Why Old Clocks Have Iiii

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Not every one who looks at the dial of a clock knowa that the four I's which are in place of the usual IV to desígnate the number 4 are there because of the obstinacy of Charles V of France. When Henry Vick carried to the king the flrat accurate clock the king said to hlm that the IV was wrong and should be changed to IIII. Vick said: "You are wrong, your majesty." Whereat the king thundered out, "I am never wrong. Take it away and correct the mistake." From that tlmtj to this day the four I's have stood at the mark of the fourth hour.