Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-13
Wednesday Morning, April 1s. 1881.
THIS WONDERFUL YEAR.

THIS WONDER FIJI YEAR.
 The learned and brilliant astronomical edi-
 tor of the Providence Journal calls attention
 to the fact that astrology is not dead even in
 the most highly civilized countries, and as
 proof cites the publication of two astrologi-
 cal almanacs in London, which have been
 regularly issued for more than fifty years,
 each claiming circulation of more than
 40, 900. It is not probable that those who
 publish these almanacs have any faith in as-
 trology, but they find profit in the gullibility
 of their patrons.
 The approaching conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the sign of Taurus has revived an interest in astrology. This event, says the Joua7saps astronomer, is the stronghold of modern astrolegers, and around it's ad- vent cluster their most frightful predictions. The conjunction of the two planets, occur ring every twenty years, is comparatively mild event. But their conjunction in the sign of Taurus, which we are shortly to wit ness, is more ominous of evil than any plan etary conf suration that will occur for ages. Zabdil's Almanac runs wild with fearful fore bodings concerning it. The last conjunction
 
 the year of the second crusade against the Turks, when two hundred thousand of the combatants were slain; Ireland was the scene Of anarchy and civil war, and pesti- fence, earthquake and famine desolated the other countries, which, like Asia Minor and Ireland, are ruled by the sign Taurus. These dire events are about to recur around the hac and pestilence will be the doom of countries ruled by this unlucky sign. Cabul, where the combined planets are exactly setting, is to be visited with an earthquake. Dark days are in store for Great Britain for Mars, be- ing in the seventh house and in opposition to Uranus, her navy will be engaged in many battle. The Eastern question will write the future history of Europe in letters of blood and flame. Persia will feel the dire influence of war, and insanity, epidemic cholera and failure of crops are to follow in this train of wars and earthquakes. There is bright side, however, to the British pie ture, for the horoscope of the Queen is pre- eminently fortunate, and in consequence of this rebutting influence, her mighty empire 6OSo4O extended. The United States is only mildly afflicted by the reigning planetary powers, for she has little to do with i1l-boding Taurus. She is promised a rising revenue and generally prosperous and successful state of affairs, though the solar eclipse of the 27th of May threatens brain troubles and malignant levers for Utah, as well as an over throw of Mormon ascendancy. The evil star of Russia rose at the beginning of the astron- omical spring, when the planet Mars rushed through her ruling sign, and foreshadowed a season of suffering, discord, insurrection and bloodshed for her people. Astrologers came near making lucky hit, for they prophesied personal danger for the Czar about the 9th of March. If they had said the 18th, the date of the assassination, the coincidence would have been noteworthy. Danger will not end with the great conjunction on the 22d, for the planets seem determined to keep near each other, and every time they meet disas trous results follow in some quarter of the globe.
 Although astrology as a science is nearly exploded, astronomers are discussing the question whether these planets whose posi- lions were supposed to rule the destinies of men born under them may not be the excit ing cause of some of the phenomena agitat ing the globe, their attraction acting upon she sun and the sun in turn acting upon ,he earth The Journals astronomer says this: Planetary action is thus made the indirect agent 1.-the death of many 1 thousands of human beings, the victims of ,he unusual elemental warfare that will make this year long to be remembered. It 1 s only theory, like almost everything con- l 1ected with astronomy, and the giant planets l must swing round to perihelia many times | before the question can be decided. There | nay be something in it, however, and if so, 1 lstrology in a new phase will shake hands | 4cross the intervening ages with the ancient | cience which saw in the beaming planets, as | hey tracked the heavens, friends and foes, watching over the nativities and destinies of he human race"