NEW YEAR—OLD STYLE
SIR,—Sir Compton Mackenzie's Sidelight on " New ' Year—Old Style " throws a very interesting side light on the substantial vera-
, city of the old saws that have come down to us from our weather-wise ancestors. Another interesting detail about the Gregorian calendar is that, according to modern research, however right the Pope may have been about the 11 days, he left untouched an error of 4 years. It now seems to be accepted that December B.C. 5 was the actual date of the birth of Out Lord; so that December 25th, 1995, according to the Gregorian calendar, will mark the 2,000th anniversary of His birth. The inter- vening 40 years will, in all probability, see either the extinction of the human species, or else the emergence of homo sapiens on a saner and fuller plane of existence. The fulfilment of Tennyson's vision is well within our grasp; the bells in 41 years' time may well "Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace."
Perhaps the rising generation, who by then will be of mature years, will decide to mark the conclusion of this millennium of turmoil and unrest by cutting out 4 years and 6 days; so that January 1st, 2000, will mark, in fact, the opening of the new millennium of the Christian era. If they do so, let us hope that they will remember to do ' justice to the wisdom of their ancestors by also adjusting the dates of the festivals which are the subject of those wise old saws.—Yours faithfully, A. R. CLOUGH Normanswood, Crowhurst, Battle, Sussex
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