Page:The Music of the Spheres.djvu/239

 such a catastrophe so preyed upon the minds of the populace that it is reported in the "Tshu-King," one of the oldest chronicles in existence, that the ancient astronomers Ho and Hi had their heads laid before their feet for failing to predict an eclipse of the sun. Plenty of time to get out drums and kettles and to make the deafening noise which had always caused the monster to drop the sun was always given after this little incident. Douglas, in "History of China," relates that at this time, the intervention of every official in the country is called upon to save the sun from being destroyed.

The Grecians, however, ascribing all things to the gods, thought that the phenomenon was due to Jupiter, who, sometimes wishing to keep his business on earth secret from the other immortals on Mount Olympus, kept them from seeing him by hanging a little covering over the sun.