Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-21
The AsfroIogy Fad.
(st. Louis Globe-Denocrat)

(St. Louis Globe-Denocrat)
Assuming, for the sake Of hypothesis
the possibility Of physical planetary acuoA
on living terrestrial organism, the inferf
ence that such action must vary with "a
varying position Of the heavenly bodies {
obvious And IL Is consonant with what {
known as the intensified power or cheml|
cal or electrical action Of bodies In mas
cent state 10 suppose that such planetary
influences 5uld be most powerful on az
organic being at the moment OF organic
life Tho investigation OF astroiogy Is u
task not unworthy Of the leisure OK ma
nob!est mind, writes a disciple and teaches
Of tho subject. IL is L. problem as To
which il is hardly permissible for tho trus
lover and student Of truth 70 remain "a
contented ignorance To speak 0f tho quesf
ton as one Of mere imposture preynl
upon ignorance Is 70 come under the COM
domination, these speak evil or thosf
things which they know not 10 rush II
where the greatest men or past history
have only trodden with modest reyerenc5
Is the characteristic OF the unwise. stl'
dents who take up the study OF astroiosf
are frequently discouraged by tho asslmp-
ton that, according 10 the science, OK
persons born at the same hour share tli
same destiny, possess the same looks, ana
are alike in all particulars. hApelle.'1
will speedily teach that the law OK De-
redity plays an important part IN ail-
Terminating differences between two per-
sons born at the same time. In deter
mining the degree Of success that may
attend an individual, IL 10 OF great Fai1'
to know the rank and measure OF sue
cess Of two generations OF the nalFsi
ancestry. Ii cannot be denied that many
difficulties exist IN tho science and u
t,I l,.f GO
IS incompetent 20 explain the eXuem3
divergences OF human constitution and
character without a free use OF tho doc
trine OF heredity. Our contention IS tha'
the two theories complete each other; the
latter accounting for the element OF s-a'
bility the former for the element Of va
riabnity. 1t must not. however. for on5
instant be supposed that the stellar lA-
fiuence dominating at birth IS IN onY
respect a matter OF accident
1t Will usually be found 10 stand IN
the incest relation TO the character o.
the individual as determined by bis
parentage, while, from the nature or the
case, 1t can never DO precisely mo
same. Good parents, as rule, BRING
forth children under good planetary as-
poets, and vice versa. The resemblance
among the nativities OF members OF no
same family is very strong, as could DO
easily shown did space permit ms
marvellous harmony IS OF itself a SUN
cient proof that nature IS tho incarnt-
ton OF the highest reason. not jumbo
Of conflicting atoms, and that no
cosmos we behold Is not tho mere out
come OF a struggle for existence sucA
a universe might live. as IL were, from
hand TO mouth, but could exercise mons
OF that foresight and precaution when
the adoption Of the conceptlonal 90 ne
natal influence implies. AS Sir Da"2
Brewster said, "the planets and cor
stellations are truly the only objects ~
the universe which oil nations have VIZ
messed and all peoples admired Troy
presided at the horoscope OF our 0iFtn'
and they will throw their pale rd4lALca
over the green mounds beneath which We
are destined to lie." If tho inert mass Of
the aquatic ocean and the invisible waves
of the atmosphere are set IN motion oy
planetary attraction; II magnetic or ele-
trio storms, and even the terrific force ot
the earthquake, be inconceivable except p.
the view that the earth forms Brea'
electro-magnet, ever varying In rs cur
rents, and even In the position OF lss nag
netio poles is Il so very ill-foundel .
hypothesis that the most delicate OF Nl
physiological functions. tho laying oonN
the keel OF human brain, and or th'
organization OF which II forms the mois
subtle part, may be affected by tho s"es-
influences OF the Pleiades or the banS
of Orion?