Lunar Influence

I Prof. J. P. Nichal, (he eminent astron¦mer of Glasgow, in a letter to the Boston ¦ournal of Chemistrj' in regard to the ¦upposed influence of the moon on the Ifeather, saya : I "No relation exists between these two llasses of phenomena. The question has Teen tested and decided over and over again by the discussion of long and reliable meteorológica) tables, nor do I know of any other positivo way of testing any such point. I confess I cannot account for the origin of the prevalent belief." The origin of the belief in the moon as an influential power over our earth must be traeed to the ancient superstitions concerning the influencc of the moon on mundanc affairs. Many Iingering superstitions have their root.s in the old mythology and astrology. These died as systeras long ago, but popular notions tliat grcw out of them still live among the illiterate in all lands, and sometimes their ghosts haunt over the educated. The changes of tbe moon cannot affect U8 in the least, because these changes occur all the time at every point of the moon's orbit. There is no powerful nietamorphosis in the moon at the "first (uarter, " f'ull moon," or " new moon," any more than there is bctween those points. The changes in the appearancc of the moon is due solely to the rayu of light striking the body of the moon at certain angles or points. The moon is always the same, changes are only in the reflection of the light, and the moon itself can no more be said to change in the ordinary sense of the word than a railroad train changes when it passes a mile-post set up beside the track. The light of the moon cannot affect us becaose t is of such siuall degree - Cl1.), (umi linies li-ss than the lif?ht of the gun -a lantern hung on n iole would affect us just as mucb. Thero is do heat to spuak of in the reflected light of the moon, and as it is ignorantly supposed does not produce cold. The stories of persons having distorted limbs and countenances by reason of sleeping under the rays of the moon are "marinera' tales." To assume that the influenco of the moon can be perceived and understood by unedueateil observers, and made a part of popular " weather wisdom" and apitlied to practi(;al use by farmers, or sailors, or anybody else, whüe, scientific observers, who have spent years of experiment and with the most delicate instrumenta, know Dothing about it is simply ridiculous. There is no ' raison d'etre ' in the phenomena attributcd to the moon.