The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-07-18
WEATHER suPERsTITIoNs.

The weather is common topic of conversation
with all, but many whom we meet seem to think
can discuss other subject nteligibly and hence,
Will hear great deal more about the weather
than other people, at least we hear some very alb
surd notions and often from otherwise very in
telligent people, Many people wait patiently for
a change of moon to affect the weather favorably
and have faith that 1t will rain when the moon
changes. The moon gradually approaches Ger
tain point relatively to the earth and sun; day by
day it nears point where It will be exactly be-
the weather only when it is at that point? Per-
haps it attains that point at midnight and Is thus
on the opposite side of the earth ut the moment
of conjunction can any one believe that its in
fluence can gather or dispense the clouds upon
this slider Allow that there may be teria tides.
these slight disturbances of the atmosphere could
affect nothing compared with causes operating
Immediately on the earth's surface. Notice that
the increasing heat of the sun "a certain atfect)
may be neutralized by winds and other causes
operating on the earths surface, that the first day
of aspiring month may be the warmest day of the
turbing causes had prevailed, the temperature
ought to have gone on increasing day by day until
the I'D, when the sun was most nearly over head;
but on the contrary, the first day of June gave the
highest mean temperature of any day in the
month. ltseems evident that If what is called the
change of the moon were fully understood, no
such superstition could prevail. 1t Is credibly
recorded that persevering observers have watched
for these effects upon the weather through the in
effects could be detected. A very general super
stition, much more easily discouraged, is that
new moon Is either wet or dry moon according
to the position of its enlightened part, and per-
feet disproof of this superstition Is the fact that
different observers construe the sign differently.
Some affirm that if the moon is very much turned
up dry weather is indicated; others prognosticate
wet weather from the same position, "if the In
dian can hang his powder horn up safely, he may
put by his rifle and stay in his wigwan, there is
going to be a wet time" The dry weather partis-
ans, see in a turned up moon that it will catch
all the water like basin, and not drop can de-
scend to the EARTH Whether the moon be enlight-
ened more upon its side upon its lower portion,
depends upon its position relatively to the sun
whether 1t or the sun be farther north or farther
south, and their relative positions may be deter
mined by calculation for any particular new moon
in any year. Besides the inhabitants of entire
continents over which droughts and floods are pre-
vailing In different places at the same time, see
this phenomenon, and should by general agree
ment make the weather Uet or dry, when 1t is
known that wet and dry weather are prevailing at
the same time in different places.
Is 1t not surprising that some of the most reason
able men in the community have their wet and
dry moons. This superstition like many another
has descended from the fathers" and is received
in good faith without thought or reason.
g. G. CURTIss.
oakland Boarding School, Fdllston