Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1899 — What the “Century” :Says About the Centuries. [ARTICLE]

What the “Century” :Says About the Centuries.

The Chicago Times-Herald is engaged in crusade about as ridiculous as Don Quixote’s battle with the wind-mill, and about as ineffectual as Mrs. Partington’s attempt to sweep back the Atlantic Ocean. It is an attempt to prove that the 19th century ends with the last day of this present December, 1899, and that the 20th century begins the ,Ist day of January 1900. To do this the TimesHerald contends and must necessarily prove, that there was a year in the Christian Era before the Ist. year! Otherwise that the era started with the year 0. “a period nowhere to be found.' In all the hoary reglstersof time Unless perchance, in the fool's ca ender.’’ As the poet Young says in another connection, but very appropriately to this case. The Times-Herald started its claims by a statement that the Pope had officially decided that the century ends this month. A statement which was based on a gross misunderstanding of what tle Pope really said. The Pope knows that the 19th century does not end until Dec. 31st. 1900, and all educated Catholics know the

same thing. They know that the Catholic church is to observe the year 1900 as a “holy year” express, ly because it is the last year of the 19th century and as such “ushers in” the 20th which the Pope hopes, and we all hope with him, will be a better century than the 19th. In this connection, as the TimesHerald is selling and especially recommending that great and authoritative work, the Century Dictionary, we may remark that that is very clear in declaring that this century ends with the year 1900 and the next begins with 1901. So also says that other great standard authority, Webster’s International dictionary. Here is what the Century says: “Thus the first century of the Christian Era, began with the year A. D. 1, and extended to the end of the year 100; the third century began with the year 201 and ended with the year 300; and the eighteenth century began with 1701 and ended with 1800, the year completing the hundred year period in each period in each instance giving name to the century.’’