Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
THE POWER or THE MOON.
What Luna % Supposed Co DO for Lower
saiiorp and Other People


noticed a great eommoiion the other night
10 him ID looked as II large bodies Of water
were lifted up and thrown thousand miles or
50.
Prof J. L. Ray is connected with Macon Col
lege at Ashland. but lie not widely known N
q moon sharp. IL IL 10 true that he Is the dis
eoverer of commoiion on the face 81 fair
Luna fact that has been 80 long held 10 be
dead and cold-he is in great lucl
The moon s our nearest neighbor ana vs
ought to be on very intimate terms with A.
but Tor some reason IL seems 60 be nerlec,sA
by astronomer We're 10 not for the at,es-
lion given to il by farmers and a fsv otherv
who are pretty well up in moon lore IL might
ss wen be marked OF the hst Of heavenly
bodies
Not long since a scientist bobbcd up and
offered TO prove that the moon had nothing 20
do with tides He will have a hard time beat
ing that into the heads OF searfaen and those
who have grown up near tidoNater. II the
moon doesn't raise the tide there must be n Re-
markahle coincidence in their movements.
Farmers used 10 put great deal OF depend-
ence IN the moon. They planted crops, ballt
worm fence, put on single and clapboard
roofs, killed hogs, hung meat, cut timber,
chopped weeds aud traded horses according 10
its phases
Almost any old-tinle farmer will tell Won q
worm fence built in the Light OF the moon and
ascending node will worm around and finally
fall down. IL you plant potatoes during SINH
lar phases they Will all GO 20 tops and tie
tubers will be small and Natery. Ihis Is the time
however, TO plant cucumbers, especially whru
the sign is in the arms
The southern darky saws the dark OF the
moon Is the best time for gathering chickeus
The carpenter of former times would ma
think Of putting shayed-shinele roof on =
building in the dark of the moon because the
shingles would curl up, pull the nails out aud
soon leak like SIEVE. Neither would he cut
| the sign was right
Your grandmother or veteran nun, can tell
you That when hogs were killed In the wrong
time OF the moon the slices Of ham would
shri'ei up more than half and fitch would an
lrF away, leaving only small crack linsa
Apples or any kind Of fruit dried IN the vro1s
titne OF the moon were certain TO mold or gct
sharp.
IL was 20 the moon the farmer looked for
indlcations OF the weather. II the new moon
lay wei on its back It was a sign of dry weather.
out u tipped up 20 such an extent that a
shot pouch Wouldu hang ON the lower horn
out
The time Of changing had a good aeal 70 A.
WITH The weather. but there was A lack Of
agreement upon this point but il WAS geper-
any conceded that change before noon or be-
lore midnight indicated fair weather. A circle
" H"HO al Ounu tbe moon was sure OF
ram, and the number Of stars visible Withi.
the circle indicated the number Of DAYS before
ram would come
The health, growth and development of
children and animals were supposed to be in-
nuenced by the moon. IL the Sign WAS right
at the time Of birth they would be well form,d
ana intellectual. but If IL wrong there was
no telling what sort of creatures they would
become. Every worthless fellow ornerv dog.
roofing hog, ence-Iumping Cow or kicking
horse DetitVed To hax.
an unfavorabe phase OF the queen Of night.
queer people. or those who were Of hateful
disposition. were children of the dark OF the
moon. with the sign below the heart
IL Is unfortunate for the moonist thar care
fui records were not kept
10 be born IN the light OF the moon the
sign IN the head with ascending node in
sured large brain, exalted intelligence and .
progressive spirit II the slgn was in the
heart the individual would be of A cenerous
iovial, kindly disposition; il in she stomach n
great eater, with tendency 90 grow tat and
pussy IL IN the legs he would be VERY active
anu a great Traveller or gadRbout: If in the
feet good dancer and hard kicker.
The same lunar conditions that cRused cook-
ing meat TO shrivel up brought thinues. ana
lankness 90 the individual. while those that IN
duced shingles TO curl up. weather boards to
warp ana chimneys to lean gave TO individuals
warped morals
Ii Is quite natural that the moon should
have more or less influence ON love affsirs.
There 10 that well-kHown and oft-repeatsa
coupiet:
Happy is the bride ths; the sun slime. n.
hAlpS ~ the corr Sc tnHt the rain IA On.
1t is the moon, however, That the maiden
looks to for charm to bring her lover IL she
wishes 10 see him she must wait for the new
moon. and at first sight of it over her right
shoulder kneel at her bed room window and
repeat these lines:
SaVVu
before TINS time tomorrow.
Who my trne owe will he
And ~ ms fso Children Il l Wear ,r.r
Butte ne sni Jerry may see him.
fhis cioihns don't wear,
Sad and soTsowial NAY $50 him.
Then she must crawl into bed quietly, com
pose Der mind and wait for him 10 appear to
her in n dream.
While the weather bureau Was under the con-
troll of the War Department the moon scarcely
got fair show. although q volume WINS pub
iished containing all the weather signs that
could be heard OF. including the moon signs
Now that the bureau has been transferred TO
the Department of Agriculture II is possible
that Uncle Jerry Rusk will that the moon
gets a better show. He is n farmer and a de-
scendant from q line of German farmers IA
nous for their moon lore.
Any one having one or more sure signs In
relation TO crops or weather should write them
out anu aouress tnem TO the Department Of
Agriculture, Washington, ID. c.
The present muddled and unreasonable
weather Is said to be due 70 sun spots a num-
Der Of which have been plainly visible on the
face OF the sun for two or three weeks. IN
these create such connections when so far
from the earth, what is 10 prevent the moon.
which is so near, from exerting very appre-
ciable influences?
1T is conceded, also. that the planets belong
ing 70 our system influence. in a greater or
less degree. the electrical conditions of our
atmosphere. IL Is also conceded that storms
and atmospheric changes generally are due 70
electrical disturbances
Does II not seem reasonable that the moon
should cut an important figure as o disturber
Of electric equilibrium?
superintendents Of asylums and experts IN
insanity say there are no grounds for the be-
hef that the moon affects the minds OF the in
sane, Notwithstanding the term lunacy was ap-
pied TO such cases because of the supposed
lunar influences 1t IL true, however, that in
many Instances the patients have bad spells
about once q month.
There is lady now living in Allegheny who
suffers Intense pain in the head Whenever the
light OF the full moon falls upon her. At these
times she does not venture out at night but
shuts herself up in q dark room. There are
many such cases on record.
The Old Days Return.
From Puck
Mrs Newbold Rich-"Isnt Il lovely7 All the