SUN-DIALS

Summary

A LUMINE MOTUS

Moved by the light

On a dial at Sestri Ponente, on the Eiviera, a few miles to the west of Genoa. This, the first motto on our list, suggests some fanciful thoughts. Light moving a shadow—one intangible thing acting on another, and the result becoming visible. It can be explained, of course, in the most matter-of-fact manner; but this need not hinder our casting a fleeting glance at the idea. A curious list might be made of things most familiar to us, such as wind, thunder, &c, with the view of ascertaining by how few or how many of our senses they are cognizable.

A ME TOCCA POI LA SORTE DI SEGUIRTI FINO A MORTE.

My fate is to follow you to death.

At Graglia in Piedmont.

A SOLIS ORTU USQUE AD OCCASUM.

From sunrise to sunset.

On the cemetery wall at St. Gervais in Savoy.

A SPAN IS ALL THAT WE CAN BOAST, AN INCH OR SO OF TIME: MAN IS BUT VANITY AND DUST IN ALL HIS FLOWER AND PRIME.

On an erect stone dial, south declining east, which has been recently placed over the door of a barn belonging to a large farm near Bedale, in Yorkshire, known as East Lodge. The initials of the owner, G. J. Serjeantson, Esq., with the date 1862, are below the dial, which was erected when the barn was built.