The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-20
The HI MYTH OF The.
MAN n IN. The MOON.
Intere sting Lecture by
Professor Harris at Rich
mond College. !.

The large audience which gathered last
evening to hear Professor w. "A. Harris
at Richmond College wa4 treated to
charming lecture Els subject was 'The
Myth Of the Man in the Moon" or stated
differently it might be Reflections on tho
Study OF Comparative Mythology.
a5$ The speaker recalled the fact that the
marvellous tales OF { chlldhoods happy
hours linger ever with us, towering over
us like mirage to the weary traveller
+ In the desert, Aladdin and his lamp.
Little Red Riding Hood. Jack and his
bean stalk and hundreds OF others h, John
Fiske says that there is little absolute
nonsense In the world and this alone war
rants seriousness in considering these
stories. III si .3S 3
The old Aryans carried not only their
tools and implements and weapons.
their laws and language. but also their
gods and worship, Study OF sanscrtt
gave impetus to study of mythology
also This study shows that stories and
things seemingly silly have q world OF
meaning Says one: "a complete study
Z Of folklore would be q history OF the
thoughts Of mankind 81 The germs Of
philosophy, theology and science are
found III myths.
F4 Inc tHeoEAes ~ W IAo oA!64H " AAy s!Aa
are: 4 4is E I az 5s,.$s
a. Tie historic. which claims that
mythical persons and events were real
4 In their beginning: that kings and priests
have been made into gods by the fancy.
theory no longer advocated.
# (2). The philosophic, which sees IN I
myth merely an envelope OF science, Q
fiction to satisfy mans spiritual nature:
the gods are mere personlttcattons OF
vIrf11aa Woes. and Ssllt+ts
& (8). The correct theory, tho physical.
which shows that divinities are person.
5iflcatIons OF nature. 5e
N Myths have # gathered acoretions as
they foated on the tide Of time, We
trace the nursery tale to the legend
$5 All have aeen the man In the moon.
with his bundle OF sticks, who, 1t seems.
once visited tho earth: for THE man In
the moon came down too soon, : runs
the rhyme. lie got to the moon by being
banished thither for burning brush on
Sunday. Numbers XIV: 1896 seems to
have been his scriptural prototype. The
Germans have the story. Of this Sabbath
breaker and his Punishment to the moon.
because he said ''Sunday on earth and
Monday In heaven were All the same
to him."
4 Among tile sFresians he stole cabbage
on Sunday. Nearly the same appears IN
l1OlluUu u&lu RWtlkoEluuus 49, III |lOI buUu
that man be alone. and woman-she
made butter on Sunday--!s seen by some
eyes. Others find q dog,
The spots on the moon appeal to the
imaglnationi but why man? Tho gods,
angry at an old sinner. placed his chill
dren, Mont (moon) to guide the moon
and Sol to direct the sun chariot Mont
stole two children. IrJuka (Jack) and
Bill (JllD the Jack and Jill who spilled
their pail Of water, Etymology shows
that these two are the waxing and wan
Ing Of the moon. and the water Is the
rainfall that depends on phases OF the
moon.
So Red Riding Hood Is the scarlet twl-
light OF day swallowed up by the demon
BY night, And other myths may be ex-
planned IN like manner on the physical
me results then are, 55..
y Q). That the chief Aryan gods are the
same and our ancestors expressed faith
In objects Of nature.
(2). That ideas and gods deposed from
their high position cling tenaolousy and
percolate generation Otter generation,
and as superstition or what not live on
forever.
The last lecture OF the faculty bourse
ia to be given next Thursday evening
BY Professor Charles Winston, on the
subject "I0xperiments."