ORIGIN OF THE CALENDAR AND ASTROLOGY. 833 



most rapidly moving body in the heavens, the moon, was regarded as 

 the most potential ruler of sudden changes. 



It was thus always the problem of the calendar-maker, during the 

 middle ages, to prophesy on the basis of observations of celestial in- 

 fluences, and in a lesser degree also upon the weather itself, certain 

 changes in the weather, and the task was nowhere an ungrateful one ; 

 for a successful prediction was a foothold for enthusiastic belief in 

 the prophets, and scarcely ever was a failure regarded with much 

 attention. 



The belief in the moon's influence upon the weather is still fos- 

 tered with a tenacity and universality that seem to lend an especial 

 value to specifications in the almanac regarding the so-called " moon's 

 changes." Many have no concern as to the manner in which the 

 " moon's changes " can affect the weather, but follow simply uncon- 

 sciously the old astrological inclination in ascribing what is doubtful 

 to heavenly influences ; others, on the contrary, accept, indeed, with- 

 out question, the fact of such influence, but construct for themselves a 

 kind of scientific explanation for it. 



The moonlight, they say, dissipates the vapors ; and, since the moon 

 determines the ebb and flow of the tides, so it causes also an ebb and 

 flow in atmospheric currents, thus affecting the weather. That sounds 

 quite scientific, yet proves nothing. That such an influence is no 

 longer not incontestable, but placed entirely in doubt, careful records 

 are more clearly proving every year. 



The Greenwich Observatory, which is especially engaged with 

 observations upon the moon, has recently fully demonstrated, in its 

 observation register of the moon and weather extending over many 

 years, the complete insignificance of the positions and phases of the 

 moon as affecting the condition of the atmosphere ; that all so-called 

 "experiences " to the contrary must be regarded as possessing not the 

 slightest value. In fact, such " experience " is a matter peculiar in 

 itself. The human memory of past events is often a very capricious 

 thing, as we have already illustrated in the words of Kepler, and the 

 remembrance of any one who has not learned to systematically collect 

 pure and conclusive " experiences," free from bias and superstition, 

 upon which to base a rational and conscientious judgment, possesses, 

 as a rule, little value. Scientifically arranged facts are also not proof 

 against erroneous conclusions, and it has too often happened that over- 

 hasty conclusions in science, which were opposed to the clear views of 

 practical men, have been subsequently destroyed by further scientific 

 inquiry ; but in the case now considered the aspect is entirely differ- 

 ent. Here the so-called practical men are the visionists, and that piti- 

 ful remnant of an ancient false belief now no longer cope with the 

 intrinsic worth, the clear and simple results of coincident measure- 

 ments and calculations. Let us, therefore, throw into the ruins of 

 astrology all still existing presumption to forecast for any extended 



TOL. XXII. 53 



