THE CALENDAR. 53 



CHAPTER V, 



The Calendar. 



" Change of days 



To us is sensible ; and each revolve 

 Of the recording sun conducts us on 

 Further in life, and nearer to our goal." Kirk White. 



THE revolution of the earth on its axis, being adopted as the 

 standard of measure, it was natural that the number of days to 

 the .year should be a subject of edrly investigation. We have 

 already alluded to the helical rising of the stars, and it is apparent 

 that upon ascertaining the distance of the sun from any particular 

 star, and after a certain interval, determining when his distance 

 from the same star, is the same as before, the early astronomers 

 could determine the length of the year, ox time occupied by the 

 sun in his apparent revolution around the earth. As it was diffi- 

 cult to observe any stars at the same time with the sun, its place ' 

 in the heavens, or position in the ecliptic, was determined by 

 measuring its distance from Venus, and then the distance of 

 Venus from some known star. Or, we may imagine the time 

 of sunset to be carefully observed, and afterwards the time of 

 setting of some particular star, then, upon making due allowance 

 for the time elapsed, the sun's position among the stars could be 

 ascertained. The rising and setting of certain stars, or constel- 

 lations, was early adopted as the precursor of the return of certain 

 seasons of the year. We find continual allusions to this among 

 the early poets, and even in the Book of Job, we have, " Canst 

 thou bind the sweet influence of the Pleiades, or loose the bands 

 of Orion? The Pleiades were also called Vergillae, i. c., daughters 

 of the spring. The Egyptians watched in like manner the rising 

 of the dog star, which gave notice of the approaching season of 

 inundation by the Nile. The length of the year was soon 



