The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-02-21
Misfellauruus.
THE PLEI.fDES.
FOR the Union and Journal.


For the Union and Journal.
At an early period the ancients COM
meneed to study the heavens, making use
ot the limited knowledge thus obtained, to
aid them in predicting natural phenomena
about to occur. or in forctelllng future
events. Asirology, not Astronomy, was the
science, whose principles they sought to in
vcstiea,c aud develope, and. though their
theories were ialss, their practical knowl-
edge Of little Importance, and their ruling
power, superstition, they commenced the
foundation upon whicha portion Of our
modern science is built.
For convenience they gave natural
groups Of stars particular names. aud d.
vided the stellar system into consultations,
Of which some stars arc indicated by fig
urcs, "borrowed from obvious resein-
blanccs" Thus, in Ursa Major, The Great
Bear, seven stars from Charles Vain. in
the language Of tho English, or, according
to our early instruction, the long-handled
dipper, from the real or iancied resemblance
they lave TO wagon drawn by horses, or
to dipper.
Conspicuous among these clusters Of
stars arc the Plcia,lcs in the constellation
Taurus. ''The Greek poets associated this
group with that beautiful mythology which,
In its purest form, people tho air, the woods,
and waters with imaginary beings and
made the sky itself concave mirror, from
which came hack exaggerated idsnl rcflec-
tons Of humanity" These seven stars
were supposed to DO the daughters Of Atlas
and tho nymph Pleione, and were placed
by Jupiter in the heavens, on account OF
their amiable virtues and mutual affection.
This group was named ata very early
period, a. we find in Job.
"Which maketh Arcturus, Orio', and
Plciades. and the chambers Of the South. y
"Canst thou hind the sweet influences OF
the Pleiadcs, or loose the hands Of Orion?'
Its risings anil settings were observed near
ly four thousand years ago.
The word Pleiades is derived from the
Greek plsein, to sail. because the time OF
the rising Of those stars. about the vernal
equinox, was esteemed in the olden time.
the proper seuson for navigation. Accord
ing to the mythical history Of the art OF
navigation given by Virgil. in the first
George, the sailors gave the names to the
stars.
"Nsvits tune sselli, numeros OF nomina feclt
PislsdAs, NysdaA elarauaqas Lyesoais Areiou I"
They were also called Herglie, from
Ger. the spring, and their ''sweet infiu.
ences" were supposed to be produced in
imparting happiness. especially pleasures
enjoyed in spring time, when this cluster
makes &c appearance. Bishop Neber says
that ",hese stars - closely set together,
seem to b bound 10 one another in sistcrly
union, and thus joyously usher in tho
spring" Virgil also taught that farmers
should observe the snt,ins of the Pleia'es,
for tho time for sowing wheat was about
tho setting Of these stars in October.
.Anu tibl Eossi A,lsnt,des aSseendantur.
0nosiaQus Arientis decedAt stella corons,
DsbitA guam sulcis eommitsas 'smiaa.'
.Let the morning Pieiades first be
hidden. and the Gnosian star Of the burn
ing crown, depar, before you commi, your
seed to the firow." Virgil says "Atlan.
tides. because they were daughters Of
Atlas. Milton. in his aParadise Lost"
calls them the "seven Atlantic Sisters
Hcrvey. In his "vision Of the Stars" ="
thus alludes to them:
.Wh.r, brlxhtiy dwell 10 all their early smiles,
IRE sss vas lost-ths suest and sister s.Sen,
LiSs blessed spirits, passing ff.a their tolls,
Or soas ialr Huiy 81 res. In Heaven"
Mr.. Trench, the English poet and sheo'
losian. thus rsfsn TO them in his graphic
description ofths manhslGns Of tho ssa"
.And the ssvsa that by the side
Ofths Titan nightly weave
sisssrs iiaksd In love and light"
Willis sings Of tho Picsidcs. In one o
his poems, emitted "The Scholar al Thibe'
Hen khroa,;
.Aud In the sssith The svsss Pls,sAss.
tAlss-ssss sssa 2 ss., nay pas nYu nsAvsa
gsais.S e: sss.:, : ssss.s from the ''''r band
"in Lockssy Hall" Tsunyson says:
snsay Q sixSs 10 shs f,ssiass r,Sas thrvsgh
o...r ins n! .si':s .:s,. T q ar-a.. .s.a in .,
vss braid"
One sf shsss snn, Alcyons, sar o.
the third magnitude, tho brighses In thi'
group. called the "Lisht Of tho Pleisdcs, )
u dissinguishsd, sccording 10 . recent esls