Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 108, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1918 — OLD WAYS OF TIME-KEEPING [ARTICLE]

OLD WAYS OF TIME-KEEPING

Ancients Watched for Appearance of Certain Stare and Then Announced the Hour of Night. The stars make one revolution in every twenty-four hours. From this we can readily see how the ancients originally kept track of the passage of time at night To do thia they appointed a man whose duty it was to watch for and

announce the appearance of certain stars in each of the constellations ns they appeared above the horizon. • As there are twelve of these constellations from which the zodiacal signs take their names, It can readily be seen that each twelfth part of the starry host passed over the horizon every two hours. Now let us consider the ancient observer as he sits in his tower with his face to the east The sun had set, and darkness is coming on. Low In the eastern sky he

sees a brilliant star which he recognizes as belonging-to one of the original groups. He calls the time indicated by the appearance of this star and then at intervals announces the hour of night by the appearance of other stars oh the horizon. This ancient • custom persisted through long ages. Even after the Invention of clocks and watches old communities in Europe and the United. States watchmen whose duty it was to make the rounds and ca U the hours of night.