Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1902-01-23
THE 10 N'S CHANGES
THEY HAVE NO INFLUENCE WHAT.
EVEN UPON THE WEATHER.

J98V NAVE NO FlUENCe Wt5AJs
EVEN UPON THE WEATHER. Il
0ons SaD srslifSens That sam Exist
UDeD The sabSset-aGson Thserses
That Are Mere 0arvlvals Fron =
Fast CfeAullty.
A belief prevails that the moons
phases and changes have controlling
influence over the weather. but 50 grent
an authority as Professor C. A. Young
Of Princeton has assured us that tile
moon has absolutely nothing to do with
the weather.
Such belief Is in the strict sense of
the word uperstition-"mere sur
vival from past credulity. 1t is quite,
certain that II there is any influence
at all Of the sort it is extremely slight,
SO slight that it cannot be demonstrate
ed with certainty. although numerous
Investigations have been made express
" for the purpose of detecting 1t. We
have never been able to ascertain, for
instance. with certainty whether 1t is
warmer or not or less cloudy or not ut
the time of the full moon. Different In
vestigations have led to contradictory
results.
las to the supposed connection be-
tween changes of the moon and
changes of the weather, it should be
enough to note that even within the
United States the weather changes are
rot simultaneous lin Kansas and
Maine, for instance). as they should be
phases of the moon. Since, however,
q 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-ive hours. even il perfectly indie
pendent.
Nov. it requires only very slight
prepossession in favor Of Il belief in
the effectiveness of the moons changes
to make one forget u 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. q belie&
arose that changes In the weather We're
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. il
must be admitted that even intelligent
and we'll informed people have beer
known to accept 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 Michaelnlas day, so many
foods after" If it rains on st. Swith.
ms day. we are told to expect rain for
forty days after. An equally wise pre-
diction is that IL Christmas comes dur
ing waxing moon we shall have 4
very good year. and the nearer to the
moon the better. but if during a waning
moon a 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 as q
sign of good weather. Fridays new
moon is much dfsliked. while Saturday
is unlucky for the new and Sunday for
the full moon.
In Scotland the farmers believe that
q misty moon is q misfortune. and an
agricultural maxim among them teach
es that
If the moon shows like silver shield,
You need not be afraid to reap your field.
But il she rises haloed round
Soon we'll tread on deluged ground.
Another weather guide connected With
the moon is that to see 1.-The old moon
in the arms of the new moon is reck-
oned Il 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 ill 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 it 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 halo with watery clouds
the scamen say that there will he a
change in the weather. for the moon
dogs are about. There is also a belief
prevalent among sailors and seafaring
men that when large star or planet is
seen near the moon or. as they express
il. "a big star is logging the moon,"
this is certain sign of stormy wealth
cr.-Exchange.
Darkness of Ocean Depths.