Figures are a common language, but it was clear that I was in another planet; I could not read the thermometers! I judged that the weather was warm enough for the thermometer to be at 68.

I read, say, 16.

And then I remembered that the Russians do not put their freezing point at 32, as we do, and I was obliged to go through a troublesome calculation before I could tell how warm it was.
"But I came to a still stranger experience.

I dated my letters August 3, and went to my banker's, before I sealed them, to see if there were letters for me.

The banker's little calendar was hanging by his desk, and the day of the month was on exhibition, in large figures.