Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-07-27
The siDOg Days.

Philadelphia Ledger, is too hoary tc loose
its hold easily upon race partial to tradi
lions of astral influence in human affairs,
and some almanac makers, like those happy
mortals who rush IN where angels fear to
tread" announce IN cheerful confidence that
these "dies canlculares." as the old Romans
termed them, are upon us. But what, and
which, are the dog days?' Every computer
of domestic calendars is law unto himself
with respect to this particular season, for
the BEST of reasons-the season itself is at
sea.
In fact, il cannot be otherwise, for, like
the movable fcasts" of the church, its astro.
nomical setting, upon which it entirely de-
ponds, is perpetually varying quantity.
In midWinter, conspicuous among the
brilliant star groups of the southern sky, is
visible the constellation of CAMS Major-!he
Gaeater Dog. Its bright, particular star,
Sirius, though not so brilliant as some OF the
planets, is the most lustrous of all the starry
host, and therefore easily the emperor Of the
train. For ages it has been known as the
dog star" In ancient mythology CAMS
Major and CAMS Minor-the Lesser Dog
embracing the bright star Procyon c'going
before the dog"), were assigned to the nigh
ty hunter Orion TO serve him in the chase.
The stars OF mldwinter nights are the stars
that beam upon us, all unnoticed, on mid
summer days. and hence at this season the
imperial Sirius together with his canine as
soclate, Procyon, shines all of the day in the
sunny azure.
The Romans of the oden time annually
sacrificed q dog to Sirius, hoping to WIN his
favor toward their fields and focks. The
Egyptians, long before, gave the closest at
tention TO the rising OF Sirius, for in their
thought II was associated with the veal or
woe of their land. 1t augured the rising of
the Nile, "Slrls" and indicated the propi-
tious time for sowing.
Unfortunately for votaties of the "slgns"
in planting and other astrological vagares,
the time of the rising Of Sirius varies with
the latitude; besides, it varies in the same
latitude as decades and centuries 60 on ow-
ing to the procession ofthe equinoxes. Hence
it will not answer to hitch the wagon of sea.
sonal hypothesis to star.
So intimately did the ancients associate
the helacal rising of Sirius with events Of
Importance to the land that they even insti-
tuted heiacal year. Various dates have
been assigned by tradition as the first dog
day, and various periods as constituting the
season. 1t has been claimed that it com.
menced in the remote past on August and
lasted forty days, until September IA. AS
few as thirty days are sometimes cited and
as many as fifty four. Pliny refers the COM
mencement OF the dog days to the heliacal
rising OF Procyon, which seems at least ap.
propiate as being canicular and which &C.
CURED July 10. II would setm that forty
days was regarded as the period in most
cases, twenty days before and twenty days
after the htliacal rising of Sirius.
But whatever the variations Of testimony
there is general agreement with Hippoctates
who may be styled the father of astronomy
and to whom Ptolemy was greatly indebted
for pioneer work in the science. He af,rms
that the dog days were in tic very hottest
part of the summer. And IL is known tina,
the Egyptians were in great dread of the cx'
treme heat and bighting drought. People
of the present age who cling to venerable
traditions will not be embarrassed about the
uncertainty of a few days, hut will content
eddy ascrbe the sweltering weather likely tc
be encountered to the mallgn influence O.
! the great dog Sirius.