LOOK AT YOUR WATCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 24, 14 June 1890, Page 12

LOOK AT YOUR WATCH.

‘ Mark down the figures on the face of a watch,' said a jeweller to a reporter. ‘l, 2, 3. 4,5, 6.' began the reporter, as he put pencil to the paper. ‘No, I mean Roman numerals.' Then was produced :— ‘I. 11. 111. IV. A . VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII.' ‘ You are wrong.’ said the jeweller. ‘ I guess not.' said the reporter. ‘ Try again,' said the jeweller. ‘ Perhaps I don't know how to count in Roman figures ?' said the reporter. ‘ Yon know that well enough, but watchmakers use different ones. Look at your watch.' ‘ Haven't got one. ’ ‘ Well, look at mine. See the figures which stand for four o'clock.' The reporter looked and was surprised. It was 1111. and not IV. ‘ Are all clocks aud watches that way *’ he asked. ‘ Every one which has Roman figures on its dial.' ‘ Why ?’ ‘ Well, 11l tell you the story. It is nothing but a tradition among watch-makers, but the custom has always been preserved. Yon may or may not know that the first clock that in any way resembles those now in use was made byHenry Vick in 1370. He made it for Charles V. of France, who lias been called “ The Wise." ‘ Now. Charles was wise in a good many ways. He was wise enough to recover from England most of the land which Edward 111. had conquered, and he did a good many other things which benefited France. But his early education had been somewhat neglected, and he probably would have had trouble in passing a civil service examination in this enlightened age. Still he had a reputation for wisdom and thought that it was necessary, in order to keep it up, that he should also l>e supposed to possess l>ook-leaming. The latter was a subject he was extremely touchy about. ‘ So the story runs in this fashion, though I will not vouch for the language, but will put in that of the present day : — ‘ “ Yes, the eloek works well," said Charles, “but,” being anxious to find some fault with a thing he did not understand, “ you’ve got the figures on the dial wrong.” ‘ “Wherein, your Majesty t” asked Vick. ‘ “ That four should be four ones,” said the king. ‘ “ You are wrong, your Majesty, " said Vick. ‘“lam never wrong,” thundered the king. “Take it away anil correct the mistake,” ami corrected it was, and front that dav to this four o’clock on a watch or clock dial ha« been 1111. instead of IV. The tradition has been faithfully followed.’