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DST is one of those national urban legends, the legend being that Benjamin Franklin was so well respected that even his jokes got turned into law.
Except, like most amusing tales of that nature, it didn't quite happen that way. More like, people realized that what started as a joke was actually a pretty good idea.
These days, we're used to businesses always having artificial lights on all the time, even on the sunniest of days. But it wasn't always like that. When limited to gaslight or lantern/candle light for artificial lighting, it was generally better to rely on sunlight when possible.
Now, while farmers didn't really care about the clock and would get up at sunrise no matter what (the longer day coincided with more work to do, conveniently), urban types had started to live by the clock.
Now, at the equinox, you get six hours of light before noon and six after. Six hours before noon is plenty of light in the morning, and as dawn gets earlier and earlier, you just get sunlight that only deliverymen and rubbishmen used. On the other hand, as sunset got later and later, businesses could operate for longer into the evening without burning oil or gas or whatever.
What Daylight Savings Time did for people back then was to shift those useless dawn hours into the evening, when they were more likely to be used by honest folk who would otherwise have to close shop or spend money on light. Quite a big savings when spread over the entire nation!
Not as useful these days, I suppose, but every little bit helps. If you don't like it, move to Indiana. :)
Except, like most amusing tales of that nature, it didn't quite happen that way. More like, people realized that what started as a joke was actually a pretty good idea.
These days, we're used to businesses always having artificial lights on all the time, even on the sunniest of days. But it wasn't always like that. When limited to gaslight or lantern/candle light for artificial lighting, it was generally better to rely on sunlight when possible.
Now, while farmers didn't really care about the clock and would get up at sunrise no matter what (the longer day coincided with more work to do, conveniently), urban types had started to live by the clock.
Now, at the equinox, you get six hours of light before noon and six after. Six hours before noon is plenty of light in the morning, and as dawn gets earlier and earlier, you just get sunlight that only deliverymen and rubbishmen used. On the other hand, as sunset got later and later, businesses could operate for longer into the evening without burning oil or gas or whatever.
What Daylight Savings Time did for people back then was to shift those useless dawn hours into the evening, when they were more likely to be used by honest folk who would otherwise have to close shop or spend money on light. Quite a big savings when spread over the entire nation!
Not as useful these days, I suppose, but every little bit helps. If you don't like it, move to Indiana. :)
