'elm calendars iu general use throughout the civilized world originated in Rome. The one most generally adopted is the Gregorian. Russia, and all other countries of the Greek church, still use the Julian calendar. The two calendars differ as to the day of the month, but agree as to the day of the week. Which ever calendar is used, all places received their date from Rome. Places receiving dame by westward communication from Rome would naturally be considered earlier in time, at the same instant, and those places receiving dates by eastward communication would lie considered later in time at the same instant; and date-lines would naitt•ally occur where these directions of communications tact. Such is the fact. The western part of Europe, the islands of the Atlantic ocean, the whole of 'South America, and the greater North America, have received civilization by westward communication from Rome. Therefore there is no date-line in the Atlantic or iu America (since the occupation of Alaska by the United States). The eastern part of Europe and Asia received civilization by eastward communication from Rome. Date-lines. therefore, occur in the Pacific ocean between islands that have received dates by eastward, and those that have received by westward communication. By connecting these lines we have an irregular line whose general direction is n. and s., and which may properly be called the date-line, though not always, and perhaps not usually, the line where vessels change dates. The northwestern part of North America, otherwise known as Russian America, now Alaska, received civilization by eastward communication, therefore their dates would correspond with those of Asia; but the north-western part of British America received civilization by westward communication, thus the dates there would correspond with eastern America and Europe. From this we see that two neighbors, one living in Russian America and one in British America, might differ as to the day of the week. This was often the case before Alaska was purchased from Russia by the United States in 1867. The dating in Alaska has been put back to conform with the rest of the United States. The date-line, therefore, must now pass through Bch ring's straits, or, according to some author ities, just w. of the strait. North of the strait some authorities claim that it passes between Plover and Herald islands, which holds, as the former was discovered from the eastern continent and the latter from the western. South of the strait it passes w. of Clarke's or St. Lawrence island. Thence it passes w. of Gores island; thence south-west erly between the Aleutian islands and Asia. It thence passes south-westerly some degrees e. of cape Lopatka and the group of Kurile islands, thence just e. of the Japan islands, Jesso and Nippon, keeping w. of Guadalupa and Margaret's islands, but e. of Bonin, Loo Choo, and Patchoo islands, and s.e. of Formosa. This island was unknown to the Chinese until about 1403. About 1634 the Dutch established themselves here, and built fort Zeland on a small island commanding the harbor of the capital Taeman. After retaining possession for 23 years, they were expelled by Coxigina, a famous Chinese rebel, whose successors ruled until 1083, when it was taken by the Chinese. It thus retains the same dating as the Chinese nation proper. The line then passes through Bashee channel, just n. of the Bashee islands. Tt enters the China sea c. of 'Tong Kong. rt then passes s. just w. of the Philippine islands, but keeps e. of Palawan island. It is here that it reaches its most western point, being about 116° c. longitude. It then takes a south easterly course, passing through the Sooloo islands, s. of :Mindanao and n. of Gilolo. Thence it passes e. nearly parallel with, but just n. of, the equator to a point about
just n. of Shank island; thence south-easterly, leaving High island, Gilbert archipelago, Taswell islands, and the De Peyster group on the n.c.; thence to a point n.e. of the Nav igator or Samoan islands to longitude about 268° w.; thence it turns s., keeping e. of the Navigator, Friendly, Tonga, Vasquez, Kermadec, and Curtis islands, and w. of the Society islands, and Cook's or Harvey islands; thence it continues s., bearing a little to the w., so as to cross, according to some authorities, Chatham island; thence to the south pole. By following this description the line can be traced with a pencil on a map of the world.
The popular idea seems to be that.180° e. or w. of Greenwich is the point at which the change occurs. National pride is not likely to give England the right to consider the 180' w. of Greenwich as having any special advantage over the 180° w. of Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Rome,,Madrid, St. Petersburg, or even Washington, D. C. A vessel sailing from San Francisco to Samoa would reach its destination before reaching 180° w. of Greenwich, and would find itself a day behind the Samoans in date. Other illustra tions might be given to show that the 180' fiction does not remove the difficulty. For instance: the Spaniards on the Philippine islands still use the latest dating; a navigator sailing from San Francisco to these islands, who had changed his date at 180°, would find himself a day ahead on his arrival. This would not be the case if he had sailed to Yokohama or Hong Kong, which have the advance dating. In making a round trip from San Fran cisco to Yokohama, a navigator might keep his dating unchanged and thus be right on his return, or he might make two changes, skipping a day on his outward voyage at any time or place on the way, and dropping a day at any time or place on his return. Cruis ing vessels are said not to regard the 180° in their dates, as they might in some cases have to change their dating very frequently.
Numerous proposals have been made for an initial meridian for all nations, in order to dispense with the many now in use, but no satisfactory proposition has yet been made. M. de Beaumont suggests one passing through Behring's strait. Rome has also been suggested for various reasons, among them the fact that it was the home of old and new style, and need not offend national pride; and because it is nearly on the meridian of Copenhagen, Uraniburg, Leipsie, Munich, Padua, Venice, Christiana, Gotha, Nerona, and Modena, and not far w. of those of Berlin, Prague, Naples, and Palermo. This meridian band has been called the great street of the world's observatories. With this suggestion there has been coupled the suggestion that Rome be made 180°, and that 0° be left unmarked, passing somewhere along Behring's straits, and that e. and w. as applied to longitude be dispensed with.
Another point may be noted. Taking the line as described, its most western point on the Philippine islands is 117° c., and the most, eastern point is 168' w. longitude. Using these limits, from the time any given time or day begins to the time it ends is 53 hours. Or biking the eastern part of Alaska, as was formerly done, which is 130° e., and a day remains on the face of the earth for 55 hours and 32 seconds. Taking the former, we can see that for 5 hours each day, by the same calendar, there are three different dates in different parts of the world. These hours in Washington, D. C., and all places on or near that meridian, are from 6:10 A.M to 11:10 a:at. For instance, during these hours of to-day, Jan. 1, 1881, with us, the Navigator islands are in the early part of Jan. 2. and the Philippine islands are finishing Dec. 31, 1880.