There are many persons who are familiar with the bright stars and constellations of these northern latitudes who are unaware of the beautiful myths and legends that time and fancy have woven about them.
As even a meagre knowledge of star lore has added greatly to the writer's pleasure in the study of the stars, and has served to render their appearance full of suggestion, he has been interested in collecting for this volume a portion of that varied history of the heavens that has been presented in terms imaginative by the peoples of all ages. Those who admire the beauty of the stars may learn to love them by reason of the literary and legendary associations recalled by their appearance.
Much that appears in these pages has been published from time to time in books on popular astronomy of comparatively recent date, but to the writer's knowledge no comprehensive story has as yet been presented of the constellations, and of the stars they contain.
In the compilation of this volume, the purpose has been to include all matter pertinent to the subject, in order that the history of the constellations, as known and as written by all nations in every age, might be arranged in convenient form for the benefit of those who only know the stars by sight.
A further aim has been to revive an interest in the mythology that twines about the stars. It has seemed but right that this wealth of star lore, buried deep in the treasury of the past, should once more see the light, and add its increased charm and interest to those who scan the skies.
Such a history must ever serve to keep bright the memory
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