Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-05-15
Almanacs.

Alm608cS.
Almanacs are generally supposed to
nave originated with the Arabs. as the
term is composed of two Arabic words
signifying Diaries The superstition,
beliefs to which the habits of life of this
people inclined them, the wild and deso-
late localities in which their temporary
habitations were fixed, as we'll as their
monotonous existence, rendered them
peculiarly liable to be impressed by the
mysterious practices of star-gazers and
soothsayers. Such was their fanatical
reliance upon the influence which tho
movements of the various heavenly bod
les were supposed 10 exert, that only
important expeditions, but even ordina-
ry domestic duties, were determined bv
the divinatiOns of the astrologer. 1t
was but natural, then, that treatises de-
scrlptive OF the various changes of the
heavenly bodies, and speculations and
prophecies connected with them, should
constitute the earliest species of litera.
ture among such a people. According
ly, historians inform US that scarcely an
Arabian or Mohammedan family could
be found, in which the almanac was not
among their most valued possessions.
In the progress of years these publica-
tions were introduced among other ma
tions, who almost universally initiated
the peculiar style of the Arabiaus; and.
unit il comparatively recent date, caleu-
lations relating to the heavenly bodies
everywhere constituted principal fea-
ture OF the almanacs in manuscript form.
prepared during the middle ages, are
still TO be found in many of the libraries
OF Europe, and afford the curious stu
dents fund of interesting information.
The first printed Almanac of which
we have any authentic evidence. appenr-
ed about the middle of the 18th century.
In IVA, a series of these works, printed
in bo,h the German and Latin languages,
was introduced by celebrated German
mathematician, and Tor thirty wears
maintained an uninterrupted popularity.
Although their contents We're mainly
peculations relating to the localities
and movements of the heavenly bodies,
such was the estimation in which they
We're held, that the exorbitant price of
ten golden crowns each was demanded
and paid without hesitation.
In France during the 10th century, the
contents OF the almanac were varied bv
the introduction OF political diatri hss.re-
ilecting severely upon prominent sOes-
men and officials, and this was Soon
supplemented by a record OF clerical die
nitaries, and the gencalogics of eminent
personages, particularly of those con-
nected with the royal family.
In England, until the year 1928. astro-
logical aImancs disseminated broadcast
the seeds of tanaticism and superstition,
Notwithstanding the fact that their pub
liCation was, by roval decree, subjected
to the inspection aud approval OF tn.
highest prelatcs in the British realm.
The uneducatcd and irrcligieus taste OF
the age demanded the irrational iarpon
aud scnscless mummcrics OF the char.a-
tan and mountcbank 1t is a note
worthy and significant circumstance
that, even at As late period as the clo,.
OF the 18th century, almauacS in which
all reference to the influence Of tie moON
upon the ruriOuS members Qfthe hlBtuls
bOdy was excluded, proved entirely uu-
Salcablc. But IL 1873, a radical chan.t.
was effected in public sentiment, bv the
Society loI the Diffusion of Useful
knowledge Through the efforts Of
this Association Il more enlightened
taste Wa, introduced among the people,
and in a brief period the occupation of
the astrologer, which till then had Weld
ct Il prInccly revenue, ceased to be re-
munerative. Under The auspices ofthi-
society, the publication of the British
Almanac, work icplete with interest
aud instruction, proved Il most efficient
auxiliary III the reformation of public
sentiment. The press of England ear
ncstiy endorsed their philanthropic
spirit, and belabored with satire and in
sective the mcrccnary publishers who
had 50 long pandered to the popular
superstltiOnS Ot the age. Othcr almanac,
OF equally mcrltOrlous character, several
OF which are sUil prosperous, were
speedily projected, and the liberal ell
cOuragcment with which they were rr-
CcIved attests the more enlightened ta>tc
OF the people.
Germany, Belgium and France, each
have publication, ot this character,
which are held i'll high esteem. While
those OF the first named countries, with
lew EXCEPTIONS, rcpudiate supernatural
bcneI, and the practice OF magic arts,
the most attractive features of the
almanac, OF the French are superstition,
iancics and ianaiici.m.
In this coutry, Franklin's Poor Rich
ard Almanac, published in 1872
near oi!c HuHuIcu Years PRIOR 10 the
first issue of the British Almanac-at
once achieved great popularity, and It's
success IS an index to the genius of the
people OF his age. AT the present day
our almanacs are as radically varied in
their contents, as the nationalities rep
resented by our population, and each
truthfully reflects the tastes of the class
by whom it is patronizei. Trivial Il,
the unretlecting may be disposed to re-
gard this species of literature, the his
tory of almanacs, with synopsis of
their contents at different epochs, from
their first introduction to the present
day, would present an accurate pOrtrai-
ture of the gradual advances of the hu-
man race i'll civilization and refinement.