19 6 IN STARRY REALMS. 



portion of space, and that the stars and planets are gene- 

 rally globes far greater than that on which we dwell. The 

 movements of the heavenly bodies are no longer believed 

 to contain indications of human affairs. We do not cast 

 the horoscope, nor do we now think that the career of a 

 man is decided by the configuration of the planets at the 

 moment he happened to be born. It is, however, inter- 

 esting to note the different ways in which traces of the 

 old astrological beliefs still survive among us. In former 

 days, when any great undertaking was in contemplation, 

 the stars were consulted to know if the auspices were 

 favourable. Though we do not at the present day think 

 this necessary, yet we do at least admit that we ought 

 carefully to consider the prospects of the enterprise. 

 Astrology has provided us with the word, for consider is 

 derived from the Latin word sidus, a star, and signifies 

 literally that we consult the stars. Should the under- 

 taking not turn out fortunately, we often describe it as 

 ill-starred; and here we recognise that a good star has not 

 favoured our efforts, but that they have been under the 

 malign influence of an evil one. When a serious mis- 

 fortune occurs we may sometimes speak of it as a disaster. 

 This is a word derived from the Greek, and signifies that 

 our star has been unfavourable. Need I add that it is the 

 same Greek root that gives us the first half of the word 

 astronomy ? 



Remembering the importance of the stars to the ancient 

 astrologers, it is not unnatural that they watched them 

 with the closest attention. They observed that the sun 

 and the moon changed their places on the heavens, so that 

 these bodies were fitly described as " wanderers." It seem* 



