New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-21

the study of the stars has engaged his
attention. and astronomy. the oldest of
the sciences was evolved gradually from a p-ac-
teal application TO his daily needs of his obser-
~.i-irrs of the external world about and above
kim The stars II their courses We're sure and
u1Elitrg guides alike . the mariner on the
l-----able .cean and the wande-er IN the tracbess
desert. and II was natural that they should be
come 10 MIN sources Of infinite speculation and
objects Of reverent interest and regard.
Imagination. which as surely endow-
rue-r Of the primitive of archaic times as It
Is the coping stone Of all the arts of modern
p civilization. traced for him IN the fiery lines Of
the skies se-nb-anCes of bird. beast and reptile
and these tanciei images furnished the primitive
with the first rude chart Of the heavens.
which, as the original consultations has survived
every stage If astronomical Development A. the
intellect Of man expanded. the observations Of
the sun. moon and stars. which at first he had
applied hi, daily necessities. became the
foundation OF Investigations concerning the
relations and nature of the planetary objects
themselves and from this remote time may
be dated the study of the heavenly hosts as
science.
Chinese records made rventy-four hundred
years before the Christian describe observa-
rons supposed % have been made at that time.
T-llle some 81 the sacred books OF India refer 70
Astronomical knowledge acquired centuries earlier.
T. date not much later than this attributed n
the first obserE atoms OF the Chaldean priests OF Pa
Babylon. c
Certain Greek traditions assign a considerable Ii
knowledge u this ancient and wonderful science
To Egyptian priests who lived thousands OF years
before Christ and IS interesting IN this connection
u follow Proct3rs theory, which partially IS based
upon hint OF Herototus concerning the naming OF the
Egyptian pyramids after Phiiton, a shepherd who
p a. that time led his rocks about the place.
Mr. PrOctor's deductions from this hint together
with certain other facts and the peculiar architectural
features Of these mysterious buildings lead TO
strong conjecture that the knowledge Of the Egyp-
tan builders indeed derived from those shepherd
Kings Of Palestine who induced Cheops undertake
the building OF the Great Pyramid, not solely or
principally As a royal tomb, nor treasure-house
nor q refuge from the Niles foundations, but as an
Astronomical observatory built Tor astrological pur-
poses
The theory Is supported by the fact that all OF
the pyramids without exception built on astron-
rrrs r-incIDles their square bases being placed
that Two VIII lie east and west, two lie north and
south their four faces fronting the cardinal points
Between autumn and spring, therefore the rays OF
the rising and setting would illuminate the south
IN face Of d building Of this peculiar inquire and posi-
tion while during the OtEer SIX months OF the year
the period between spring and autumn Its northern
face would be bathed IN the sun earliest and latest
daily beams At solar noon throughout the year
the suns rays passed from its eastern 10 It's western
face while Tor three and three-quarte months before
and after midsummer the noon rays would iaA on
all Of It's four faces or fronts.
This interesting and ingenious theory IS convincing
On one point and that Is that though these buildings
were erected astronomical principles, their purpose
was not the advancement Of the science OF astronomy
nor for the recording Of knowledge Tor succeeding
o--e-a+ions The astronomical principles OF their
structures were We may be led % conclude 10 SUD
serve astrological purposes and were to solve the
problems ot the destInes and dynastleS (each one