The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-02
ORIGIN OF THE ALMANAC
The Astrological Calendar an In
ventiOn of Antiquity.
Devised by the Priests of Ancient
Rome for Keeping the Dates of
Observation-Disclosures Crusoe'S Rec
ord of Times FIight-Dcnn Swifts
Controversy with Partridge.

manaC usually seen Is lDe puOHCdlloH OIL
some one of the daily papers. huge bun
die OF statistical information in which
scant space is given to tie original con-
ception of the almanac.
Almanac is q word OF Arabic origin,
but the Arabs were in no sense the orig
inators of putting the calendar in con-
venent form with appropriate information
regarding astronomical events, festivals,
holidays, etc.
In the time of ancient Rome all infor-
nation regarding the calendar was in pos
session of the priests whom the people
! were obliged to consult land pay) on this
occult subject. This was very often, as,
for instance a man giving a note for one
year would not know when the year had
expired until he had consulted the priest
and paid for his valuable information
/ But about the year 800 B. c. a genius by
the name of Cnaius Flavius consulted so
many priests and so frequently that he
was able TO construct complete calendar
which he placed upon tablets and exhib-
tied about the forum. OF course. they
were copied and spread among the people,
| and the priestly calendar trust was at an
end. TIC what region the priests consign-
:
does not state.
Robinson Crusoes calendar-a stick with
notch for each day and a deeper notch
for Sunday-was not a novelty, for that
! was exactly the kind of almanac long
used in England. AS 365 notches would
have made a pretty long stick the calen-
dars were made in the form of a square
block, with three months notches along
each angle.
The first printed almaDacs were issued
in the latter part of the fifteenth century.
In England, a private company held by
/ kingly grant the exclusive right to cell
'almanacs and representations" About
ITO a stout-hearted bookseller by the
name of Thomas Carnan resolved to at
tack the monopoly. For three years in
succession he issued an almanac and was
as many time imprisoned. Finally, in l7I5,
the courts decided in Carnan's favor,
holding that the King had no right to is
sue such a grant. This, it will be noted,
was about the time of the American revo-
luton, and the Minister. Lord North,
whom Americans remember in that con-
nection, made a heroic effort to save the
monopoly, but the bill he introduced in
Parliament to effect the purpose was
thrown out by forty-ive majority.
Early almsnacs were largely devoted to
astrological predictions or 'prognostica-
tons" Astroiogy was so firmly believed
representation" would have found but
a very slim sale. One of the most famous
of these prognosticators was Partridge,
whom Pope in The Rape of the Lock-
predicts Will discover the lock.
This, Partridge soon will views in eloudless skies
When next he looks through Galileos eyes,
And hence, the GORGEOUS wizard shall foredoom.
The fate OF Louis and the fall Of Rome.
But it was Dean Swift who settled Par
at .fNy, far fIax
by Isaac Bickerstaff, ESD was an alb
surd parody on the style of the astrologer,
and predicted that on the 29th of March
Partridge would infallibly die of violent
fever. Then he published a letter giving
minute details of the astrologer's death
on the day predicted. The enraged Par
fridge issued an indignant denial of his
decease, upon which Swift responded by
abusing him for pretending to be alive,
when, by all the rules of the noble science
Of astrology he was certainly dead. In
the inextinguishable laughter which fol-
lowed this controversy the astrological
seers felt the loss of more prestige than
all the arguments of wisdom had ever ac-
eomplished.
poor Robins Almanac" first appeared
in 1868 and attained TO great favor. It
made speciality of humor, and continued
publication down to 1927. Then, across
the Atlantic, at Philadelphia, in 1882
arose Poor Richards Almanac" which
repeated in America the success of Poor
Robin in England. 1t had Benjamin
Franklin for it's publisher, and continued
in existence until 1857. 1t was famous
for its maxims, of which the following
ara few:
God helps them that help themselves.
Early to bed and early to rise, makes
man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Ieava fi1l tOmOrrow that which
you can do today.
Three removes are as bad as fire.
Little strokes fell great oaks.
little neglect may breed mischief; for
want of nail the shoe was lost; for want
of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want
of horse the rider was lost.
Vessels large may venture more, but
little boats should keep near shore.
1t is hard foE an empty bag to stand up
right
Experience teaches a dear school, but
fools will learn in no other.
The universal demand for almanacs and
the cheapness with which they can be
produced made 1t inevitable that they
should eventually be used for gratuitous
distribution, a carrier of advertise
ments. and in this country, at least, the
rural population has for many years de-
pended upon the patent medicine men for
the supply OF almanacs.
To the uninltiated the front page Of the
almanac, whether free or otherwise, is
truly awe-inspiring The first thing that
takes the eye "a few omit this featured is
a picture of a gentleman who has just I'M
dergone a surgical operation which leaves
exposed considerable OF his internal econ
omy. He is surrounded by a group of
small pictures representa-. the twelve
signs Of the zodiac.
This ridiculous thing is a survival of as
trology. The zodiac it will be remem-
bered. is that path in the heavens In which
the moon and planets make their journey,
month by month, and year by year. 1t is
divided by astronomers into twelve
signs" of thirty degrees each, and these
signs are named after the constellation oc-
cupying them at the time division was
made.
The astrologers pretended that great
importance attended upon the Sign" that
the sun occupied at the time OF persons
birth person born under the sign of
Aries, the first In order, would have
trouble with his head all through life
Born under Taurus, the next In order, he
would literally get it in the neck. In
der Gemini his two arms would suffer, and
so on through until the Fishes prognos-
.icated trouble presumably corns and
bunions. for the feet.
No very deep crt was required TO devise
a scheme like this, but the absurd chart
has remained in most almanacs down TO
the present day. Like the dead advertise
ments of a country newspaper It seems
to run forever because nobody has re-
membered to order II out.
The chronological cycles are, for the
most part, now merely interesting but
where the almanac is not at hand it is
sometimes advantageous to remember