Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-27
FoRTUNEIELrING IN STARS.

IL was inevitable that astrologers
should appear at this stage OF the war
IN Asia, with the claim that they pre-
dicted II, az well ns the outcome, The
Mikado, we are told got o pointer from
famous ostroIogers as to the most IA
yorable time IN which TO commence the
war The sign Of Aquarius. It is fur
Their explained rules Russia, and when
the Mikado's astrol5gcrs were consulted
about five years ago they gave It as
their opinion that ,he most opportune
time % begin war would be- when the
evil planet Saturn passed through that
sign That bearer OF evil, though sur
rounded BY luminous rings passed into
the sign OF Aquarius last year, and re-
mains therein two and a half years.
It has now reached the fifteenth degree
IN that sign, welding its powerful in
fuence against the fortunes OF Russia,
Japan must, however, win before Sa-
turn passes from Aquorlus into the next
sign, Pisces, for then the influence Of
evil viii have passed away from Rus
slo and Japan's chances against her
would not be so favorable.
Had this explanation been given at
the beginning Of the war; when every
one was IN doubt ~ to the ability OF the
Japanese generals and soldiers to cope
with their opponents, It would have had
better claim to attention than now But
coming post festum, as It were, II win
pass almost unnoticed. The testimony
Of astrology as to Russia's mlstortunes
Is not needed
But this reminds us Of the experience
Of ST. Augustine with astrology, as
told by himself I'm his Confessions lie
evidently had studied the subject thor
oughly and was a firm believer IN the
alleged science, when one day a friend,
Firminus, came to consult him con-
corning certain affairs OF his life, as
far as the consultations would ndl-
cate. Firminus told him that his father
was so devoted TO astrology that he
the dumb animals, which bred about
the house, gave birth, and then observe
the relative position Of tho heavens,
thereby to make fresh experiments In
this so-called art" And why not? For
II the stars influence human beings,
why not dogs and horses?
Flrmnus also told Augustine that the
moment he came into this world one Of
his fathers slaves gave birth to son,
As soon as the future church father
heard this, his understanding was
opened as to astrologY And, us he
"confesses, he Immediately endeavored
10 reclaim Flrminus,by telling him, that
upon inspecting your consultations,
ought, II ] were TO predict truly, to
have seen In them parents eminent
among their nelghbors a noble family
IN It's own city, high BIRTH good edu-
cation, liberal learning, But II that SER
want had consulted me upon the same
consultations, since they were his also,
| ought again TO tell too truly 10
see In them lineage the most ablect,
slayish condition, and everything
else, utterly at variance with the for
mcr Whence then II I spake the truth,
I should from the same consultations,
speak adversely, or II ] spake the same,
speak falsely; thence It followed most
certainly, that whatever, upon consid-
Grafton Of the consultations, was spok-
On truly, was spoken not out Of art,
but chance, and whatever was spoken
falsely was not out OF ignorance In the
art but the failure Of the chance"
We see no escape from this reasoning.
Augustine belonged to supersttous
age and his judgment was sometimes
couded by supcrstltions but I'm this
matter he was evidently set free by
truth It is strange that the subject
should ever come up for serious con-
sderation In this enlightened age IsIt
because the light Is commencing to
grow DINNER among the children OF
men? There Is really no reason why
fortune telling based on the stars
should be considered more scientific
than that which Is satisfied with hum.
bier material such as tea leaves and
coffee grounds.