Clockwise
A clockwise motion means 'like the clock's hands': from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top. Or, when applied to a surface ("The Mexican wave usually runs clockwise") means that sequence will be: front, right, back, left, and all over again.The question is: and why do all clocks run clockwise? Why that sense of rotation and not the other one?
The answer seems to be the clock's predecessor: the sundial. Clocks were first built in the North Hemisphere, and they were made to work like sundials. In order for the sundial to work (in the North), it must be placed looking Southward. Then, when the Sun moves in the sky (East to South to West), the shadow cast by the sundial moves in the opposite direction, that is West to North to East. That's why hours were drawn in sundials in that manner, and that's why modern clocks have their numbers set in the same way.
See Counterclockwise
And _his_ nippie wasn't small,
Not have seen the snake at all.
An ulster.html">ulster.html">ulster with a cape that fluttered:
And polyglot remarks he uttered:
"I'm tired of the thing already."
The wind.html">wind.html">wind that chanced to blow that day
It loved to see.html">see the galling way
"Now watch me," cried this spell of weather.html">weather,
It banged him up against a railing,
But all of this was unavailing:
He drew the ulster closer round him.
"My word!" the man.html">man was heard to say,
Not strange the wind is strong to-day,
Such weather threatens much the health of
Between the clouds, observed the victim,
Belabored, buffeted, and kicked him.
'Tis quite the freshest ever blew here."
And then he put forth all his strength,
Till upward in its tube at length
Phenomenal the curious sight was,
The prey of some new mode of smelting:
His every limb seemed slowly melting,
He cast the ulster wildly from him.
"Impulsive breeze, the use of force,"
Perceiving which, you see, of course.
The wondering wind replied, "Good gracious!
With tact, and all its virtues boasted,
That wretched man, first chilled, then roasted?
And that's no cause for vulgar laughter.
End of Project Gutenberg's Fables for the Frivolous, by Guy Whitmore Carryl
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FABLES FOR THE FRIVOLOUS ***
This file should be named fbfrv10.txt or fbfrv10.zip
VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, fbfrv10a.txt
Produced by Steve Schulze, Charles Franks
.
On
wordlookup.net
All is still licensed under the GNU FDL.
It uses material from the wikipedia.
|
|