Some very interesting questions have arisen in reference to the difference of time between Manila and New York. The difference between Manila and New York is about eleven hours; when it is five in the morning in Manila, it is four in the afternoon with us. In order to change Manila time to our time we must deduct about eleven hours. This is all very simple so far as hours are concerned; but when we try to find out what day it is we run against a more complicated matter, for there is a certain place, or rather a certain mysterious line, which the great nations have agreed upon as the international date line. This date line is supposed to be the 180th meridian longitude reckoning from Greenwich; but this meridian is not actually followed, for in the case of the Philippine Islands it takes a long sweep, and passes to the west of them, and, in consequence, there is a difference of nearly a whole day between Manila and Hong-Kong, although the actual difference of time is but about half an hour.

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