The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-01-27

not been yet confirmed when the
opinion of the court was announced.
The many years of controversy respect
ing the constitutionality of laws sup
pressing the traffic is virtually ended.
WEATHER PROPHETS.
False prophecy is not treated a
crime; If it were, there would be
hosts of criminals. Months ago, while
the weather was still comfortable, with
only occasional premonitions of the
coming winter. the weather prognosti-
Gators were ready to impart their wis.,
dom on the character Of the winter
season to come. A decided majority
of these, if our recollection is not at
fault, prophesied an open winter.
When asked how they obtained this
knowledge, the answer in no case was,
that it was not derived from astronomi-
cal calculations or any science in the
books, but the information came from
the brutes. The beavers, it was de-
clared, had built their winter abodes
with less solldity than they were ac-
customed wnen a hard winter was
coming. Then, again, the chipmunks
and squirrels were cited as witnesses.
In timbered parts of the country where
these animals abound, and burrow in
hollow trees during the winter, and
where they put in store of nuts for
food. if on discovery these supplies are
found scanty, then there was promise
Of an open winter; but if the store of
nuts were ample. then tedious win
ter is certain. Other animals are often
referred to to determine the mildness or
rigor Of an approaching winter. The
birds and fowls are also relied upon to
prove the expected character Of a win
ter. IT the pigeons and wild geese
were seen flying south in flocks earlier
than usual, that's sure sign we are
to have tough winter" says the
weather prophet. Various other signs
besides those derived from beasts,
quadrupeds and birds are relied upon
to foretell the coming season. Inani-
mate nature furnishes the weather
prophet with the information he
deems important. A superstitious be-
lief in signs dates back to the earliest
periods Of history. The site on which
to build the city of Rome, which sub
sequently became the mistress Of the
world, was chosen by signs. The two
brothers, Romulus and Remus, each
took his stand on one of the hills of
Rome, to observe the flight of vultures !;
to Romulus appeared the most favor
able omen, and there the eternal
city" now stands. Through all the
succeeding centuries Delphic oracles
of some kind have been consulted. In
the United States, three. quarters of q
century ago the farmers were ruled by
the moon; they were controlled in
their agricultural operations by that
mild and innocent planet. The farmer
could not plant his corn although his
grounds might be ready prepared, if
the moon was unfavorable; it must be
in the new, first quarter or full, as
might be the tradition. Various kinds
of grain must be sown. according as
the phase of the moon might be. Gar
den seeds Of different kinds had their
proper time for planting regulated by
the moon. It often happened the
farmer was ready to do a particular
kind of work and the weather favor
able, but the moon was not in the
right quarter, so the work had to be
delayed until the moon was right for
it. An almanac was found in the
house of every farmer, in which was
noted on the calendar pages the proper
time for doing particular kinds of
farm work, of course having reference
to the moons stages. It must not be
inferred that farmers were the only
moon observers, and governed so much
by its phases. People in other occupa.
tions were more or less controlled by
the supposed influence of the moon
when in its different stages. The i'm
portance of the moon as luminary in
the night time is as highly estimated
as ever, but its controlling power over
nature has lost much. if not all, its old
time respect.
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