Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-12-19
THE MOONS CHANGES
THEY HAVE NO INFLUENCE WHAT
EVER UPON THE WEATHER.

Some superstitions That Still Exist
Upon the Subject-Moon Theories
Past Credulity.
A belief prevails that the moons
phases and changes have controlling
influence over the weather, but SO great
an authority as Professor @. A. Young
of Princeton has assured us that the
moon has absolutely nothing to do with
the weather.
Such a belief is in the strict sense Of
the word a uperstition-"mere sur
vival from a past credulity. 1t is quito
certain that If there Is any influence
at all Of the sort 1t is extremely slight,
so slight that 1t cannot be demonstrate
ed with certainty, although numerous
Investigations have been made express
iy for the purpose Of detecting it. We
have never been able to ascertain, for
instance, with certainty whether 1t is
warmer or not or less cloudy or not at
the time Of the full moon. Different in
yestigations have led to contradictory
results.
"As to the supposed connection be-
tween changes Of the moon and
changes of the weather, 1t should be
enough to note that even within the
United States the weather changes are
rot simultaneous Qn Kansas and
Maine, for instance), as they should be
If they were due to the changing
phases of the moon. Since, however,
change Of the moon occurs every
week, every weather change must
necessarily occur within about three
days and half Of lunar change, and
half Of them ought to fall within about
forty five hours, even If perfectly inde-
pendent
"Now, it requires only very slight
prepossession in favor Of belief in
the effectiveness of the moons changes
to make one forget few of the
weather changes that occur too far
from the proper time. Condolences
enough can easily be found to justify
a pre-existing belief"
From a very remote antiquity, In the
twilight Of natural astrology, a belief
arose that changes In the weather were
occasioned by the moon. That the be-
lief still exists is clear to any one who
is acquainted with current literature
and common folklore. In fact, 1t
must be admitted that even intelligent
and we'll informed people have been
known to accent the theory.
The idea that the weather Is affected
by the changes in the moon Is still held
with great vigor in England, and one OF
our proverbs is, $50 many days old the
moon Is on Michaelmas day, so many
floods after" If it rains on st. Swith-
ms day, we are told to expect rain for
forty days after. An equally wise pre-
dlction is that If Christmas comes dur
ing a waxing moon we shall have
very good year. and the nearer to the
moon the better, but IL during a waning
moon hard year, and the nearer the
end of the moon SO much the worse.
Another belief Is that the condition
of the weather depends upon the day
Of the week ON which the new moon
chances to fall. New moon on Monday,
or moon day, Is everywhere held MS q
sign Of good weather. Fridays new
moon Is much disliked, while Saturday
Is unlucky for the new and Sunday for
the full moon.
In Scotland the farmers believe that
a misty moon Is misfortune, and an
agricultural maxim among them teach
es that
II the moon shows like a silver shield,
You need not be afraid to reap your field,
But II she rises hsloed round
Soon we'll tread on deluged ground
Another weather guide connected with
the moon Is that to see "the old moon
in the arms of the new moon" is reck-
oned sign of fair weather, and so Is
the turning up of the horns Of the new
moon. In this position it Is supposed
to retain the water which Is imagined
to be In it and which would run out If
the horns were turned down.
The country people In Scotland fore
tell the changes of the weather from
the changes in the appearance Of the
new moon. If she Lies sair on her
back" 1t Is a sure sign of bad weather,
or when her horns are pointed toward
the zenith.
At Whitby when the moon is sur
rounded by a halo with watery clouds
the seamen say that there will be a
change In the weather, for the moon
dogs" are about. There Is also belief
prevalent among sailors and seafaring
men that when q large star or planet Is
seen near the moon or, as they express
1t, "a big star Is dogging the moon,"
this Is a certain sign Of stormy wealth