The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-08-25
Planetary Dangers.

"Among the various questions asked
me-" writes Mr.. Richard A. Proctor,
respecting matters astronomical, have
found none more frequently repeated
land none, let me add, more absurd)
than those relating to the dangers which
are supposed to be threatened this
year and during the next four years
by planetary influences. It has been
noticed by certain writers, who have
derived their information from astronO-
mers-though to Judge by their tone
they might be themselves the NewtUns
and Herschels of our day-that during
the years 1S81-1885 the four giant plan
cts, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Nep-
tune, pass their perihelia, or the points
of their nearest approach to. the sun.
Then also it has been noticed that during |
that time the giant planets are more
than once in conjunction in pairs with
each other, and three of them in close,
but not exact, alignment with each other,
with the sun and with the moon on ce'
tain dates. The writer's I refer to fort
manifestly in great confusion of miyt Col
to the real nature of these phencaTn ua
of planetary motion, though this % aS1
sion only tends to make their prop 11'laO
AAOAO ILL PACcoAvO ~ 6AvAue W. 0AASAAf O~1~SO
of great mystery.
Recently what may be termed, , Oe aIr-
system of astrology has been sugsre nc.
by the ill weighed words of somd -four
are not without pretensions to be received.
ed as men of science. The idea hal reject
thrown out that the spots on the sur, stot
in some way influence terrestrial wed post.
not generally but specifically, inner Of
sort that could the law of the infiy bid:
be but recognized it would becomf'ns,h;mea
sible to predict the weather fol At thee
periods in advance, and with the we
such events as famines, pestilences2ld be
mercial disasters, and so forth. I'll" and
has been suggested that the sun T. re- re-
are in some way dependent on the
tary movements, At one time, is. A.
there we're thought to be good
for believing that the great SUI
period is identical with the penty, IA
which Jupiter travels around the verton.
myself, when as yet the evidence IN the
complete, suggested the possibilSS s "' sn..
longer period Of nearly sixty ,dition.
which seemed to have been recogpmquire
the sun spot changes, might be puttle,
- a. ,,o,;ra l., ,vh;oI, Jr,;tor or1Fes TO
w Sno peiiou ~ - p':..a.; 5buver.
in neither of these cases do the
really synchronize, this idea of
tary influence in connection
solar spots was at once seen to be-
able by any logically minded stu
science.
cat one time spots have beef
numerous when Jupiter has been
helion, at another when he has
aphelion; his distance, then cann'
sibly be in any way connected W
occurrence of sun spots-anu
larly of the coHjunctions of Jupiti
Saturn. It is mere accident
these cases there had been an apNie
to synchronism, though of course
had done as we'll and wisely in
the apparent connection and inl
sing its possibility as later in YsSs
the idea of any real association. lS.
ION the strength of these TIVE
one of which has had to be rejectP
the other THAT of solar inlue,
terrestrial weather) is held by 81
one man of science competent to
an opinion upon it, some foolii
two or three designing) person.
based the idea of planetary f's
or which there is not the
dow of any real foundationI
are, indeed. as absurd and uns
as the pretended principles OF
such men as Tice and Vennor pause
genus omne," claim to predt but
weather. The professors (save tlet'n.
of the new astrology are as ignol
mischevous as the charlatans pea~
der the names Of Zadkiel, Rapha
have deluded foolish persons w.
jargon of the old astrology, the apps.
ciples of which are utterly unk
them. Boz.
IT may here mention that . sd ply.
since noticed in letter address
contemporary, an impudent att
maintain that the astrologerso of
Lieutenant Morrison Zsdkiek
like, are mathematicians, bee
announce the days Of planetar
ton, etc., two or three years
-as If it were not we'll known
penditure OF q dollar wonld
one, by purchasing nautical
to predict such phenomena fly
advance"