The Northeast Georgian. (Athens, Ga.) 1872-1875, April 14, 1875, Image 1

Previous Issue Next Issue

Clip Visible Area View Page Text View PDF

Newspaper Page Textffor%ast Georgian. PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAY MORNING H. H. CARLTON & Co., Proprietors. II. H. CARLTON, Editor. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: —JoJ ONE COPY, On* Yo«r - * s 00 FiVE COPIES, One Y*»r - 8 78 TEN COPIES. One Year 18 OO 2he Official City Taper Business & Profes’n’l Cards. T-'VE A C. FOX OFFERS HIS PKOFFSSION-. I } »| 5«r,icri to the citiicns of Athens and Ih. Dm? Storo of R. T. Brumby A Co., OMI*«* Avenue. Alhen*. «i». 21-tf s. M. HERRINGTON, Notary Fublic and Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace. Offf* J. I.AMPKiye' .torn, M»rrh31-0m. G.^HOMPSON, • -A.ttorn.ey at Law, Special attantioi paid lo criminal practice. For rtftreoct »ppl/ to F.x. Hot. T. If. tVaiu and lion. David Clopi©» # Montgomery Ala. Office over p , • r», «>*anr»a. V»» n.tf. .L. W. Thomas, Asa At. Jackson,.... JACKS dF& Attorneys Athene, Georgia. P tJ For reference by aperial permission . o. - “L. W. Thomas refers to William L, MlMbeli Esq., of Athena and Iloo. A. 11. Stepcni. B »I IM1 an I It. Toombs. llec.16.tl. THOMAS, at Law C 'lOBB, ERWIN & COBB Attorneys at Taw, ATHENS, QA. OSc* in tha Paupraa Building. w, R. LITTLE, Attorney at hair, CARKESV1LLE. OA. JOHN T. OSBORN, Attorney-at-Law ELBERTON, GA. Will practice in the counties of the Northern Circuit, Banka. Franklin an>l Haboraham of the Wealern Circuit; will live special attention to all claims entrusted to Ida car*. Jan. 10. i<;<—.ly.la J. S. DORTCH, Attorney at law, f CARNESYILI.E. OA. E. A. WILLIAMSON, PRACTICAL ViTCHMMER and JEWELLER At Dr. Kiiis'* Drug Store, BROAD STREET ATHENS, OA. All *«>rk done in a superior manner, and warraotedto give satiafaction. jauj-if WILEY CHILDERS, T OCATED in this city, is prepared JLi to do |U kinds of Carpenters’ Work in the best style, n l at reasonable r^te*, with dispatch. Shop in lift rear of the City Clerk's Office. JcneS. IS: i A MAP OF BUSY LIFE. No. 24.E Athens, Georgia, Wednesday, April 14, 1870. 5 OLD SERIES—Volume LIII \ NEW SERIES—Volume IU. Poetical. ’liferent b it posi- A.ctl9-tf M. V. GURLEY, SITPVEO.Y PE.YTIST, r IRAKIS pleasure in announcing to JL the cip.roni of Franklin and an 1 adjoining rowntioa, thal h* is now located o i t e Athens street, (n< nJla south of Carnc?vU’»* wi. yrehete prepared to mrxclice Dentistry in all I • rancher Prices low to suit the t,:ue> Ittly no interior work. GEO. W. COOPER, Carriage and Tiuggy Tkomat Street, opposite Cooper'* l.ltery Stable. P ARTICULAR attention given to REFAIRJOBS. Order* left with A. A. Bell, at Surumey A Newton's, will receive prompt nt- tion. June 17 If GL’II.TY OR NOT GUILTY. She stood at the bar of Justice, A creature wan and wild, In form loo small for a woman, In face too old for a child ; For a look so worn and pathetic Was stamped on her pale, young then, It seemed loug years of suffering Must have left that silent trace. '* Your name," said the Judge as he eyed her With kindly look, yet keen, '* la Mary Mctiuire, if you please air," “ And jour age ?” “ I’m turned fiftcos." “ Well, Mary,” and then from a paper He slowly and sadly read, •• You’re charged here, I'm sorry to say It, With stealing three loarea of broad. " You look not like an offender, And I hope that you can show The charge to be false. Now, tell me, Are you guilty of this, or no?” A passionate burst of weepi-g Was at firat the sole reply, But she dried her eyes In a moment, And looked in the Judge's eye. " I will tell you how It was, sir: My father and mother are dead, And my lUtle brothers and listen Were hungry and asked me for bread. At first I earned It for thorn By working hard all day, But somehow times were hard, air, And the work it fell away. ’• I could get no more employment; The weather waa bitter cold, The young ones cried and shivered— (Littlo Johnny’i hot four yean old)— I took—ob, waa It stealing T The bread to glee to them.’’ Every man In the court-room— Gray heard and thoughtless youth— Knew, as he looked upon her. That the prisoner spoke the truth. Out from their pockets came 'kerchiefs, Out from their eyes sprung tears, And out from their old faded wallet! Treasures hoarded for year*. The Judge’s face was a study— The strangest yon ever saw, A a he cleared hia throat and murmured Something about the law; For one to learned in such matters— So wise In dealing with men, He teemed, on a simple question, Sorely ponied just then. But no one blamed bltr. or wondered When at last these words they heard: “ The sentence of this young prisoner Is for the present deferred I" And no one blamed him or wondered When he went to her and smiled, And tenderly led from the courl-roeui Mary, the " guilty ” child. individual, and determine) his des tiny, provided the hour and place of his nativity were given. Whether his life was to be a success or a failure, whether it was to be happy or miserable, de pended not ou himself, but on the position of Mars and Venus, Ju piter or Saturn, at the time of his birth. Astronomy was preceded by astrology, and may be regarded as its offspring. It has been called * the wise daughter of a foolish mother,’ but, in its early history, what erroneous conceptions were entertaiued in regard to the mo tions and nature of the heavenly bodies. For many centuries, men taught that the earth was the cen tre of the universe, and that the sun and all the planets and stars revolved around it as the centre ; such was the astronomy taught by the great intellects of antiquity. Miscellaneous Selections. be proven. But to many, this would be unsatisfactory. Before proceeding to examine the various popular beliefs in re gard to lunar influence, let us state in general terms what we know of the laws that govern plant life, and what we know of the moon. Then we will be able, understand- ingly, to discuss the multiform popular opinions in the light of modern science. What do wo know of plant life ? We know that moisture and heat are required for the seed to ger minate, and this sunlight is essen tial for the full and healthy devel- that food is taken in a soluble form, and that the various constit uents in the soil are dissolved by the action of soil-water, and per meate by a peculiar force, culled ’ormose,’ the outer covering of the delicate rootlets of the plant, is an opaque spherical mass cov ered seemingly with extinct vol canoes, receiving its light and heat from the sun; that it shines by'"the light reflected from the sun. When between the earth and the sun, presenting its dark side towards the earth, you call it new moon. In seven and a half days thereafter, with one-half appearing illuminated, it is said to be in the first quarter; in seven and a half days more, it presents the bright face of the full moon, and^heu in seven and a half days more,, it is said to be iu the last quarter. The phases 0 f the moon experiments, and clearly estab-1 moon exerted a direct influence lished the fact that the enduring over physical aud mental mnla- qualities of timber are wholly in dependent of the phase of the moon in which it is filled. Gardeners and agriculturists, generally, who believe in the in fluence of the inoon, hold that dies; that it entered the sick chamber aud controlled the phe nomena of disease, and at times, injuriously affected the mental faculties. So generally has this latter power been attributed to the ’••V » Vjuuikvi* Alt'* |JUtlOLO All 1UU IUUUU opment of the plant. We fenfiw arc pert&dical, and depend simply It has ouly been about three cen- I and thence flow throught the plant, A-. A. WINN, —WITH GROOVER, STUBBS & CO. Cotton. Factors, —AND— Ceneral Commission Merchants Savannah. Ga. Digging, Ties, Rop«, *n*i other Supplies fur- All*. Liberal Cult Advance* made on .nnslgnseeats for or shipment to Liverpool Northern ports. my30-tf lively, Feed and Sale Stable jA-THCEISTS, G--JV-’ OANN & REAVES....PROPRIETORS YX7TLL BE FOUND AT THEIR VV slilitxol. rear Fran kiln House building, Thomas street. Keep always uu hand gotwl Turn out* and carerul drivers. Block well c ared far when entrusted to our car*. Stock ud baud far yal* at all time*. deri:*.-tf THE MOON. A Scientific AtMrr.-s or. the Lunar Sn- )HTStitil>ilS Delivered before the Agricultural Society by President ITm. LcRoy Broun, of the State College. Iii compliance with a resolution passed at your last semi-annual convention, I appear before yon to address you on the subject as signed me for discussion, and in so doing, I am reminded of an in cident in the life of the French astronomer, Laplace. On one occasion a deputation of French astronomers had an audience with Louis XVIII, who on entering the room, immediately remarked: ’ Gentlemen, I am charmed to see you, for now you can tell me all about the red moon, and explain to me why it is so injurious to vegetation.’ Laplace, to whom the remark was addressed, who, I 1 though acknowledged as the first astronomer of the world, had not even so much as heard of the red moon, with confusion replied, * Sir, the red moon has uo place in our astronomical theories; wc oxtremely regret our inabililty t« turies since Copernicus first enun ciated the true system of astrono my—that the sun was the centre around which all the planets with the earth revolved. And to show bow wide-spread was the error that the earth was the centre, and with what tenacity it was adhered to at that day, wc only to refer to the persecutions of the old Italian philosopher, Galileo, by the Church of Rome, for teaching, what the Church re garded as heresy, that the sun was the centra of the solar system. You remember, for teaching this doctrine, he was cast into prison, branded as a heretic, deuied the rights of a citizen and even after death, deuied the right of burial. Views of the most absurd char acter were held in regard to the heavenly bodies. Comets were regarded ;>.s fiery monsters, har bingers of evil, foretelling pestil ence and war. A comet with a tail curved as a sword, foretold war; a comet with a streaming, hair-like tail, foretold the death of a prince. In the loth century a fiery comet appeared, and caused great consternation. So -great was the apprehension, that the Pope, Calixtus III, issued an edict ordering the people everywhere to pray to God to deliver them from the devil, the Turk and the comet ! where they undergo the process of assimilation. We know that the carbonic acid of the atmos phere is absorbed and decomposed in the green leaves of the plant by the action of the sunlight; that the decomposition and assimila tion of the carbon only trkes place in the chlarophyl— the green por tion of the leaf—when under the influence of sunlight; besides the soil and atmosphere, moisture, heat and sunlight are essential to plant development. Let us see next what we know of the moon We know that it revolves around the earth once in twenty-nine and a half days ; that its average dis tance from the earth is 240,000 miles ; that it is, of all the celes tial bodies, the nearest to the earth, though still so far removed that did a railway track extend from the earth to the moon, a train running 20 miles an hour, without stopping day or night, would require one and one-third years to complete the journey; could an acoustic vibration pass to the moon with the velocity that it lias in our atmosphere, and could we speak sufficiently loud to cause a lunar inhabitant (if there arc such.) to hear our ines-| on delicate thermometers, they sage, it Mould require fourteen | have failed to cause any increase days for the sound tj pass from of temperature. One astronomer the earth to the moon. Were j thought that’he obtained evidence At the time of the assassination! we to address our supposed auditor jj of heat from the moon on the top vegetables, plants and trees, which moon, as to give origin iu our are expected to flourish and grow; owu language to the term ’ lunacy.’ vigorously, * should be planted, j So strong was the faith of the an- grafted aud primed during the in- j cieuts in the influence of the moon crease of the moon.’ Though this ] and the planets, that one of their opinion, wo find, is subject to writers recommends that no phys- uiany modifications in different > ician be trusted who is ignorant sections of the country. In what j of astronomy. In diseases, the manner, then, docs the moon af- j different changes or pluses of the , feet plant-life ? What explanation J moon were thought to correspond on its position with respect to the i does science offer of this lunar in-, to the sufferings of the patient. earth or sun. Every twenty-nine and a halt days they must and do recur with the most exact preci sion. But, say the adherents of the belief in lunar influences affecting plant and animal life on earth, thut the lunar influence is effective through the agency of its light and heat. Let us examine this view by the aid of modern science. How much light do we receive on earth from the full moon? Not loss than a half million of full moons would be required to give light equal to that of the sun, and this is twice as many as could oc cupy the visible hemisphere of the heavens. According to Wollaston, the full moon is 800,000 times weaker than the sunlight. The light of the sun is found equal to 5,503 wax candles at the distance of one foot, while that of the moon was only the candle. fluenco? These are the questions j The critical days of the disease given to us to answer. First, we j were the 7th, 14lh and 21st. ask, is it a fact? Has the fact I In support of this supposed ce- bcen established by careful and;le6tial influence on the action of well conducted experiments? disease, it is related that in 1093, The careful experiments con-1 when an epidemic was prevailing ducted by French agriculturists, ; throughout Italy, an unusual num- proved that the increase or de-, her of persons died at the moment crease of the moon has no appre- of the luuar eclipse. This fact, if ciable influence on the phenomena it bo a fact, can be readily cx- of vegetation. But the believers plained by the influence exerted iu lunar influence assert that their 1 on the minds of the patients by experience confirms their belief, the occurrence of a phenomenon, One experiment, which they well 1 so full of interest, and so little PUBLICATION OFFICE: JVb. 7, GHAJUITE lion, (UD-Stalrs,) ATHENS, GEORGIA. Rates of Advertising t Transient advertisement*, ofoi.e aqnar* or mure, fit 00pertquareforth*ttminaertioo,and75conw fur each subsequent insertion. aa. All advertisement, considered transient, except where special contracts are made. Twelve line* spac* of this type (os oae inch) make one aqua re. SS*For contract prices, see schedule. remember, fully establishes, as ‘ understood. It is related that, from the luuar surface, tends to 4- lx Alt llAnAAIt 4 tv /V SV won AM 1** n-% ,1 VltStUA Ini . non 1 l*n J 1*.. #1 K /V n 1 OO .\ 4 n ♦ 1, n • . 1 , L A ■ « on V CV * * SO A they reasou, the existence of lu- : patients were, as late as 1G54, by uar influence. ! order of the physicians, shut up Now, the causes that influence j in close chambers, dark aud wcl! plant-growth are extremely com- • perfumed, to escape the baleful plex. It is one of the most diffi-: influence of an eclipse. The num- cult questions in nature, to prop-'hers who flocked to confession, erly estimate the influence of each among the peasantry of France, of the separate factors, so to speak, were so great that the priests that enter into and produce the' could not administer the rite, and 144th of a j well-developed plant. What then J in one instance, so great was the j are the factors that enter into a I crowd, that a village curate se- carefully examined with reference to this supposed lunar influence. Arago has shown from these ic- gisters that a slight preponderance of rain falls near the new moon over that which falls near the full. Sir John Herschel from his own observations, concludes it is a meteorological fact that * there is a tendency w a disappearance of clouds under the full moon.' The examination of the records seem to show that there is a slight tendency to fair weather about the full moon, and by conscqueuce more cloudy weather about the new moon. This tendency is extremely slight, und often marked by local causes, aud this is the only per ceptible influence ou the weather that the records indicate which can bo attributed to the moon. What, then, is the scientific ex planation of this tendency to cause fair weather at full moon? The heat that radiates from the moon is of thut character that is absorbed in the upper regions of the atmos phere. It cannot reach the earth, but is all absorbed by the vapor and air. lienee, at aud ubout full moon, the excess of heat radiated Hence, even the whole celestial i question of plant growth? vault closely packed with full us mention some of them: moons, all giving light to the earth, their united light would be less than that ot the sun. But what about the heat that comes from the moon? Does not that excit an important influence on plant life? The most refiued experiments, made with the most delicate apparatus, have failed to indicate any heat received from the light of the moon. Even when the moonlight has been concen trated bv large concave mirrors Let j riotisly informed his flock that the eclipse was postponed for a fort- of Julius Cresar, a comet appeared which the Romans regarded as the chariot to transport the soul of Cajsar to the celestial regions. William the conqueror claimed that a comet, then visible, mani fested his divine right to invade | of Tcneritfe; hut his instrumental i means wore imperfect. Prof. j’Jyntlall states, that his experi- I meats indicated rays of cold from the moon. The heat of the sun ! that is reflected from the moon to ; the earth, is all absorbed in the FALL | WINTER MUM GOODS. M RS. T. A. ADAMS would most r**p«ctfullT inform th« Ladies of Athens and bfcounties adjacent, that she ha* now receiv ed and opened a most choice and select assortment ef Fall and Winter Millinery floods, com prising fn part the latest styles and fashions of HATS, BOMETS, ■JUJ17S0.\S, J.'l CJ7S, Flowers, Gloves, &c.s Which iba will Mil! at roav.nabl* prices. Hive her a call before purchasing elsewhere. Orders froci a distance carefully filled. Store located ou Broad •tro*t, on* dour noose Kntoinol Bonk. octll>-tf. J. W. COLLINS llu now In Store a Fall Stock ot CTSW C O ODS> SUITABLE FOR T1IE SPRING AND SUMMER T BTCL JWL wrm^z, Consisting, in part, of DBY GOODS GROCERIES HATS, SHOES* NOTIONS OT AU Kind*, which ho offer* CHEAP FOR CASH Or in Exchange for Country Produce. ■ar The high**', market price paid in *u<> l> • eottoi. May t» clearly demonstrate that univer sality or antiquity of belief, is no criterion of its correctness. Superstition is an element of human nature, finds its home in ignorance, aud is ouly dissipated by the light of science. The su perstition in regard to the con trolling influence of the planets on human destiny, once so gener ally entertained, was sedulously cultivated in some quarters during the middle ages, aud even as late as 1820, a large volume oxplana- gratify the curiosity of your mu-W theart was P ubli3hed in jesty.’ 1 apprehend, Mr. President, BRA CK ETS* ■"i Oi 'Q Z ■ 1 The Largest Stock of Brackets, Clock Skdves, Igook Shelves, ’ Wall Pockets, IVlatch Safe*. Hanging Baskets,. Ac., Ac. Ever Brouykl to .Ithens, For sale at ~v BURKE'S BOOK STORE. Nov .25. tf. that you will unite with me, on the conclusion of this discussion, in regretting my inability to grat ify the curiosity of this convention. The belief that the moon exer cises an influence, both beneficial and injurious on the life of plants and animals is very wide spread, and dates back to remote antiqui ty. It is held by the ignoraut generally, and by many intelligent persons, and finds adherents in the most civilized and highly en lightened communities. The advocates of this belief, urge as an evidence that it is cor rect and well established, the fact that the opinion is very generally entertained in couutries widely separated, and has been for many centuries past. The antiquity and universalit3’ of the belief they con tend, implies its correctness. In discussing this question, it is important that we should first disabuse our mitids of this erro neous conception. It is a fallacy to oanclude because au opinion has heen generally entertained, that it ia therefore well established aud founded in truth. To con vince ourselves of this, we need on ly call to miud to the early history of astronomy anil astrology. The motions of the stars and the plan ets in the early history of man kind, were studied by reason of the influence they were supposed to exert upon the destiny of indi viduals and nations. Astrology dates back to pre-histor(c ages, beyond the time of the building of the pyramid®- During all the loug centuries preoediug the Chris tian era, aud for fifteen centuries afterwards, astrologers were found ready to cast the horoscope of an in the new moon, it would be full | moon before he would receive the message. We know also, thut the moon is a spherical shaped body, and revolves once on its axis in twen ty-seven and a third days, in the England, and Napoleon I., always same time that it m ikes an i xact ! upper regions of the atmosphere, believed that a comet which ap- \ revolution around the earth, and Heat is, without doubt, reflected poared the year of his birth, was I hence always presents the same from the moon, but the raj’s are his protecting genii. I half towards the earth. We know obscure or dull, and are wholly These facts are sufficient to show j that there is no atmosphere on the absorbed by the air and vapors the wide-spread superstitions of j moon, such as there is around the j that surround the earth, the people in former years, and to earth, and no water on its surface, j Hence, so l'ar as science has de- If the moon has au atmosphere, termined the question, we cou- it is extremely attenuated, not! elude that plants on the earth re- over one mile in height; probably {ceive no sensible heat from the as attenuated as the vacuum made J moon. by the air pump: according to j Let us now proceed to apply Sir J. Hcrschhel, two thousand ; these principles of science to the times less dense than our atmos- examination of some of the most phere. Hence we infer that plant ; special popular beliefs in regard and animal life do not exist on I to lunar influence, the moon, as the conditions essen- I The English gardeners gave the tial for their existence and devel- ' name of the ’ red moon’ to that opment are not present. j which now is full between the We know also, that the surface ! middle of April and the close of of that half of the moon turned May, because, as they allege, the towards the earth, is covered with light of the moon killed and mountains with high peaks, and, turned red the delicate buds of precipitous cliffs. A great por- j the tender plants. Hence, their lion of the moon is covered with i custom was to protect by some what appears to be extinct volea- J covering the tender buds from the uoes. So far as we know, it is a I injurious influence (as they be- cold opaque mass of matter, with j lieved) of the light of the moon, its fires extinguished, dependent I When thus protected from the on the sun both for light aud heat. I light, they were uninjured. For fourteen days one half of the j The gardeners were right as to under the blaze of the 1 - - 1. The chemical constitution of| night. the soil. j It is stated that Bacon fainted 2. The mechanical condition of at every lunar eclipse, and only the soil, the depth of the plough-! recovered when the moon recov ing, aud the degree of pulveriza ■ j ered her light. But as Arago, tion. j the French astronomer, remarks, 3. The temperature of the soil [ before we can admit that this in- and the air. I stance proves the existence ot lunar 4. The character of the drain- influence, * we must establish the age. fact that feebleness and pusillani- 5. The amount aud frequency j mity of character are never con- of the water supply. I nected with high qualities of 6. The character of thccultivn- mind.’ tion, the depth and the frequency | Against this prevalent belief of of the ploughing and the hoeing. | the influence of the moon over 7. The plant-room—that is, the! physical and mental maladies, we number t>f plants to the acre. | bring the general law of periodi- 8. The quality of the seed used, j calily iu disease, both physical Here wc have mentioned eight j and mental, and periodicity of the separate factors, each of which phases of the moon. Hence, we pkiys au important part In the character of the crop realized, and to make an experiment, to test would anticipate numerous fortui tous coincidences. The law of probabilities shows that these re- perstitiou has been abandoned, yet r not wholly so. Tracc^of the aid astrological belief of the influ- nces of the sun when iu different sigus of the zodiac, can be seen on the title page of every almanac of the present day, and men can be found everywhere who exhibit their faith in this supposed solar iufluenee, and who do not value au almanac without this customary frontispiece. A few years ago, a publishing house determined not to yield to this popular supersli- tiou, and issued their almanacs without the usual astrological dia grams, when the whole edition was returned as unsaleable. We see, then, that this super stition is not entirely eradicated from the world. Formerly, men thought that plauctary influence coutrolled human destiny. Now they believe, at least some do, that the lunar influence controls plant life, and iu some way, af fects animal lite. And the adhe rents of this belief demand of scieuce an explauation of the cause of this lunar influence. Is this a question ot science, or is it a question of fact? While it is true that rio phonomcnon can occur in nature that is beneath the dignity of science to investigate, yet, we must bear in miud that science demands as preliminary to all investigation that the question of fuot lie established, and that it be established beyond a dodtt. IV hen the fact of the phenomenon is conclusively established, theu it is the business of science to give the explanation required. Until this is done, no proper demand can be made om science. Just here we might conclude the discus sion and demand that aU the facts moon is sun, with no atmosphere or vapor to temper its rays." lienee, it must be subjected to much greater heat than we ever experienced on earth, and then for an equal length of time, that half is enveloped in total darkness and subjected to intense cold. We who inhabit the earth, can only see one-hulf of the moon. That half has jwen very closely examined with the telescope. The heights of more than a thousand mountains have been measured. Charts have been made representing the mountains and plains, all of which are named, and even models of the moou have been made, representing with great accuracy, the form and heights of the mountaius and cra ters. Indeed, so closely has the moon been seauned with the tele scope, and so carefully has it been studied, that now the geography, (so to speak) of the moon is bet-1 ter understood than that of the earth, for the moon has, in the half presented to the earth, no unknown portion equal in extent to that of the unknown portion of Central Africa. We are thus particular iu giv ing a minute statement of uur kuawledge of the physical condi tion, of the moon, as this is neces sary to properly discuss its sup posed influence on earth. We have seen theu that the moon has no air and no water, but duced by the presence or absence of each of these factors must be carefully observed, and that effect must be correctly eliminated be fore the supposed lunar influence can be estimated. But this is not the method adopted by those who are confirmed iu their opinions in regard to lunar influence by their own observations. They observe only *one thing, the phase of the moon, and every other influence is neglected. We conclude, there fore, that the influence of the moon on plant life, has not been established as a question of fact. Wine makers have a maxim that wine made in two moons is of au inferior quality. The only influence that the moon could ex ert on the fermentation would be by affecting the temperature, and we have already shown that the influence of the moon in affecting the temperature on the earth, was inappreciable. This maxim is not established ns a fact, and hence, must be classed along with that popular belief among sailors, equally unfounded, that the light of the moon has a peculiar potcucy to darken the complexion. It is au old maxim, meutioued by ancient writers, that the moon light facilitates the putrefaction of animal substances; that fresh meat- and fish exposed to the light of the moou undergo decomposition rapidly. In this case, as in others, the moan is charged with a deed of which sbo is innocent. Mois ture facilitates decomposition of auimal substances, and if a clear uight, when the moou is visible, beat radiates into a space rapidly, the animal substances are exposed, are chilled, and hence are covered with dew. The moisture thus produced by a physical cause, aud not by the light of the moon, de termines the putrefaction. The opinion is common in some couutries, aud is also expressed in some of the old Latin writers, that oysters become larger duriug the increase of the moon. This question has been carefully tested by the balance and found uot to be a fact. Butchers, in some localities, hold that the marrow found in the boues of animals, increases and de areases with the moon. A Ger man scientist put this opiuion to tho test of observations conducted with great care for a period of twenty years, aud established, by the uuerring balance, that the be lief was without fouudatiou. the fact, but wrong as to the cause. The moon was not the agent, but simply a witness. It is a well known fact in physics, that some substances will radiate heat more readily than others, and hence, when exposed to the same atmosphere, will become chilled in a grcatci degree, aud in dicatc a lower temperature. The youug buds of plauts are good ra diators of heat, and hence of a clear night, when there are uo clouds to intercept the rays of moonlight, nor the radiant heat from the plants, the young buds may radiate heat so readily as to bqpouie chilled down to freezing, while the thermometer may indi cate eveu tcu degrees higher tem perature.- The fact that this takes place also of a clear night when the moou is not visible, shows that it is not the moonlight that causes the injury. In some countries tho opiuion was generally entertained, that limber to be preserved, should be felled only during the decline of the moon. It is stated that the forest laws ofFranoe, at one time, forbade the cutting of timber du ring tho iucrease of tho moon; and that the same opinion was enter taiued und acted on iu England, Germany and Brazil. To test whether or not this popular opiu ion was true, a celebrated French agriculturist, M. Duhauol du Mon- _ . ceau instituted a series of careful' fluences assumed, was that the Fraucc and England, have been dissipate the clouds. The amount of heat radiated to the earth is a maximum at full moon ; hence, the greater tendency about the lunar phase to have kss cloudy nights. Science does not undertake to prove the negative of this question of lunar influence. True, science is cautious. She does not deal with the unknown. She does uot arrogate to herself the power to determine all the possibilities aud impossibilities of nature. But, iu the most positive manner, she de mands as preliminary to all inves tigations, that the facts bo well established. This question the*, in its multiform aspects, is not a question of science, but one of fact. Our conclusion is, with the ex ception of the slight iuflueuce on the weather, already explained, that the popular opiuions in regard to lunar influence arc not founded on fact, arc not supported by the laws of physical scieuce, but rest on tradition, and furnish evidence of a wide-spread inherited super stition. The moon is uot an agent, but simply a witness, and in all fair ness, must be acquitted of th> many misdeeds attributed to her. DEATH OF TIIE CHAW 1 SOX BUSTER, f One of the “characters” in which oar New England village lite abounds has just passed away at Williamstown in the death of the negro Abram Par sons, or “Abe Buuter,” as lw waa known to every one acquainted with the town. Abe’s popular title was de scriptive, and grew out of his rain-like or hutting pro|*nsities, “butting” be fog his readiest und most effective method of defence, liis thickness of skull, even for one of his race, waa simply astounding. He would split heavy plauk with his head in the way of business or for the amusement of any one willing to pay a quarter tor such tun, or would utterly discomfit and rout an adversary by launching himself bodily and irresittbly at his stomach. These were b!« play spells. The worthies of the village will vouch for other stories illustrative of Abe’s more vigorous achievements. They beguiled him, years ago, into splitting a small grindstone. He was asked at one of the stores if he wanted a cheese. Naturally he did, and they told him it must be put in a salt sack aud fo> must smash it with his head; so they inserted the stone, and Abe actually and literally shivered it—and, let us hope, got his cheese. When “Cole's store” was burned some years ago, und the heavy door could uot be broken ojteu, Abe very obligingly pounded it iu witli his* bead. He was a kindly, good natured fellow, had beeu born a slave in New York State, aud when freed, much against his will, found th» task of caring for himself and au ever- growiug family,a discouraging one. He was a good laborer when properly “botsed,” but up to hia death repre sented well the old-fashioned “White Oak’s shiftlessness, though latterly he was brought, with hia family, some what under the reforming influences o* Prof. Hopkins’s mission chapel. ‘ ‘Abo Banter” will be missed as a member of the “lower faculty” about the college and by tl>e graduates at the annual commencement season, but must at Washington.—Springfield (i/aw.) Re publican. by nearly the same interval, must •rive frequent coincidences. But then coincidences do not "recur allways at the same phase of the moou, nor do they recur with suf- ficieut frequency to ’indicate the relation of cause and effect. The cause of the ’ critical days’ in hu man maladies must he sought for in tho law of periodicity as now recognized by physicians, aud not in the changes of the moon. But this supposed relation has been carefully examined. Dr. Olbers, a distinguished astronomer, who was also a physician, states, after having subjected this opinion to a careful test, by an examination of numerous facts, that' he was never able to discover the slightest trace of any connection between the phenomena of disease and the phases of the moon The belief that is more wide spread probably than any other, is the influence which the moon is supposed to exert ou the changes of the weather. Even prognos tications in regard to the weather throughout the month, were made to depend on the appearances of the moon iu the crescent form. A Latin writer, who was regarded as one of the wisest of the Romans, gave the following rule by which to foretell the state of the weather: ' If the upper horn of the crescent moon appears hazy, rain will hup pen on the decline of the moon; if the lower horn is hazy, it will ruin before the full moon; if the center is lu»2(v, it will rain at the full moou.’ We know now that the hazy appearance is due to the vapor in the atmosphere of the earth, and not to a condition ot tho moon ; aud tliat a change of locality on the earth of a few miles, would be sufficient to pro- A Doctor of Disbi who<e |iamo ject the vapor on the upper or began P, lived in Boafon. Auoth- lower horn. Heme, the absurdity i er raau of the same name died. *u<i a ’ 1 zealous newspaper reporter seeing the death in the paper, and thinking only of tho old Rouiau rule is obvious. The belief is very general that a change of the weather accompa nies a change of the moon, aud that we have more rainy and cloudy days about the new moou, and more clear days afomt the full moon. Is this a fact? Suppose we place iu one column all tho rainy days of the year, and in a parallel coliiniu the phases of the moon. Now let this tabic be con tinued during a long series of years, and if there is a physical connection between the condition of the weather and the phase of tho moon, it will bo made mani fest by th e numerous coincidences . 4* - , . One of the most anpient forms I Metcoralugioal tables kept for a which belief in regard to luuar in- j loug series at years iu Germany', 1 flnotiAAc oKQiimod. w.'ia thut tho Friiwn Vurvlnn/l !%***.« of Dr. P., wrote » most enthusiastic obituary. A wag met Dr. P. the next day, “VVhat, you are not dead?” he said. “Well, then, you ought to be. No man can ever live up to that obit uary.” It is related of a certain minister, who was noted for bis long sermons with many divisions, that oue Jay, when he was advancing among bis teens, he reached at leugtb a resting place io, bis discourse, when, pausing to take breath, he asked the question, “And what shall I say more?” A voice from tfie congregation earnestly responded, .“Say *Amen! ,w ...The last analysis of an avenge legislator is to change county lines and introduce a bill to peddle without li cense..

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Northeast Georgian. (Athens, Ga.) 1872-1875, April 14, 1875, Image 1