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12.10.07 # 7:18 # Ask Ernie # No CommentDear Ernie,
I know that back in the old days before clocks had been invented (back in the 1800’s if I’m not mistaken) they used something called sundials. I don’t really know how such a thing would work seeing as I’m not a physicist, however I assume from the name that it somehow depends on the sun. So how did they tell the time at night?
Time For An Answer in Bearberry
Dear Timely Bear,
You are mistaken. I have it on good authority that the very first clock was invented in 1748 by a Swiss astronomer named Johann Cloken. The first time it ever told was 5:28 a.m.
In answer to your question though; at night they would just read their moon-dials, of course. They worked on the same basic principle, except they were larger and all of the numbers were glow in the dark so that they could be read easier. Now, the next logical question would be, "What about if it was cloudy, what then?" Well, they would just call up a relative who lived in a non-cloudy area and ask them what time their moon-dials read.
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