The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-09-30
QUEER NOTIONS ABOUT THE MOON.

An interesting relic of primeval
HDaystition of the Aryan race survives
MfMfanciful conception that the lunar
spots are not meaningless specks, but
representations of human beings. Every
one, says MIR. Barring Gould, knows that
the moon is inhabited by a man with a
bundle of sticks on his back, who has
been exiled thither for many centuries,
and who is so far off that he is beyond
the reach of death. Dante calls him
Cain; Chaucer speaks of him as under
going punishment up there for theft,
and gives him thorn bush to carry;
whereas Shakespeare, whilst assigning
70 him the thorn load, by way of COM
pensation allows him dog for his COM
panon. From general account, how
ever, his offense seems not to have been
stealing, but Sabbath breaking idea
derived from the Old Testament. Like
the man mentioned in the Book of
Numbers, he was caught gathering
sickS on q Sunday, and for this act OF
dlsobedience, and as an example to
mankind, was condemned to reside for
ever N the moon, with his bundle on
MS back. A further legend Identifies
him with the figure of Isaac in the act
otAarying bundle of sticks for his
sacrlice; while the Jews have a Tai
mudica story that Jacob is in the moon,
and they believe that his face is occa-
aonauy visible. This belief in the
moon-man is found in most countries
ana hader a variety of forms. Thus
ine Swedish peasantry explain the
hnaf spots as representing a boy and
griAearing a pail of water between
mein, whom the moon once kidnapped
aaa carried up to heaven-a legend ex-
sung also in Icelandic mythology. Ac-
cordfhg to one German tale, a man and
swoman stand in the moon-the man,
because he strewed brambles and thorns
% the church path, SO as to hinder peo-
ple from attending mass on Sunday
nloriingg; the woman because she made
putter on that day. The woman
s1sRs her butter tub and the man
as bundle of thorns. The Dutch myth
Y mat the unhappy man was caught
Heallng vegetables. The natives of
veylon, instead of man, have placed
1are In the moon, and it is reporte d
W'nave got there in the following man
aef; Their great deity Buddha. when a
aefmlt on earth, lost himself one day
Z forest. After wandering about in
gle& distress he met hare, who thus
aa9essed him: cit is in my power to
salficate y you from your difficulty; take
u, Ie path ON your left hand and it will
.oau you out of the forest" "I am
Heatly obliged to you," said Buddha,
out unfortunately l am very poor and
tsly hungry and have nothing to offer
,o ,ua N reward for your kindness" elf |
.u Z are hungry" returned the hare,
=. am again at your service. Make a |
x,sHAl me, roast me and eat. me-
Suauna made the fire and the hare at |
vnee Jumped into it, where he has re-
saned ever since. The Chinese repre-
;sa1 ; the moon by rabbit pounding rice |
+, mortar. Their NEUROLOGICAL moon
sas.no sa is figured by beautiful young |
sa sull'an with a double sphere behind |
Z head and rabbit at her feet. If |
y. - nursery rhyme is to be credited the
,.s the moon once visited this earth
rS;a. s uGk fancy to some peas-porridge /
III Ssp Z ne was in such a hurry to devour
-'As ne scaided his mouth: b
me man in the moon
Game tumbling down
h.. ana asked hls way to Norwich"
~. yaether he ever reached his desti-
La.. are not told. An Australian
rss spap says that originally the moon
,oa sas native cat who fell in love with
80 49, one else's wife and was driven
E sse'wander ever since. Among the
-, ,Yumaux the sun is a maiden and the
4 sa .hl Is ., her brother; and the Khasias
~ sfMalaya say that the moon falls
month m love with his mother-in-
w. VINO throws ashes in his face,
Ns,aN N ms srots. The tribes of the
nasn tan Pen nsula believe that the
eb;s M : a woman and the stars are her
,Iss.Sen' whereas in South America
msa rs aslegend that. the moon is
A aaa the sun Is his wife.