New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-27

Probably superstitions involving the moon
have been in existence since Adam and Eve
walked forth in the shade of the first evening
and saw the moon rise through the wood in
fuII-orbed glory" That siIvery light that il
Iumes the way but whispers none of the secrets
which are poured forth I'm it's hearing that turns
the prosy lines Of daylight into magic tracery,
has an attraction for men and women in the ro-
mantle period Of life. Then the imagination sees
all sorts Of things In that brilliant orb. from the
face of a man to that OF a Spanish sehorita
Doubtless, Dr. G. Stanley Hall. the psychology
cal expert, would say that the care which many
people still take to the new moon for the
first time over the right shoulder, because i'll
luck would follow them otherwise was one Of the
unnecessary appendices surviving from an early
era of psychological life. which, like the physical
appendix, will eventually. in the economy OF
nature go the way Of all useless things
The moon anciently was considered much
more important to the welfare of the world than
II is today, since many cobwebs have been
brushed from the sky by scientists. 1t was an
object Of worship. and the age" OF the moon
regulated the time for killing animals for food.
the gathering Of herbs the cutting Of wood for
fuel and the sowing Of seeds. The Romans be-
ueyed that apples and other fruits acquired
finer color when plucked under a waning moon
and considered that unless the cypress and pine
trees felled for building purposes or other needs
were not cut beneath the cadent moon, the
wood was liable to rot All planting. all sowing
Of cereals and Vegetables had to be done while
the moon increased. Epicurus thought oysters
fshed up under waning moon had inner
favor than those taken in the other half Of the
lunar month. The moon also used TO influence
the taking Of particular ~odicines and the at
tar,r-i-- OF cures for particular diseases In
the countries Of Northern Europe the waning
moon was considered TO have evil influence
while any enterprise begun under the new II
fun moon was thought almost certain Of sue
cess.
Vivid imaginations have seen many things in
the moon. the face Of man being the best
known The iconoclastic camera and telescope
have done their best TO wipe out the image. but
the romantic world still enjoys picking out the
face about which Plutarch filed an entire box
while rAilandering along the witch!n6 lanes in
the cool OF the evening.
Professor Pickering OF Harvard in recent
work allied THE Noon" published by Double
DAY. PAGE 6 Co. has ATTEMPTED 70 analyze the
scent OF the rose by pulling the flower TO pieces
in this fashion: The explanation seems to be
that the Oceanus Procellarurn. being very near
the limb is only seen by the naked eye as faint
rhading If seen at all, and. eliminating this. the
remaining maria more nearly resembles hu-
man f.le" Other objects besides face have
suggested different objects, according 20 the
nationality Of the eyes beholding them Some
persons have found fagot gatherer The Chi
Uese H. We imagined the dark markings 10 re-
semble a monkey pounding rice. In India these
same markings have been nkened to a rabbit,
while the Persians find mirroring Of our own
oceans and continents. The supcrscripton o;
Britannia with shield. lighthouse and ship, as
represented on the English penny. has also been
the circle Of the moon. but doubtless this
Is mistake, as cable dispatches have contained
rumors OF Great Britain's intention to annex
tie noon. Among other things which have been
seen Iu the moon a crab with mighty clutch
ing claw, which some might think resembled tie
jaws 4 some ferocious insect. as seen under The
microscope; girl reading. donkey and a span
ish seLCrita. 1t may be interesting to add in this
connection that ION the other side Of the world"
where I'll the people walk upside down. they also
see the moon upside down. the old mans chin
being very much up in the air.
People have about as clear an idea OF the Size
OF the moon as II appears TO them With thu
naked eye as they have about the diameter oc
an elephants foot The range Is from n silver
dollar TO cartWhcel Most Deorlc il IL gtil