Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-01-31
rzE mooN AND rHn wRATHER.

1t is a popular fallacy, established
and descending to us from a very an
cieut period, that the moon is contin-
ually exercising u controlling influence
over the weather and other terrestrial
conditions; in short, that about every
seven days the moon quarters" and
goes through n specific "chauge," caus-
ing q corresponding change in the
weather, How often do we hear wealth.
er representations to the effect that
''on the next change Of the moon"--or
"on the full of the moon"-or 1.-The
moon quarters at 8 o'clock this cren-
iug'-or ',just wait till tho moon
changes, and wen have n change in the
weather." With what stocial gravity
do we see the old folks consult the al
manac on such occasion, to ascertain
precisely at what time this specific
change takes place, utterly ignoring the
idea that these "chanses," these "quar-
ters," these "halres," these "fulls" Of
the moon exist only in the almanac, and
that for all practical purposes, as far MS
the weather is concerned, it is just rs
proper to speak of the "eighths," "six-
teeu,hs," or "thirty-seconds' Of the
moon, as of the halves and quarters.
All changes in the appearance of the
moon being caused by the greater or
less shadow of the earth upon 1t, and as
that shadow is shifting, gradually and
continually, there can be no specific
change at any particular time. The
suns light thrown upon the earth does
not directly produce clouds and storms,
then why should it, when simply reflect
ed by the mirrored moon? Besides, if
a certain period Of the moon is product
i've Of certain peculiar changes in the
weather at one time, why should it not
be so whenever that period recurs? In
comparison to the sun and moon, u
little world is no more than n mere fly
speck; therefore, if the moons "quar-
tering" will cause a heavy storm at
Gold Hill and vicinity, why should it
not periodically have the same specific
effect oil over that side of the world ex-
posed to the moons influence, d~eluging
all alike, without Partially? For
months at q time, during the Summer
season, in California, the sky is cloud
less, and there is no apprceiable varia-
ton in the clear dry stormless weather,
yet the moon goes on changing rs
usual, just the same as it does in Win
ter, and the same moon shines equally
on Sitka, where regular storms and
rains occur all the year round, as well
as on Lima, where it never rains ut all.
For the last nineteen years we have
KEEP, IL regular diary Of the weather on
the Pacific coast, and noting also the
moons changes, We have failed to dis
cover any connection between the two,
other than the earth's shadow on the
moon being constantly changiug-as we
said before-every change in the wealth
err cannot fail to occur simultaneously
with a corresponding lunar change"
The weather here for the past six or
eight weeks has been particularly reck-
less of all s'quarterings" Of the moon,
and surely no one a have the assur-
auce to attribute the fine weather of tho
last two or three days to any change OF
the moon, unless it DO on n Of the
"eighths" thereof. Whatever influence
it may exercise on other terrestrial mat
ter and conditions, our own observa-
tons, as we'll as those Of others more
learned and critical, impels us most
seriously, on the part of the moon, to
positively disclaim all completely be-
tween her and worldly weather.