of poor humanity, and a vice which it would be unseemly for them to countenance in any way. That they are entirely right whenever they refuse to give advice which might lead to a reckless waste of money I gladly admit. What I protest against is the assumption that horse-races are largely a matter of chance, for I cannot believe in chance as long as I believe in astrology. GABRIEL. James Hingston, GREENWICH TIME NOW LEGAL TIME IN FRANCE. Never was there "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. better reason for thanking France for that phrase than at the present moment. Our neighbor has decided to adopt the standard of Greenwich for its time; but it would obviously never do to say so, or to use any form of words implying that France had any need to borrow anything, even time, from this side of the channel. The Chamber of Deputies has, therefore, saved the position by enacting that 'the legal time of France and Algeria is the time which is 9 min. 21 sec. slow on Paris mean time.' Those minutes and seconds indicate the difference in longitude between Greenwich and Paris! The standard time of France is, therefore, to be that of Greenwich. And Greenwich hospital is full of the relics of Trafalgar! The act which the chamber has adopted is quite in the spirit of the immortal D'Artagnan, who, during the breathless time he spent in London, propounded the delightful article of faith that English is only French badly pronounced.'"- St. James Gazette, May 7, 1898. boroscope of the Grand Duchess Maria, the Czar's Daughter. THE Czar's third daughter was born at St. Petersburg "at noon" Monday, June 26, 1899. We believe that the actual time of birth was four minutes earlier, or 9.55 A.M. Greenwich. Charubel's symbol for the second degree of Libra is so marvelously appropriate to the general character of the horoscope, and especially of the ruling planet Venus in trine to the Moon from aerial and refined signs, that we have no hesitation in accepting it as a true, though intuitional, rectification (very slight in any case) of the estimate time of birth. "2d symbol. A man playing on a violin. One possessing splendid abilities; of most refined tastes, exquisite accomplishments, and a generous disposition. Much fineness of perception- in the higher nature the intuitional abounds." She will be tall, slender, graceful, and beautiful, like her mother, will dance beautifully, and have charming and sympathetic manners. There is a great deal of sunshine and gaiety in her nature-Sun trine Jupiter and Moon trine Venus. From the position of the ruling plant Venus with Neptune in Gemini, which rules the arms and hands, we believe that when she first feels a locomotive instinct, she will 'paddle'; i. e., help herself along with her hands like paddles while sitting on the ground. This peculiarity has been observed in several children born since Neptune entered this sign. She will be very artistic in some way, probably in music, and will excel in everything that she does with her hands. She will have romantic dreams, and may even be clairvoyante at times. America and the Americans will be sympathetic to her, and she will probably visit that continent. She will also be attracted to Scotland and Venice. She will marry early to a Mars in Virgo man, probably military, very honorable-Sun trine Jupiter sextile Mars, but liable to sudden and severe accidents, especially in foreign lands-Mars square Uranus. This aspect will afflict her personally in all matters ruled by the third and twelfth Ac houses: arms, hands (and feet), sisters or brothers, short journeys, letters, etc. As both Sun and Moon are well aspected and strong, the constitution is good, and is favorable to a long life. More than one marriage is possible, as she will survive the first partner. There is some danger by the larger animals, probably horses, especially at the period given below, when Mars will touch the ascendant. She will be devoted to both her parents; a most loving nature is shown by the aspects of the Sun and Moon. She will be passionately fond of all children and devoted to her own. She will probably have twins. cording to the rules of astrology as known to me, it does not seem certain that the Czar by his horoscope will ever have a son and heir to his vast empire, as feminine signs preside over each of the seven houses which symbolize the children. But with the horoscope of this little princess and of her elder sister—for the first one was unlucky and does not enter into our calculations-Russia will have no cause to regret in the fulness of time another empress on the throne of the great Catherine. This is the more fortunate horoscope, however, though both show a kindly, generous, and superior nature. The writer takes this opportunity of assuring the reader, who has perhaps observed with an ironical smile that royal horoscopes are always more or less faultless and wonderful, that there really is no insincerity in this case. It really is a distinguished and charming horoscope, and would certainly be at once recognized as such, if shown without a name to any qualified astrologer. She will resemble, we believe, those lovely American goddesses whom Mr. Gibson has drawn for the delight of an older world, perhaps a duplicate of that Princess Aline, not unrelated, we believe, of whom this artist gave us such exquisite drawings in Harper's a few years ago. That she may be happy in this avatar, is the prayer of one sincere republican. 1915, October or February, 1916, engagement. October, marriage, Asc. A in 5. 1924, September, December, or March following 6 Asc. primary. 1929, October and July, 1930. Honors, gain, good for husband, OA 30° 20'. KYMRY. SIR THOMAS BROWNE, who never wrote a line which did not indicate much talent and acuteness, once attempted to prophesy in sport: when, in answer to an ancient metrical prophecy, transmitted to him by a friend, he returned the following lines: "WHEN New England shall trouble New Spain; When Jamaica shall be Lady of the isles and the main ; When Spain shall be in America hid, And Mexico prove another Madrid; When Mahomet's ships on the Baltic shall ride, On the Making of Almanacs. PERHAPS no book is more entitled to the familiarity accorded it in the household than is the family almanac; and yet because of its constant presence on the reference shelf, no publication approaching it in its importance in every-day affairs is viewed with so little concern. Consulted almost daily regarding the exact time and character of current phenomena, it seldom suggests itself to the desultory reader to inquire as to the real significance of its data, or as to their origin or the method of their computation. According to the Geographical Magazine: "There is no other work in the world of which so many copies are printed annually as of the Chinese almanac. This almanac is printed at Peking, and is a monopoly of the Emperor. It not only predicts the weather, but notes the days that are reckoned lucky or unlucky for commencing any undertaking, for applying remedies in diseases, for marrying, and for burying." The Oriental nations observe the manifold forces in nature with greater assiduity and with far more reverence than is indulged by the pedantic scientists of our western civilization. The latter are forever speculating upon the effect, rather than inquiring into the divine significance which underlies the cause, while the former recognize in these varying manifestations a relative correspondence to the spiritual or psychic laws priorly involved. It is not our intention, however, to elaborate on the metaphysical, ethical, or religious phases of these astronomical studies, but rather to enlighten the reader as to the modus operandi observed in some of the principal calculations essential to the construction of an almanac. The word "calendar" comes to us from the Latin calendarium, signifying an account-book. There is a relationship between this word and the calendae of the Romans, a name given to the first day of each month. Literally, it signifies to call, it having been the custom of the priests to call out or proclaim to the |