The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1879-01-18

VouS41co a41ruoNo%s
Amer lean Journal of Scicnce.l
The Chinese OfIicial Almanac
is issued annually in December,
and is carefully prepared by the
board Of astronomy, an important
body. imperially appointed, prcsi-
ded over BY a prince Of the royal
blood, aud equal III dignity to any
other government body in the EN-
pirc. The Almanac is bestowed
as a special act of grace by the
emperor on the Coreans, Looch-
oans, Annamites and other tribu-
tary States. AS this publication
is so highly respected by the Chi.
nese II may fairly be considered as
the representative Of tho highest
state Observation-Disclosures reach
ed BY them. A large part Of the
astrological portion Of the Alma.
nae is intended tor ga pra ctical
guide ia tho common affairs of
litc." A Translation is given Of
the admoni,ioEs for tho first days
of the current year us follows.
Tho first day is favorable for
sacrifice and for entering school {;
at noon 1t allowable to bathc. II
Is unfavorable for starting on q
journey or changing residence.
The second day 10 favorable for
sacrifice and bathing. II is un.
favorable starting on q journey,
removing or practicihg acupunc-
turc.
The third day; there are no in-
dicati0ns.
The fourth day; may receive or
make visits aud cut out clothes; at
7 q. m. may draw up contracts,
barter and make presents. May
not go ON u journey nor break
ground.
The tifth day: may visit, battle,
shave and clean up. May not
plant aud sow.
Tho sixth day Is favorable for
sacrifice, conjugal union, visiting,
taking on 4 new servant, starting
on journey, removing, marrying,
repairing, building, breaking
ground; at 8 a N. may draw up
contracts, open shop, barter, send
presents, seal, test the soil aud
bury.
The seventh day; may level roads
but must not start on q journey.
The EIGHT; may sacrifice, memorial
ize, enter office, assume ceremonial
clothes; at s. a. m. may sit toward
the southeast; also favorable for
conjugal unions, visits, weddings,
taking OH a new servant, starting
on a journey, erecting uprights
and putting on crossbeams, build
ing, removing soil aud burying.
The writer gives few more items
and comments as follows:
And so it goes OH for nearly
every day in the year. Enough
has been translated to show the
excessive childishness and abb
surdity of this, the principal part
Of the Imperial Almanac. On the
18th one may be treated for illness
and open caches Of provisions. On
the % 1t is allowable to pull down
old houses aud walls, but drains
not be opened or wells dug until
the 25th, this is the only favorable
in the month--a very satisfactory
arrangement for criminals. There
There are four days In thirty on
which one may sweep and clean
up. 1t is advised to shave on the
5th, Esd, and 23th and to battle
seven times in the month. unfor-
tunately. the intervals between
the bath-days are unequal, and the
believer in the almanac must wait
from the 9th to 18th. and from the
14th, to the:2Srd. Besides Oh the
1st bathing Is favorable at m in"
convenient hour, viz, noon; the
hour OH the Goth GO O'Clock Is
much better.
These indications seem to affect
sensible men, yet while the China
man is net only sensible, but act
ually shrewd and keen, he guides
most of his moro important affairs
by the almanac. The poorer class
es watch the almanac carefully,
aud marry, bury, and do other
things only when It advises, and IL
Is to be feared TINT the better edu-
Gated do not start on journey
nor enter Office except on favora-
Bile days, though It Is to be hoped
they bathc, shave and clean much