Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1887 — Common Myths. [ARTICLE]

Common Myths.

Ignorant folk, wonder-mongers and even scientific observers have disseminated many erroneous and exaggerated notions which are not readily eradicated. We are still told, for instance, of the Norwegian maelstrom, a frightful whirling chasm in the sea capable of sucking down the largest ships, though in reality this fearful “whirlpool” is simply a run of the tide through a sloping channel, is rarely dangerous, and then chiefly on account of the rocks on which it may draw vessels. Sir John Herschel gave his indorsement to the statement that stars may be seen in the daytime from the bottom of a well, but this has been proven to be an error by tests from a shaft nearly half a mile deep. Mr. John Murdock has recently shown that the Eskimos do not, as text-books of physiology affirm, doze through their long winter nights, keeping up their bodily heat by enormous meals of raw blubber and lamp-oil, but that their winter life is active, their food mostly cooked and their consumption of oil not excessive. A still widely accepted belief is that the hair-snake is a wonderful transformation of a horse’s hair when kept in water, though these odd creatures (known to science as Gordius aquations) really grow from eggs, and in early stages inhabit the bodies of insects. A very old idea, without foundation in fact, is that crocodiles shed mournful tears, while stories of toads imprisoned in solid rock are numerous and supported by much evidence,. but have probably resulted from imperfect observation. Accounts of the germination of grain from the mummy-pits of Egypt have arisen from deception practiced by the Arabs in placing fresh seeds with the belongings of the mummies. Though now known to be incorrect, the inference that the moon influences the weather is a very natural one to untrained observers, and is far less absurd than a thousand vagaries that gain credence, such as the dropping of live reptiles from the clouds, the ejection of live snakes and other creatures from the human stomach, the localization of water by a forked stick, the extinguishment of fire by sunshine, etc.— Arkansaw Traveler.

There can be no peace in human life without the contempt of all events. He that troubles his head with drawing consequences from mere contingencies'shall never be at rest. Excusing ourselves for mean acts and punishing others for the same does not give us front seats in Gloryland.