The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-06-21
SUPERSTITIoNA ABOUT THE MOON.
Pecpljnr Beliefs Concerning It's Power-A
TURNER'S Experience.


reporter yesterday had long CONVEX
sation with well known scientific man of
this city, and during the conversation the
subject of superstitious beliefs in the chang
es of the weather and the effects OF the
moon on everything on the earth was
brought up, and the scientist remarked
"The people of this country, and especially
of this State may sheer as much as they
like at the superstitious beliefs of other
countries. They may laugh at the goblin
and fairy stories of the Irish and the harp
les of the Scotch, but as widespread as
these superstitions are, they are not SO gen
eral as the superstitions as to the power of
the moon. L took occasion to investigate
this matter some time since, and was aston
ished at the extremes to whichit was carried,
especially by the country people, who put
implicit faith in its powers, and watch its
every change with a waschful eyeas q guiding
star to their prosperity They only regard
it in two stages the light and the dark of
the moon , the one they regard as signal
to commence work and the other to discon-
tinue 1t. A large number believe that any
article sown in the dark of the moon will
not attain the strength and fullness that ii
would have if planted in the light of the
moon. They always plant their corn and
other grains in the light of the moon, and
If they do not finish they will let il go until
the moon changes again. questioned nm
old farmer about the matter, and he seemed
surprised that should doubt the effects OF
the moon in the slightest. He remarked
that he had tried the experiment on several
occasions, especially with potatoes, and
those planted in the dark of the moon never
amounted to anything, while the others
grew large and healthy. Do you see that
fence out therey he said, pointing to
fence under every corner of which q large
stone had been placed, but the stones had
sunk until the tops were even with the sur.
face of the land. Well, that is an example.
put those stones under the fence in the
dark of the moon and you see how they have
sunk. built another fence during the next
change Of the moon and the corners haze
never sunk particle. Then again have
il was wonderful. killed several hogs once
while the moon was dark and was fully sat
isfed with the result The meat diminished
greatly in size and il was almost impossible
to keep it from spelling. When it was fried
1t all dwindled away into grease and drew
up to very small size was astonished
and amused at this, and found that nearly
al the rest of the people around were equal
ly superstitious, and thought that everything
earthly and unearthly, real and unreal, was
guided by its influence. But this supersti-
ton in regard to the effects Of the moon is
not confined to Kentucky or TO the United
States. In Ireland the same opinion in re-
gard to the planting of vegetables is held,
and, IL the potatoes are planted in the dark
of the moon, some of them are said to pre-
dict an entire failure Of the crop. While
know myself that the moon is powerful
agent in regard to some matters the extent
to which this superstition is carried issimply
ridiculous, and does not seem wholly civil
zed to me."--Louisoills Courier. journal.