The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-29
AHAbout the DoS-Days.

TPioydence Journal.l
This uninteresting spell Of weather COM
mcnced the 25th, and continues until the
STU OF September. The doss-days are
really upon us, and we must bear the hot,
sticky, murky, and disagl lccable weather as
best we can. During their reign there is
little lie in the air, little eXhiaraton In the
sunlight, and little elasticity in the animal
economy. "This is a regular dog-day! -
will he an oft-rcpeated remark during the
forty DAYS 10 come. Every one will recog-
nize the kind OF weather described IN the
exclamation, though every one VIII not re-
member the origin OF the word when from
| long usage is Synonymous with it. Dog
days is a term for which we are indebted TO
the ancient Thebans, who first cultivated
astronomy in Egypt, and determined the
length Of the year by the number OF rlslnss
OF the dog-star, or Sirius. At the season OF
the year when this brilliant star rose with
the sun their combined influence was sup
posed to bc productive OF pestilential heat
and all manner of bancful influences.
Therefore the Egyptians watched the con-
| junction OF Sirius and the sun with mingled
| feelings OF hope and fear, for it forctold to
them the rising OF the Nile, and was
| omnous OF fruitful crops or devastating
droughts. Their dog-days extended from
the 4th Of August to the 14th Of Septcm-
Der. The rising Of Sirius. however, has
been so accelerated by the procession OF the
cqunnXcs during the passage OF more than
two thousand years that The corresponding
conditions for The ancient d0g-days would
include them within the Sd Of July and the
11th Of August. It will readily be seen
that our modern dog-days have no conncc-
ton with the rising Of Sirius or any other
star, because no permanent data can be
based upon stars whose positions
are always changed by the falling
back OF the equlnoctial points. The
dog-days refer to particular kind Of
weather, which marks about forty days oc-
curing 4 month after the summer solSticc,
and based entirely on that epoch. They
simply retain an ancient name, rs in many
other instances, without retaining its sig
niicance. 1t may seem strange that Sirius,
which is seen overhead in midwinter,
should be associated with the heat Of sum-
mer; but it must be remembered that this
star is overhead in midsummer in the day
time, though. like the other stars, invisible
on account of the sun. ..-. ...
Fortunately for humanity, the dog-days
are not made up entirelyof days wearing to
the flesh and depressing to The spirit, Some
Of the most delightful days of the summer
are interspersed with those that try mems
souls, while in return many regular dog.
day cncroacheS upon later and more en-
ioyable portion OF the year. This proves
that phvsicai experience is the counterpart
of human experience. Sunshine and serenit!
are followed by clouds and storms, just a:
enjoymcnt OF iieis followed by its crosses
and perpleXilies. Perfect weather is as i'm
possible under the physical laws that rule
our planet as perfect happiness is under th'
| laws that regulate our mental and mora
well-being. The most commendablc phi
losophy is, therefore. that which makes tht
best Of external conditions and finds source:
for contcntmcnt and Improvement under
the darker as well us the brighter influence;
| that surround us.