ASTROLOGY. 467 



all our boasted knowledge is as nothing in the wondrous dispensations of 

 Him " who telleth the number of the stars, and calleth them all by their 

 names." 



Astronomy, no more than any other of the physical sciences, cannot 

 stand by itself. We have seen how heat, light, electricity, etc., are all, in 

 a manner, inter-dependent. So astronomy is dependent upon mathematics, 

 particularly geometry and trigonometry, for the wondrous problems to be 

 solved. But in the following sketch we do not propose to plunge the 

 reader in the slough of calculations. We only desire to put plainly before 

 him the great phenomena of nature with regard to the heavens, and the 

 glorious orbs which so thickly stud the space above us. We need not 

 detail the laborious calculations by which philosophers have arrived at 

 certain discoveries. We may refer to the results and explain general 

 principles, thereby indicating the road by which the student may arrive at 

 the more difficult bypaths in the fields of scientific discovery. 



The history of astronomy is nearly as old as the world itself, or rather 

 as old as the human race. From the earliest ages we can picture men 

 gazing upon the " spangled heavens," and the wandering tribes of the desert 

 were always very careful observers of the paths of the stars. To the nomads 

 of the East the planetary system served as compass and clock, calendar and 

 barometer. 



We shall find, therefore, that many observations of the heavenly bodies 

 were made by the ancients, and have descended to more advanced genera- 

 tions, and this leads us to remark that the science of astronomy can be 

 studied without any very special or costly apparatus. In other branches of 

 science numerous instruments are indispensable before we can reveal to our- 

 selves the desired results. In astronomy, a telescope even a good field 

 glass, such as possessed by any household, will reveal many interesting facts. 

 We will, by means of more expensive instruments, and by the aid of large 

 telescopes particularly, enjoy the sight of the moon and planets. But even 

 with the naked eye a great variety of phenomena may be observed. With a 

 celestial globe in our hands upon a fine starry night, we can easily find out 

 the position of the constellations, and trace their forms in the firmament. 



It is to the Chaldeans, Indians, Chinese, and Egyptians, that our know- 

 Hedge of astronomy is primarily due. They did much to facilitate the 

 observation of the stars ; they named the planets, grouped the stars, and 

 marked the sun's track in the sky. Astrology was cultivated in very remote 

 ages. The Jews practised it ; and the astrologers of subsequent periods 

 played very important parts in divining the future of individuals, and casting 

 their horoscopes. Many of these so-called predictions came true, " because," 

 as was remarked by Pascal, " as misfortunes are common they" (the astrologers) 

 ""are often right," as they foretold misfortune oftener than good fortune. Still 

 the fact remains that occasionally a very startling prediction was made, and 

 proved true ; such, for instance, as the laying waste of Germany by Gustavus 

 Adolphus, which was foretold by Tycho Brahe after his consideration of a 



