Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-05

of Scaliger, Riccius, Kunrath, ,Duret and
| Vigniere. Complaint is made that many
strange and devilish things" have been foist-
| ed on the science which ought never to have
had any connection with u.s. ITO its grievous
hurt and to the aking for it OF a bad name. "
| The idea of Aponensis in representing differ
| eut pOstures of men, women and diverse hv-
| ing creatures was correct, for tho learned as
| trologer had observed that those born under
| certain conjunctions of planets with signs OF
| the zodiac were invariably inclined to one
| and the same thing.
Thus the planet Of Mars, being the ascend
ant Of the first degree of Aries those born
under it were found invariably industrious
| at home and warljke abroad hence the fig
| ure of man with q sickle in on0 hand signl-
| flying labor, and bow in the other, the bow
being the ''hieroglyphic of war" So also
those born while the same planet was in the
second degree Of the same sign were quarrel
| some, peevish and envious as dogs; hence the
representation Of man with dogs head
between his shoulders and cudgel in his
hand The third figure showed that the child
would be peaceable, and the fail and hawk in
the fourth figure showed that wealth might
be acquired, but would be invariably scatter
ed broadcast as fast as earned. A child born
while Mercury was in the first degree Of
Taurus was always found to De addicted to
bloodshed ard butchery, and hence the rep
resentation Of man driving an OK to a
slaughter house. these are all established
facts" says the author, and ''no more of the
Hebrews or Egyptians invention than the
brazen horse is of mine"
The pillar of fire which led the Jews was,
according to ancient writer's, clearly provided
by God as a standing reminder to them Of
his constancy. Andreas Rosa said 1t was
merely an ordinary 1000 year comet. His
theory was that every 1000 years there was
an exceptionally startling celestial pheuome-
non. Thus the pillar of fire occurred 1900
years after the creation of the world; 1000
years later the star appeared to the wise men
in the east and led them to Bethlehem; 1000
years still later new star was discovered in
the constellation of Cassiopela. Seneca, Pla-
vorinus and other astrological and astronomi-
cal authorities are quoted to prove that Rosa
was entirely wrong. Neither the pillar Of
fire nor the star in the east could be accounted
for by anything but a miracle, for neither Of
them had the motion of an ordinary comet.
And as to the new star in Cassiopela. two
others were seen between 1872 and 1904, thus
y .
A comet in the form of q pyramid was
held to portend heavy losses by fire or much
suffering from the tyrannical practices Of
princes. If it was largely waved or with tho
appearance of water, it indicated floods and
sedition, or o vision Of great waters and
many people The general history of the
times showed that, after serious foundations,
the people were Disconnected and more ready
70 i,,c,, flu
comets rssembled the figure of horn, the
hieroglyphic of great power, and such phe-
nomcna were held to "foreshew" the great
strength and unlimited power of monarch
or general When Xerxes invaded Greece
with million Of men the oracle encouraged
him by referring to comet of unprecedented
beauty which appeared just as his mammoth
preparations were completed.
COMETS AND BIRDS
When a comet was so shaped as to have
the figure Of a drawn sword, terrible desola-
ton by the sword was predicted. Such
one, says the author of ''Unheard-of Curiosi-
ties, appeared over the City of Hierusalem
for q whole year together, and did foretell
the death of eleven hundred thousand JewJ,
as Josephus tells, in great part by the sword"
In 1927 there was a comet Of this kind, which
was visible for many days, appearing ali the
time to be surrounded by representations Of
pixies and halberts and heads without bodies,
SO much so that the spectacle was quite hor-
rible The wise men were unanimous in con-
Meeting the vision with the "troublous times
which those well versed in history know did
follow" A comet resembling trulapet fore
told war, but by singular process Of reason
ing. if it looked like dart, an arrow or a
javelin, it was held to denounce war, and to
warn the warrior who saw it to disband his
army and postpone his expedition.
Birds of the air were credited with a
keener sense of the import Of Celestial signs
than human beings, and Mr.. Gafferel ex-
plains how very easily the a ing members of
the feathered tribe have maintained their
reputation on this point Thus, when the
raven, screech owl, or horn owl came croak-
ing round the window of SICK chamber 600
years ago the patient knew that his end was
near, for the bird had surely read the signs
Of the heaven Alright; and SO accurate were
thee forecasts that mo one in his senses
doubteth them now" that is. in 1850. These
birds, IL is explained, delight in dark and Sc
Guided places, and are naturally selected
when bearers Of Ill tidings are wanted.
Again, the raven always croaked when rain
was about to fau, and all birds were good
weather prophets, iEaparting their infogma-
ton sometimes by their fight, at others by
song or cry, and at others by forsaiing old
haunts Il much regret" says Mr.. GaffereI,
THAT men are not Is seusihle in this matter
as the birds. Iethinlos they were once. be-
fore they basely applied their knowledge to
acquire paltry gain. st Louis Globe-Demo-
GRAFT
Held by Feudal Tenure.
Bryon Island. one Of the Magdalen group