The fact that we have ceased to write 1899 on our various communications and now date them 1900 has brought up the century question again with renewed vigour, and one has occasionally to listen to quite heated arguments upon the subject. 1 don't know how the matter will be settled, but undoubtedly some of our greatest thinkers hold entirely opposite " views. The German Emperor, and Lord Kelvin, perhaps our greatest scientist, say that we entered upon the twentieth century last. Monday; on the other hand, his Excellency Sir Chihchen Lofengluh, the Chinese Ambassador, holds the contrary view, and has written " most able letter to the Morning Post in defence of his opinion. He says: The twentieth century naturally begins where the nineteenth century Jeaves off. This brings us up to the further question, When did the nineteenth century begin and finally by working backwards
A.D, commence immediately on the con-we arrive at the query, Did the century clusion of the first century B.C.? If so the first, nineteenth and twentieth centuries all began or begin on the years 1, 1801 and 1901 A.D. respectively." Whether this argument will convince the learned trio I have mentioned remains to be seen. Of course a year cannot be said to be a year until it is complete; but, on the other hand, Anna Domini means in the year of our Lord, and His first year must undoubtedly have begun with His birth, therefore the year A.D. 0 could not have _belonged tothe century B.C., and unless it is decided that it was of no century at all, it seems to me that it must have started a new century, and so Sir Chihchen has supplied his opponents with their strongest argument.
'THE SEW YEAR'S HONOURS List, though short, contains some interesting names. Only two ow peers are created, Sir Staflurd Northcote, second son of the late Lord Iddesleigh, and Sir John Lubbock author of the Bank Holiday Act. The honour conferred upon Sir Statiord is of cours: in consequence of his acceptance of the important post of Governor of Bombay. Itis, I believe, an interesting fact that thie is the only instance during her Majesty's reign where two peerages have been conferred upon one family, the father of the present recipient of the honour having been created a peer only fifteen years ago. Among the knighthoods perhaps the most popular will be that of Dr. Lauder Brunton, physician to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Ho is a Scotchman, a man of untiring energy and vigour, and one of the most successful West End practitioners of the day.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.