THE DIAL OF KING AHAZ.
[To THE EDITOR OF TRY " smarkToli."1
Sm,—Referring to the question of the dial of Ahaz in your issues of February 19th and March 26th, it may be interesting to know that the question was studied very carefully by a Swiss engineer who had become interested therein some twenty-five or thirty years ago. He put to himself the question: Is it possible to construct a dial on which the shadow of the style can be made to travel backward ? He found that this could be done, and published an interesting pamphlet containing his demonstration of the problem and the rule for the construction of a retrograde dial. He showed not only that the story contained in the Bible was not in- correct, but also that the amount of the retrograde movement -was *ell within bounds, as he was able to construct a dial on which its amplitude was fifteen degrees instead of ten. I received from him a copy of his pamphlet, which in the course of many journeys has been lost. I am unable, therefore, to reproduce his demonstration, to my great regret. As, how- ever, there can be made a dial on which the shadow of the style can be caused to travel backward fifteen degrees, there can be no doubt attached to the correctness of the account given in the Bible ; hence the subject is removed from the realm of mystery, and also from the list of so-called miracles.
Major of Engineers (retired), United States Army. 51 Avenue Montaigne, Paris.
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