Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-12-08
A Bud Of Infansy.
From the Dollar NewspapeE.
A Chapter On Signs.

NY potatoes all grew 10 tops last year
because they were not planted in The right
sign!i How Oitsn DO We hear remarks
similar to the AbOvs, made BY farmers who
are, on most subjects sensible and intelli-
gent men. / hare frequently inquired oI
these 'm0onstTuck thsoFistI' the meaning oi
these 'signs' in which they placed such
implicit COn6leAca but none Of them could
answer the question, for the very good
reason that no person who does know will
pay any regard to them. Although
more accuutOmed to use the plow than the
pen, l will Try 10 explain, % briefly as pos.
sible, the term and show the origin Of the
superstition connected withit. In the
early days of astronomy, the zodiac
or circle in which the planets appear
to move sround the earth, was divi>
ded among astronomers in twelve equal
parts to which they gave the name Of
'signs, and each sign was divided into
thirty parts, called degrees, &c. The first
sign, reckoning from the point in which
the sun appears to be, when crossing the
equator on the 2Ist Of March, was called
'Aries,' the second 'Tarius DC; the sun be.
ing year in completing its circle, is con-
sequently q month in each sign. The
moon Il her motion we're perfectly uni>
form, would be 2 days 6 houn, SO min.
utes in each sign. In those early days the
planets we're supposed to exert 9 great in.
6usnce over the affairs of man in this life,
SO much 90 that astrologen we're generally
consulted on the birth Of child to pre-.
dict its destiny. At the present time thin
superstition has but few Votaries, except 90
far as the moon is concerned, and q the
place or sign Of this plsnst is sstill the ora
eIeof so many, l will mention the popular
theory as regards its magical influence
over men and animals. We all remember
with what feelings ofwouder and pity we
fst behold the unfortunate individual, at
the beginning Of our almanac mounted en-
the globe, without even q 6g leaf for q
garment, his body transfxed with darts.
and in fearful proximity to aundry raven
rus quadrupeds, reptiles, DC; and though
common sense in most cases displacs the
man, the signs still MAINTAIN their ascend
sDcy over the conduct Of multisudes.--
When the moon entered the fint sign,
'Aries,' il was immagined that her inAa.
Huence was directed 70 the head: o. the
moon went through his signs biz in
AusnCe extended dOWnwards. uEtil upon
heF passing through the twelfth. her Won.
derfGl power oOzod out the tips Of the toes
again to strike the head and pass through
a. before.
There are many farmers 90 far behind
the times that il they had 9 fruit tree to
be pruned bed Of noxious weeds to de-
stFoy, fence to rebuild, or 9 dose Of msdi,
cine to take they must hnt consult the
signs, and ascertain their connection with
the plant, or body, before anything can
be done. The faithful believer in signs
would IS soon swallow Itrychnins . to
take medicine when the moon is in Tau
rus,' as in that sign the caGhaFtic would
prove 60 emetiG OF, In other
wordA have ; tendency contrary to the
will Of the patient, and to the Newtonian
'ysssn, to rise ss the cud in animals. I /
would say to the farmer, don't trouble
youFsslf about the moon, and il will not |
harm you On your crops. See that yOur
and u well drained and manursd. aAd
olow It when it is neither too wet nor too |
lly; and when you are ready SOW without |
the moon, or the almanac; and
{ all right in other respects you need not |
ear the moon; but II your land ia but !
lalf prepared or titled, depend on the |
noon o much as you please, and you
lave no right 10 expect crop.
Montr0se, 1858.