Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-12-29

MooNsrEUCR. -''Thc sun shall not smitc
thee by day nor the moon by night. This
beautiful verse expresses the belief, common
in ancient days, that the moon exercises
baleful influence upon those exposed to her
direct rays In modern times the perncious
influence Of the moon has been doubted and
even denied. But whatever the influence of
the moon in the temperate zones, within the
tropics it is very injurious to sleep exposed
to its rays, especially when at the full. On
a voyage to the antipodes when near the
line, Maltese sailor, who was a most conf
cal fellow, slept for some hours on the boom
with his face toward the full moon. On wax
ing in the morning the muscles on the right
side of his face were contracted, so that
every attempt to speak was attended with
the most ludicrous Cortortions Feeling sure
that something was seriously wrong, he spoke
to another sailor, who, supposing that as usu-
al he was at his odd tricks, burst out into
laughter on he went to another, with ex-
actly the same result The poor fellow now
got into a rage, thereby adding not little to
the righteousness of the scene. Afterawhilethe
truth dawned upon the Captain and officers
Of the vessel. The doctor gave him some
medicine, the muscles gradually relaxed, and
in the course of a week our Maltese friend
was well again. Some five or six years ago,
when sailing from Tahati to Mangaia, little
boy Of mine, in perfect health, was thought
lessly placed by his nurse in his berth, the
santing beams of the moon falling on his
face Next morning he was feverish and i'll,
and it was two or three days before he was
himself again. On the island of Aitutaki
native woman was watching night after night
for the return of her husband from the island
of Atiu. While doing so one night she fell
asleep, the moons rays pouring upon her
face On awaking, she felt ill, and her eyes
were drawn on one side. Considerable in
terest was felt by the islanders in her case.
Eventually, however, her eyes were restored.
These facts illustrate the injury done to hu-
man beings by the moon in the tropics. Yet
| never heard of insanity or death resulting
from this cause 1t is well known, however,
in tropical countries that the moons rays Oc-
casion the rapid decomposition of flesh and
fish \ number of bonitas having been
caught one evening near the line by friend
of mine, the spoil was hung up in the rigging
Of tie ship, and was thus exposed to the
moon through the night. Next morning it
was cooked for breakfast. Symtoms of pois-
oning were soon exhibited by all who partOok
of t-their heads swelling to a great size,
etc. Emetics were promptly administered,
and happily no one died TAe natives of the
South Pacific are careful never to expose fish
Ia constant article of diet in many islands, to
the moons rays by any chance They often
sleep by the sea-shore after fishing, but new
er with the face uncovered. The aboriginals
Of Australia do the same as well as they can
with their fishing-ncts, etc. A fire answers
the same purpose. May not the injurious in
fiuence of the moon lin addition to her beau
ty and utility account for the almost univer-
sal worship of that orb throughout the heath
en- world .-NMMdnN ct Homo.