The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-04-21
ASTRONOMICAL WISDOM.
Old Time sign. of the Change. Of the w

lFrUm the Home Journal
Another popular idea is that the weather
changes with the moons quarters, although, of
course, there is no truth in this piece of vulgar
astrology. That educated people, As DIR. Taylor
has truly pointed out to whom exact weather
records accessive, should still find satisfac-
ton in this fancful lunar rule, is an interesting
case of intellectual survival. Yet, however, the
fact remains, and in everyday life of the
most frequent remarks appertaining TO wet
weather is, that it will no doubt change with
the moon.
In many parts of the country great attention
is paid To the day of the week on which the
change of the moon occurs. Thus, if the moon
changes on Sunday, we are told "there will be
n flood before the month is out" whereas n new
moon on Monday is nearly everywhere well
coined as being n certain omen, not only for fair
weather, but good luck. A change, however,
Saturday, seems universally regarded rs bad
sign, and numerous proverbs to this effect are
found, scattered here and there, in most parts of
England, as well rs Scotland. Some of the most
prevalent are the following:
Saturday, change and a Sundays full moon
Once in seven years is once too SOON
In Norway, the peasantry say:
Saturday new and Sunday full
Never WIS good and never wull.
The notion exists the Continent !;
Wednesday in Italy, and Friday in the Sonth of
France being regarded unfayorable days for n
change of the moon. Again, various omens are
made from the aspect of the moon. At Whitby,
for instance when the moon is surrounded by q
halo of watery clouds, the seamen say there
will be change of weather, for the ''moon dogs"
about. This halo is called in Scotland,
'burgh," the early Teutonic word for circle, as
in the following rhyme:
About the moon there is berch
The weather will be cauld and rough.
A pale moon, too, is equally uufavorably; q
piece of weather lore to which Shakespeare al
ludes in ''Midsummer Nights Dream" (sct ii.
sc.G
Therefore the moon, the goyerness of foods,
Pale rh,, n. her anger f., wa.he. 4, all the air
When the moons horns appear to point up
ward, it is said to look like boat, and in many
parts there is an idea that when it is thus stu
ated there will be no rain-a superstition which
George Eliot describes in 'Adam Bede." at nd
ha' been better luck, If they'd ha' buried him i
the forenoon, when the rain was fallin; there's
no likelihood of drop now. An the moon lies
like boat there. That's a sure sign of fair
weather." According to the sailors, when the
moon is in this position it denotes fine weather,
for, to Use their phrase, "You might hang your
hat upon it," In Liverpool, however, it is con-
sidered sign of foul weather, the moon is
now considered to he like basin of water about
to fall. The Scotch proverb inculcstes the fol-
lowing admOnition:
The honey moon is on her back
Mend your shoes and sort your thack.
Whenever n large planet or large star is seen
near the moon, it is said by sea-faring men, to
prognosticate boisterous weather, for, to make
use of their term, "a big star is DIGGING the
mOon.' Some years ago, says u correspondent
Of Notes and Queries, fisherman of Torquay
told me after violent gale, that he had fore
seen the storm, rs he had seen one star ahead of
the moon towing her, and another astern chas-
ing her. Many other superstitious fancies are
associated with the moons supposed influence
on the weather, varying, of course, in different
localities. Thus, clear moon il generally sup
posed to augur bright weather in summer, and
frost in winter. One proverb tells us:
If the shows a silver Shield
Be not afraid To reap your field:
But if she rises halOed round,
Soon vel tread on deluged ground.
In winter time, according to popular adage,
Clear NOON frost soon.