San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-03-23
PREDICTING A ToRRID SUMNER.
AstrsIogIsts Foreteiiing seorehing season-Pro-
phecies that May or May Not Come True.

pheeies that MAY or May Not Come True.
New York Star
Last summer was warm and dry
enough TO discourage the farmers and
gardeners; but, according to the indi-
cations, the coming season will be more
marked for its heat and absence OF rain.
This prediction is based upon the cal
culations of the astrologers, and, like
many of their prophecies, is, in great
measure, guess work. Accordingto the
astrologeis the relative positions OF the
planets will be such as to affect the at
mosphere surrounding our earth. 1t
is expected that sufficient heat will be
reflected on these bodies to evaporate
the moisture in the atmosphere, and
thus prevent rain. Some OF the astro-
logers make the not very comforting
prophecy that our atmosphere will be
destroyed altogether, and that there be-
ing no air to temper the rays OF the
sun, vegetation will be withered, the
brooks and rivers will dwindle away,
and the earth will become cracked and
fissured, like the sides Of volcanic
mountain. These predictions, these
gloomy prophets say, may lead us to
believe that Mother Symptoms prophecy
has had some foundation after all. Be
this as it may, it is certain that Mother
Shipton has made a mistake of at least
one year in her calculations.
The superintendent of the United
States signal-service bureau, whose
headquarters are situated upon the
roof of the Equitable building, was
asked what he thought of the astrolo.
gical predictions. Shifting huge qnid
of tobacco from one side of his mouth
to the other, so as to enable him to
speak more readily, he exclaimed:
"Stuf and nonsence! l don't believe
that any living man or woman knows
anything about the kind of weather we
are going to have next summer. If 1
was going to make prediction would
say that we will have plenty of rain
during the coming season."
"Why do you thing sol"
Because last summer was dry one;
and experience has shown us that it is
seldom that we have two consecutive
seasons alike. The oldest inhabitant
will tell you that every alternate year is
good year for fruit and crops. Now,
L am looking for season of abundant
harvests and luxuriant vegetation, when
the land will be almost literally over
flowing with milk and honey"
els it true that the earth is nearer the
sun than over before?"
"That is hard question to answer;
O million of miles more or less is the
distance, between our planet and the
great luminary, is difficult to calculate,
and even the most skillful astronomers
have admitted that their measurement
is to some extent matter of guess
work.
slave there been any marked
changes in recent years in the appear
ance of the surface of the sun?"
ooh, yes, there have been some
marked changes; astronomers tell us
that within the last five years these
spots on the face of the luminary have
changed to greater extent than during
anv previous five years within century.
Whether these changes will or will not
affect our atmosphere and bring on dry
weather is more than L know or will
pretent to say. If the atmosphere sur.
rounding the sun is, as some claim, fast
disappearing, it may be that the solar
rays will become more and more in
tense, uncomfortable, and Che heavens
are rolled up like scroll. But all this
speculation is too deep for me, and do
not care to wade in beyond my depth.
The old time astrologers, in my opinion,
were great humbugs."
Prof. J. W. Cluhm has made astro-
logy special study for the last quarter
of a century. He is free to admit,
however, that many of the pretensions
made by the professors of his craft are
akin to humbuggery. When asked for
his opinion in regard to the weather of
the coming summer, he said;
II will tell you what the prospects
are as nearly as 1 can calculate, from
the conjunction of the planets. You
must remember that astrologists are as
liable to make errors as any class of
mathematicians or astronomers. A sim
gle figure that is incorrect or a sign
that is out of place, will spoil calcula-
ton aud produce result which is far
from being true"
81 suppose so,sir; but please give me
YOUR prediction for next summer"
"The planet Mercury will be visible
as the evening star on the LIST of June,
and as the morning star July the 10Th,
and the relative position of Mercury
with Venus and Jupiter in June and
July next summer will be such as to in
dictate absence of rain with extremely
warm weather. Not only the planets
which have named, but others also
must be taken into consideration.
There will be total eclipse of the sun
on the 18th of May, but not in this por-
ton of the globe. Naturally an eclipse
tends to cause cooler weather, but this