Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-21
ALMANACS.
Something About their Origin and
PeeuIfarities.

Something About their Origin and
PGeuIiarities.
The almanac has varied in character, ac-
cording to the taste and culture of the read
er3 for whom it was prepared. In former
times it was the minister to superstition and
folly: and even the oracle of mischief, by
malicious prophecies, inviting their own
fuIfIlment. In the sixteenth century it was
found necessary in France to prohibit by
edict the publication Of such predictions.
In England there are to this day almanacs
which pretend to predict future events; but,
generally, the seers content themselves with
OraCular sayings about the weather.
1t Is hardly necessary TO say that while
the poorer class of almanacs is continued,
there are others Of high character as statical
reference books, and OF superior claims as
works of art and OF literary interest The
nautical almanacs published in this country
and Europe embOdy the latest and most
important facts and discoveries. They are
remarkable for fullness, accuracy and use
fulness. But they too often illustrate the
fact that popular appreciation is apt to be in
an inverse ratio to the industry and scien-
tifc accuracy of authors. The trte critics
are ''fit though few"
Among the anecdotes of Daniel Webster
and his elder brother Ezekiel it is related
that on one occasion they studied the much
priced almanac by the light Of the kitchen
fire,till their seniors peremptOrily sent them
to bed. The wonders Of the almanac were
discussed by them in the cold winter night,
long after everybody else was sound asleep.
A dispute arising, they rose from bed-nO
small midnight feat in a New Hampshire
house in the last century.
They struck light-there were then no
friction matches-and resumed their in
vestigations. Whatever was the point in
dispute, the result was that the boys set
their bed on fire. Daniels version of the
mishap was, that they "sOught for light,
and got too much of it''-nO uncommon re-
suit probably of diligent study of almanacs
in the olden time.
The name almanac is variCusly derived;
as from the Arabic al and Hdndch, to aC-
count; from the Arabic al and the Greek
men, a month; and from the TentOnic al
1naen-achte, "all moon heed" Gail Of
them," saws DR.. johnson, "are probable"
Egyptian and Assyrian calendars still eX-
ist, thousands of years old; and the Roman
Fast or marble tables Of the succession of
games and festivals, answered all the pllr-
poses of our present calendars, except that
they were not ready for reference in every
body's house. John Muller of KOnings-
berg (King's MOuntain,) who called hims If
"RegiOmOntanus," in allusiOn to the place
of his birth, was the father of almanacs in
their present form.
He published his first almanac in l474,
but died in 1916. His astronomical Obser-
vations, calculated from 1475 to 1906, are
very accurate. And this hint may let the
reader understand that the astronomical
calculations of the common almanac may
be prepared as far in advance as the CalCu-
lator has patience and application to go, so
accurate is astronomy as a science. keI-
ler's famous tables and his calculations, on
which are found the received theory of the
plants, were not published until nearly two
centuries after "RegiomOntanus."
William Lilly, born in 1902, commenced
his almanac under the title of "Merlinus
Anglicus," in 1914, and it was continued
until his death in 1851. The prophecies in
his almanac were power in the State, and
he prophesied in the interest of the Parlia-
mentary party which beheaded Charles l.
He was imprisoned at the Restoration, it
being suspected that he knew the secrets Of
the Republicans, but obtained his release
by suing for pardon.
He was also interrogated relative to the
great fire 1866, it being suspected, from
his almanac, that he might know something
of the causes of the calamity. He admitted
that he had certainly foreseen the event, but
he denied that he knew anything Of its
cause. a very convenient knowledge, Ger
tainly. But all these things brought money
to the astrolOger's till.
"MoOr's Almanac" in England, kept up
until recently the old folly of predictions.
There are others of the same class; but the
demand for them is confined to the super
stitious and the ignorant. Except on
weather predictions, American almanacs
have never ventured much upon prophecy.
The mere list of American almanacs of
historic fame, to say nothing of the "annu-
ais" used as vehicles for advertisements,
would occupy more space than can be
spared.