我在北京已经过了四个新年.据我观察这四年来社会上一切情状,不但没有什么更动,更没有一点进步,只是些装神弄鬼的玩意儿,偏比以前闹得格外利害.无论在茶棚,酒店,甚至于外国式的饭店,达官贵人的客厅,总可以听见什么扶乩呵,预言呵,望气呵,算命呵,种种怪话.亲友见面的时候,说话往往带些鬼气.我也不知道他们真是活见鬼呢?还是哄着小孩子玩呢?这姑且不提.就是这次,阴历的年关,辟历澎拍的声音——迎神降福的爆竹足足闹了十几天,比往年热闹的多.这也可见得崇祀鬼神的心理,始终不变.我看见一般人讲鬼话,比讲人话还高兴；实在有点替他们难受.随便就做了这篇很短的文章.

　　IhavebeeninBeijingforoverfouryear.Accordingtomyobservationofthesefouryearsthesocietycircumstances,notonlywhatchanges,nomorealittleprogress,justsomemystifystuff,partialthanbeforemuchextrainterest.Thehotelnomatterinthetea,evenforeignstylehotel,highofficialsandnoblelordssittingroom,canalwayshearwhatFujiOh,predictedah,Wanggasah,fortuneOh,allsortsofstrange.Whenfriendsmeet,talkoftenbringsomeghost.Idon'tknowiftheyreallyisgettingold?Orcoaxchildrentoplay?Thisisnottomention.Isthelunarnewyear,theprovisionofcalendar,Pengtookvoice--meetGodblessfirecrackersforalarmfor10days,themoreexcitementthanusual.Thisisalsovisibletoworshipthespiritsofpsychology,hasalwaysbeenthesame.Isawpeoplegenerallyspeaking,happierthanspeakhumanlanguageisabituncomfortableforthem.Justdothisquiteashortarticle.

　　中国思想界的糊涂,本无可讳言.我们总要想法子提醒他.但这些阴阳五行的话,尽可不必同他们胡缠.他们原是闭眼乱说；我们张着眼睛的人,偏要打在一块去,未免有点可笑.譬如醉汉寻人打架,本是常事；如一个清醒的人拉着醉汉讲理,旁观的人不免要说一句：“老兄!你也醉了!”

　　Chineseideologicalcircleconfused,theThereisnohidingthefact.Wearealwayslookingforawaytoremindhim.ButthesefiveelementsofyinandYangwords,donothavethesametheyharass.Theyareaclosedbook;weopenoureyes,Iwillplayinago,abitridiculous.Forexample,thedrunkmeanerfighting,thisiscommonplace;asasobermanpulleddrunkunreasonable,theonlookersnottosay:"man!Youaredrunk!"

　　所以只要有几篇用科学方法作证的文章,去解明这些荒谬,也就可以终止讨论.我们现在实际上着手,根本划灭这种妖言,才是最切要的办法.

　　Soaslongasthereareseveralarticlestotestifyforthescientificmethodtounderstandthearticle,theseabsurd,alsocanstopthediscussion.Weactuallystartedtonow,thefundamentalrowoutthisfallacy,isthemostimmediatelytotheway.

　　我对于这件事提出一个意见,就是严禁阴历,——并且禁止阴阳合璧的历书.我晓得说出这种话来,必定要引起社会上的反对.他们反对的心理不外两种；一种以为阴历禁止不禁止都没有多大关系；急待革新的事业是很不少,这一件小小的事哪里值得提倡.还有一种以为阴历用了几千年,在习惯上很便利；阳历不过是国际间用的,究竟不适合于本国民情；所以主张禁止阴历的人,都是媚外,都是迷欧.

　　Iputforwardanopiniononthismatter,isstrictlyprohibitedthelunarcalendar,andYinandYang--bothalmanac.Iknowtosaysuchathing,mustcausethesocietyagainstthe.Theyopposedthepsychologicaltherearetwokindsofthought;alunarbandoesnotprohibitanygreatrelationship;urgentreformcauseisverymany,thisonelittlethingwhereisworthadvocating.Thereisathoughtthatthelunarcalendarforthousandsofyears,isveryconvenientinhabit;theGregoriancalendarbutisaninternationaluse,whatisnotsuitableforthenationalsituation;sothattheprohibitionoflunar,arefawnonforeignpowers,manyinEuropeare.