think I'll come in town for lunch. What trains can I
get?"

"Just a minute--I'll look them up. Hold the wire.... Let's see, here's
one at XII:LVIII, that's twelve, and L is a thousand and V is five and
three I's are three; that makes 12:one thousand.... that can't be
right.... now XII certainly is twelve, and L ... what does L stand
for?... I say; what--does--L--stand--for?... Well, ask Heima.... What
does she say?... Fifty?... Sure, that makes it come out all right....
12:58.... What time is it now?... 1 o'clock?... Well, the next one
leaves Oakam at I:XLIV.... that's ..." etc.

Batting averages and the standing of teams in the leagues are another
department where the introduction of Roman numerals would be suicide for
the political party in power at the time. For of all things that are
essential to the day's work of the voter, an early enlightenment in the
matter of the home team's standing and the numerical progress of the
favorite batsman are of primary importance. This information has to be
gleaned on the way to work in the morning, and, except for those who
come in to work each day from North Philadelphia or the Croton
Reservoir, it would be a physical impossibility to figure the tables out
and get any of the day's news besides.

CLVB BATTING RECORDS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Games At Bat Runs B.H. S.B. S.H. Aver.

Detroit CLII MMMMMXXCIX DCLIII MCCCXXXIII CLXVIII CC CCLXII
Chicago CLI MMMMCMXL DLXXI MCCXLVI CLXXIX CCXXI CCLII
Cleveland CLII MMMMCMXXXVII DCXIX MCCXXXI CL CCXXI CCXLIX
Boston CLI MMMMDCCCLXXIV DXXXIV MCXCI CXXXVI CCXXV CCXLV
New York CL MMMMCMLXXXVII DLIV MCCXXX CLXXV CLXV CXLVII
Washington CLIII MMMMCMXXVIII DV MCXC CLXIII CLXV CCXDI
St. Louis CLV MMMMMLXV DLXXIV MCCXXI CCVII CLXII CCXLI
Philadelphia CXLIX MMMMDCCCXXVI CCCCXVI MCXLIII CXLIII CLV CCXXXVII

YOU CAN'T DO RIGHT BY THE OFFICE AND GO IN FOR
ROMAN NUMERALS TOO.

On matters such as these the proletariat would have protested the Roman
numeral long ago. If they are willing to let its reactionary use on
tablets and monuments stand it is because of their indifference to
influences which do not directly affect their pocketbooks. But if it
could be put up to them in