personality to carry it through. 

 Each man will have to work out the plan best 

 suited to himself and his locality. 



E. C. Benner 



UisrivEBSiTT or Aeizoka 



\ THE REFORM OF THE CALENDAR 



To THE Editor op Scien^ce: In the Septem- 

 ber 2 number of Science is a communication 

 signed Charles E. Slocum, in which are con- 

 veyed some expressions of Moses B. Cots- 

 worth which suggest a method for remedying 

 the troublesome irregularities of our present- 

 day calendar. 



Our calendar, among other heritages from 

 our more or less remote ancestors, is character- 

 ized by incongruities that make it fit awk- 

 wardly into present-day human activities, 

 industrial, commercial and social; and has in- 

 deed become an anachronism. The suggestion 

 of a reformation of the calendar appears to 

 be very timely, and the method proposed is 

 simple and feasible, the changes indicated ap- 



parently not involving any embarrassments 

 nor confusion in the business and social world. 



It is to be hoped that this suggestion will 

 take the form of an active movement, and 

 will be promoted before international coun- 

 cils. 



The discussion of the calendar not unnat- 

 urally invites some reflections upon our 

 " legal holidays," those wandering comets of 

 our almanac, which not unfrequently drop 

 tipon us unawares, to the great disturbance of 

 the business world. 



It is not a small matter to have the complex 

 machinery of the whole body of finance and 

 commerce throughout the country brought to 

 a sudden stop, with most of the functions of 

 the federal government suspended, at irregular 

 times and when most people are unaware of 

 such an event. This also is in the nature of 

 an anachronism, and out of harmony with the 

 working of the vast elaboration of machinery 

 of present-day activities. 



This is, moreover, a growing evil, based 

 upon a combination of sentiment and politics, 

 and legislators seem disposed to add a new 

 " legal holiday " to the growing list on small 

 provocation, in commemoration of some con- 

 spicuous person or political event in the coun- 

 try's history, apparently without consideration 

 of the effect upon the business world. 



A simple remedy would seem to be available 

 for this evil also. 



There are, it may be said, four cardinal 

 holidays in our calendar, that have so grown 

 into our system by habit of thought as not to 

 constitute a disturbing element in the current 

 affairs of the people, as all are thoroughly fa- 

 miliar with the times of their recurrence. 

 These are New Year's Day, Fourth of July, 

 Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Other 

 than these we have fifty-two Sundays in the 

 year, which together would seem to afford 

 ample time for rest and recreation. 



The suggestion of a remedy for the evil of 

 irregular " legal holidays " is, that they shall 

 all be made to fall on Sundays instead of on 

 week days. T. G. Dabney 



Clarksdale, Miss., 

 September 5, 1910 



