Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-06-30
r From q London pdyer.7

We were present last Wednesday at the Ar
gyle Rooms, to witness private rehearsal Of ga
musical performance of a peculiar nature as II
was described on the tickets of admission. A
rather intellectual looking parsonage, whom we
afterwards understood to be Bayarian of the
name Of Vernsn, made his appearance, wearing
dark green spectacIes, and being nevertheless ap.
parently blind. On table before him was plac.
ed guitar of new construction, the finger
board being formed on the body Of the instrument,
which rested horizontally on the table. After a
snort prelude, very extraordinary tone resem-
bling that of bassoon. and proceeding from the
musicians mouth, was heard; and from these ma
terials, varied occasionally by peculiar whistle
of great briliancy and sweetness, the artist con
trived to extract some very pleasing melodies. -
So far, however. we discovered nothing intense
ly marvellous, but suddenly the cooling of doves,
the twittering of birds. the cackling of hens,
the quackipg Of ducks, the beating OF sheep, and
more especially the short half-sliied breathing
and querulous barking of fat oversrown lap-dog
wheeling. painting, and choking with rage and
obesity-all given with the most astonishing truth,
distinctness, and rapidity, and witha, set TO INK"
SIC, and skifuIly blended with pleasing accom-
panment,- the audience with laugh
ter, and elected repeated bursts of applause
The ladies more especially seemed delighted, and
indeed nothing could be more amusing as faith
full imitation Of nature, than, the cooling of doves,
and the weeezing aud sneezing of the over fed
lap.dog An air on the aolina, with guitar ac-
compartment, terminated performance which,
however 1t may rank in musical point Of view,
we can certainly designate as highly skful and
amusing, and moreover, in the language of the
admission card, "Of peculiar nature"
-sseaEass~
Huley's Gomez, or The Comet of 1834.-There
are few comets that are visible to the naked eye,
and on this account the comet, whose return
figures among the calculated memorabilia of the
year 1884. is entitled to early and special no
tce. So far as modern observations reach, this
comet was seen for the first time u the year 1865,
and it approached to distance of ll,7O0, 600
miles from the sun on the 9th of June in that year.
1t came near the earth. and under favorable cir
cumstances; presenting itself with peculiar spIen-
dor and remarkable triliancy; travelling with
tail extended over third portion of the firma-
ment. and affording spectacle Of far greater
beauty than it ever exhibited since those times
Its next appearance was in 1881; and on the
18th day of August. it was at distance of s1,-
GOO. 1000 miles from the SUI. The period OF its
was, therefore. ascertained to be Sc
years, two months and seventeen DAYS.
Calculating each of its revolutions at seventy-fve
years, the return Of this comet might have been
predicted for the year 1906 or 1907; and, in
fact, it did return for the third time in 1907 1t
approached nearest the sun, on the 26th of Octo-
Der, when it was l1,750,000 miles distant from
It. The period of its revolution had consequent
" been seventy six years, two months. and one
iay-one twevemonth longer than the preceding;
whence it is obvious that its progress had been dis
Iurbed by some planet. or other strange BODY
1t was OF considerable magnitude. It's head being
Of the size Of the planet Jupiter: but its Iiphf
was weak and nebulous; it had long tail. and
his was also feeble in its rays, as If overcast
with vapors.