100 YEARS AGO

‘Styles of the calendar’ — At the approach of the end of a century, this subject naturally comes to the front again; but it has lately been somewhat unexpectedly raised to special prominence by the suggested probability of one at least of the Oriental countries of Europe adopting the usage which, on the initiative of Rome in 1582, all the western nations gradually accepted, England (we say advisedly England not Britain, because Scotland adopted it before the union even of the crowns) being the last in 1752. America having been colonised by the western Europeans, and the United States having still been British colonies at the date last mentioned, the Gregorian style is universal in that continent. But eastern Europe, including Russia and all the nationalities of the Balkan peninsula, still adheres to the old Julian style; and this chiefly because the Christians of these countries belong to the Greek or Eastern Church, though it is difficult to see why this should restrain them from falling in with a change which has many conveniences, and would bring their dates into uniformity with those of the Latin, Teutonic, and Scandinavian nations — an object of increasing importance, as intercommunication is constantly becoming more frequent.

From Nature 24 June 1897.

50 YEARS AGO

Apart from its interest to Londoners and its inherent æsthetic merit, the statue of Eros, surmounting the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain in Piccadilly Circus, London, has a scientific aspect. Originally unveiled in 1893, it is cast in aluminium alloy, the basal structure being of bronze. Its restoration, after a war-time exile, necessitated a thorough cleaning, the repair of a few defects, and the provision of a new bow and arrow. … The cleaning was carried out with neutral soap and warm water, the surprising discovery being that there is no trace of corrosion arising from the past fifty years in the London atmosphere; with suitable care the original oxide film of the aluminium and the patina of the bronze have both been retained. … The experience with the restoration of Eros should give an impetus to designers to make more use of these ‘modern metals’.

From Nature 28 June 1947.