The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-08-08
The FaIIacy of the Supposed Influence
of the Moon upon Weather.
From; the Home and Farm

ol tile iWOOH upon SVoatner.
From; the Home and Farm.
1t is astonishing TO what an extent
a firmly fixed belief prevails that the
changes Of the weather are the result,
or are due to the changes Of the
moon. Why people will cling to ex-
ploded popular superstitions is sur
prising. The general answer is, tliaC
it is reasonable, or it was the belief
of our forefathcrs. Now the carly
ing the pumpkin in one end of the
bag and the rocks ip the other, how
ever, it may have served former gen.
erations, is not cxpcdicpt i,l this age
of progress. And it is easy to dem
onstrate that what is only reasonable
is false. Reason must combine with
truth to establish correct prnc.i.a!
conclusions.
That the moon acts upon tl.c
carth's surface by byattraction is not dis,
putcd tins is manifest in the period
ical movements Of the tides, and that
in intensity or quantity the tides are
highest ut the time OF the new and
full moon, and lowest Mt the first and
third quarters, and the comparative
immense extent Of the Ocean waters
rendering them more succcptiye to
moving cause. But because the move
ments Of the tides are the direct ac-
tion Of tic phases Of the moon, it can
scarcely be pretended that weather is
affected similarly, simply from the
fact that the specific gravity Of the
atmosphere is SO exceedingly small
that there is really nothing for attrac-
tion to act upon. BY calculation La
place proved that the joint attraction
Of the sun and moon could not move
the earth at Il greater speed than five
miles day. Then rs the moon can
no! act by attraction upon the mir,
there is only two other ways in which
it could possibly excite an influence
upon the atmospheric conditions by
reflection Of the reys Of the sun, or
by emanation.
Meteorological ipycatigations have
proven that there is 20 heat in the
light of the moon; that this fact is
within the. experience cf everyone.
The moons light is but tie t.horrow-
cd" light Of the sun. Undoubtedly
the rays Of the sun, impinging upon
the surface Of the moon, carry with
them the heat Of that luminary, but
it is exceedingly improbable to sup
pose that this heat radiates to any
distance flom the surface of the
moon. We have felt the heat reflect
cd from pond Of water when walk
ing near it, but this heat becomes
| more and more insensible as we leave
the pond and finally ceases altogether.
So it is in the case of The moon.
Then as the light Of the moon is sim
ply 8 borrowed or reflected light with
out heat, it is impossible to conceive
of any appreciable action that these
borrowed or reflected rays of light
could excite upon the circumambient
air of the earth.
Now who has ever discovered any
lunar cmanation? Not suspicion
exists that anything issues or flows
from the moon rs source or origin.
Then the influence which the moon
is popularity supposed to excite upon
the conditions of the weather is n de-
lusion. And it is equally as idle to
hunt up an almanac 10 learn when it
is going to rain as wero the proceed
ings Of the old Roman A Augurs IN in
vestigating the entrails Of animals to
foretell the issues Of future events.
1. D. r. JAMIsoN.
| ST. MATTHEWS, S. c., Feb. 5, 1879.
a Democratic Discovery.