The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-08-31
Dog Days,

is, like many other weather superstI-
ticns, to be referred to very remote
antiquity AS popular conceits do not
recognize astronomical discoveries and
changes, the current notions Of signs
aud weather wonders are often at war
with fact aud science. The moon for
instance, is largely blamed or praised
for influences with which that body
can have very little to do; aud the
terms "lunatic" and "moon struck, "
and their associates and derivatives are
standing lbels upon the bright satellite
which makes night gloriousr The "Dog
Star" is even more uniustly dealt with,
being held accountable for rabid heats
aud rabid dogs. The connection be-
tween Sirius, which is the dog star,
aud anything upon our earthly abode,
is purely iancilul, except, indeed, such
connection, yet undiscovered, as any or
all the starry host may have.
As warm weather reading, a few
facts about the dog star and dog days
may be acceptable. A writer in Gas.
sells Magazine has collected some Of
these notes, which will be used 10 the
present article, supplemented by facts
aud faucies from other sources. "Names
are things" says the familiar proyerb,
and "Sirius" may be first taken by his
name. "Sihor" was one Of the ancient
names of the River Nile, about the
sosurces Of which river, some of the
testy English geographers, with unin,
tcntioual consistency, are now going
mad against Mr.. Stanley for his dis.
eoyery of DR.. Livingstone, who is Ger
tainly mile mad" But the method
in the Dr.s madness will probably re.
suit 10 the solution Of great geograph.
ical problem.
1t was observed some three thousand
years ago, more or less, that twenty
days before the dog star rose "heliacal-
ly" or with the sun, the rising Of the
Nile commenced, and thence the name
dog star, in allusioa to watch dog
seeing danger aud warning people oI
its approach. The inhabitants Of tracts
subject to overflow took the warning
aud removed. As coincidence is very
apt to be confounded with cause and
effect, and as the overflow of the river
whatever advantage it conferred upon
agriculture, had the reverse influence
upon health, the dog star came in oi
course for the blame Of the malarious
influences. Twenty days after ths
"heliaenl" rising were marked of a:
"dog days" in the calendar Greect
and Rome imported the sup rslitiol
FROM Egypt, aud we have inherited th,
notion from them. For centuries the
dies eaHicuttres, or "dog days" of III,
Roman calendar were received il
Europe aud in this country. They be
gan about the first of July, and CLOSED
about the middle Of August. Preeis,
dates in common English old fashioned
almlnacs give the Sd of July as the
first of the dog days, and llth of Aug
as the last.
The writer hereof heard 1t confidently
said the other day, that "the dog days
are over" If the dog days, that is
the twenty days before aud the tweut,
days aIter the "heliacal" rising of tn,
star are over, then that rising of the stal
with the sun must have taken place OF
July 23l But the fact is, that til,
phenomenon did not occur until on o.
about the 18th of August. The risin;
Of Sirius with the sun varies accordin:
to the latitude Of the place where it il
observed, and occurs later and late
from year to year In due time, if th,
dog star has anything to do with th,
heat, our descendants will be pantin.
with the oppressive atmosphere ii
February.
The subject Of climate has 10 lat,
years been receiving attention whicl
will remove from popular belief man,
weather supersiitiOns. We need ye
not 20 to the stars for tho solution o
terrestrial pheuumena-always except
ing our obligations to the great centr
Of our own system-though the wonder
iul discoveries 10 astronomy are meas
Shriug what have hitherto been deemei
inappreeiable influences, aud weighin,
what have been hitherto regarded a
imponderable. A certain season ii
every summer is oppressive aud in
salubrious. The action ofnatural agent
upon vegetation, aud the influences o
changing vegetation upon the atmos
phere, the abundance Of rain, or tn
lack Of it, the overflow of waters o
their subsistence, the torrid dry heat o
the sun $ rays, or the steaming humidit,
of the air we breathe, these influences
singly or combined, produce the effect
from which it is quite time to acqui
the "dog star" Even the word "cli
mate" has become misnomer, sine
its use is based on the idea that degree
of heat accord with degrees of latitude
Various local and tidal and atmosphere
cal causes so affect the temperatur
that fan and an overcoat of furs ma,
be demanded at the same time by mel
who live in the same degree Of latitude
IL is also to be remembered that ou
comfort or discomfort, health or sicknes
depend more on ourselves, our diet, ex
ercise and mental quiet or perturbatio
than upon any influence outside Of GU
own will aud conduct. And whethe
the dog days begin on the I'd OF th
24th of July, aud end on the 18th Q
August, or the lst Of September, tn
only mode iu which we can pass ther
comfortably is to stake things by th
smooth handle" If the "dog sta
RACES" let him. We can't help il
I But we can help raging ourselves. :
Philadelphia Ledger.