these idioms are complicated.
 in the afternoon
 on Sunday afternoon
 In the middle west, they say "of a Sunday afternoon."

> ----------
> From:         SIRAISI Tomio[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
> Sent:         Tuesday, October 19, 1999 4:08 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      "IN the afternoon of a chilly day"
>
> Dear ATEGers,
>
> The other day, I came across the following passage when reading "Uncle
> Tom's Cabin".
>
> Late in the afternoon of a chilly day in February, two gentlemen were
> sitting alone
> over their wine, in a well-furnished dining parlor, in the town of P---,
> in Kentucky.
> There were no servants present, and the gentlemen, with chairs closely
> approaching,
> seemed to be discussing some subject with great earnestness.
>
> Is "in the afternoon of a chilly day" correct?
> Or is it rather archaic and should I say "on the afternoon of a chilly
> day" now?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> SIRAISI Tomio
>