St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-03-03
TlME.HONoRED BELIEFS.
Some Sensible Observations Concerning the
Moon and the Weather.

Some Sensible Observations Concerning the
Moon and the Weather.
The moon is an interesting planet to
any people-to lovers, to mariners,
to late-hour wanderers, and especially
to weatherwise observers. AS regards
these last, an English scientific writer
Mr.. John Westwood Oliver-has re-
Gently published an article in one of
the monthly magazines that should
have instruction for them. He dis
courses on The Moon and the Wealth
en-" and undertakes to explode some
of the long-cherished notions and SUI
perstitions which have descended from
ancient times regarding the influence
of the lunar orb upon the meteorolog-
ical conditions of the earth, and which
are still accepted as gospel truth by
not few persons in Europe and Amer
lea. Science handles such matters
with a cold, iron glove, giving no quar-
ter either to superstition, tradition or
credulous assumption, and showing no
mercy to hypothetical theories. 1t
deals with stubborn facts, and insists
upon testimony based upon actual
demonstration. 1t takes nothing for
granted, and has no more respect for
that which is not proven than soar
ing eagle has for transparent cloud
of mist.
Mr.. Oliver goes into the very mar
row of his subject, and shows that there
is, as matter of fact, no credibility to
be given to any of the notions about
the changes of the moon affecting the
weather; that the ''new moon" and the
"cld moon,' the quarter-moon and the
half-moon, the dark moon and the full
moon, are very much alike, except in
exterior appearance and in the times
and degrees of luminosity, being the
same old planet under changed aspects.
and that, excepting as to the rays of
borrowed light it sends to us by re-
Election, and possibly the slight heat
that is radiated by such reflection, il
has about as little influence upon, OF
connection with, the atmosphere of this
sublunary world of ours, so far as we
have any evidence, as have the stellar
nebule of the Milky Way.
. We quite agree with Mr.: divers
views. We say this at the risk of CALL
ing down upon us the wrath of some of
our older readers, for we are we'll
aware how tenderly many of our old
people nurse their moon shiny wealth
er notions. But our experience and
observation have so often taught us
that the weather does not nece ssarily
change with the change of the moon
that we have not particle of faith in
any such theoEy, nor in any other
moon-weather theory, not even in the
"man in the NOON" 1t is all mis-.
take, and the wonder is that every
observant man or woman who has
lived in the world for many years, has
not ere this discovered the mistake.
Have they not often been dis
appointed in anticipated changes
of the weather with the moons
changes? During the protracted
drought of last year, how often did the
moons changes fail to bring the hoped
for clouds of rain! How often in former
seasons did we watch for variations Of
the lunar phenomena, expecting and
hoping for relief from terms of excess
sive heat or cold, or rain Or drought,
and were disappointed True, &C.
casionally it so happens that moon
changes and weather changes occur
but it is a fortuitous CO.
incidence rather than the result of any
natural law. Whether changes occur
quite as often when the moon gives no
sign or promise as during the advent
Of certain phases of that satellite which
are supposed to be productive of.weather
changes.
But we are told that the fact is ac-
cepted as long ago absolutely estab-
ished, that the moon governs the flow
and the ebb of the ocean tides, and
chat it is, therefore, not unreasonable
to- suppose that the same planet more
Or less influences the atmospheric and
The meteorological conditions of the
earth. The superstition, while allowa-
Die, is not tenable, because not demon
'trable. We know that the moon gov
ems the tides, but we do not know that
t causes or influences either drought
" moisture; but, rather, know just
he contrary. The superstitious notion
hat if you happen to get your first
light of the new moon over your right
therefore you will be lucky
III through the ensuing month, is not
more absurd than is the notion that a.
hange of the moon brings change of
he weather. Much rs we like to cling
o some of these old beliefs and super
titions, yet, being unworthy of our re-
,ard, hadn't all of us, as rational be-
ngs. better consign them to oblivionP
= Chicago Journal.
Kaonipr Within Bounds