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Show "Dog Oays." The fust of tip Canicular, or Dog Days, Is so called from the ancient custom of sacrificing a brown dog to iippease the wrath of Si.'ius as soon as that star became visible lo the naked eve. Sirius ,vas supposed to cause Ihe hot, sultry weather usually attendant on Its appearance, and the ancients believed that on the first morning of lis rii-ing Ihe sea boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad and that man became be-came afflicted with burning fevers, hysterics and frenzies. At Argos a festival was held during the Dog Days called Cynonphontes, from four Greek words signifying "from killing dog;-'.'' when it was the custom to kill every canine creature that was met with. |