Board Thread:Debating Club/@comment-3493059-20140414152404/@comment-4934571-20140414183653

Yeah, I remember that discussion. It caused me a proper headache. :D I've read it once again to refresh my memory (now I see how poor my English was a year ago, but explaining Shirley's case was - and I think still is - beyond my abilities).

I remember how we tried to find the exact year, we made a lot of research about Canadian educational system, the primers - we discussed every mention we had found about him in the books. I was really happy when I finally persuaded Breather that Shirley was born in 1898. So when you came up with that idea of him being born on January 15, I didn't verify it, because I was glad we finally had the right year and I was really exhausted so I didn't do any research. As I said in that comment to your essay, it's a pity that Shirley doesn't have a story on his own because we know very little about him.

And now to your question: In this chapter, Susan mentions that The United States has declared war at last. From what I know (and Wikipedia says the same), the US declared war on April 6, 1917. As we see in this exerpt, Susan mentions the declaration and few minutes later Shirley announces his decision. This conversation must have taken place in early April, probably few days after the declaration.

April 6 was Friday. They could have discussed it on Saturday or Monday of the following week - probably they read about it in the papers. Just few days after the declaration, because Susan said at last. So it seems to me it was really fresh new. As I said, April 6 was Friday. I think that last Monday was most probably April 2.