The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-02-25
For The Free TT
The Great Comet.

For The Free Trader.
The Great Comet.
Abou, two months since, gave notice in
the "Cous,tutionalist that the great comet
which presented such terrible appearance
in 1901, would revisit our sytcm again du-
ring the present year, stating at the same
time, tina, il would depend ON the periheiion
massage whether we should see it as mag
nifccn,ly arrnyed, as did the Crusaders Of
the 18th century. To those who are not
initiated into the mysteries Of astronomy,
such Predictions seem based on no solid
Z foundation, forgetting that on the principle
of chance alone, there were millions TO one.
that the comet Of l26l, aud that OF l606,
were the same lsom the similarity of their
elements, and consequently, the same comet
should return in 1918. Firmly believing in
this deduction, / have for the last two
months watched the line OF the orbit close
", but " ithout sHocess, until the 22d imst..
when first caught sight of this eccentric
wanderer, glowing ike star Of the first
magnitude, in the west, immediately over
the place of the sun. The first glance as
sured me that il was the long sought for COM
ct and not another, by finding that could To-
cate il in its orbit so AS to correspond with
its obs erved position. On doing SO, dis
covered that it was at least thirty days in
ddrGnce Of It's calculated place, which fact,
may have prevented it from being seen in
the morning twilight before reaching its
perheliou so that Ottawa may yet lay
claim to the first discovery. The comet is
very conspicuous when near the horizon,and
CLOVIS like melted silver. No tail is visible
ss il is now turned directly from US. Had this
month been October, it would undoubtedly
have presented an awful appearance from
its present position; but as it is, no sitna-
ton in our orbit could have been worse for
seeing it to advantage. as it will increase
its distance daily, both from the earth and
sun. though by mounting up higher into the
evening sky, it will make up for its de-
creasing brilliancy for n month TO come.
Thus after the lapse of 800 years, star
becomes visible, which, when last seen by
man, was during an age when the fagsot
and the stake would have been the lot Of
him, who should have stripped it of its ter
rors, by giving rational explanation of its
movements N-ti,'"ts .'~. III" nswly Az
rived ometarians--provided they are able
TO pry into the social, religious, and polt
ical affairs of our wor!d-will have news to
carry round "Heavens mighty cape" Of
many strang things that are doing under
the sun. The sight of this comet reminds
US forcibly Of the flight Of time. One sim
Gle perod-a simple unit, thus palpably
links us to the past, and makes it appear as
very brief space. Yet in that one period,
what changes have been wrought! Print
ing. the reformation, the colonization Of A.
nerica, steam power, and a host of improve
ments have taken place, and again thou
sands Of millions have been born, have died,
and are forgotten. ''Sic transit omnia"
while the comet wheels on without devia-
ton or delay, and 'aiter the long travel of
a thousand years." appears in his allotted
track. The next time he appears, the mil
lenium may have dawned upon earth, but
we may reasonably conclude that not a sim
gle great grand child of any now living will
4 be witness of its return. When discov-
ored on the o2d, roughly estimated its po-
I si,ion,
Right ascension, 20 hours, 20 minutes.
| Declination, 20, 80
Since then, it has risen in right ascension
/ and diminished its declinalion.
Should this prove the first discovery, il
may afford those who yet believe in the
evil augury Of comets, some comfort, tina
it was discovered on Washington's brit
day, and cannot therefore be deemed por
ten,ious to the United States. l would als'
suggest that Washington would be a goo'
name for it. THOS. BASSNETT.
Oiia,ca, Feb. 26, lS4S.
PIcKED UP.-Some time since we oilcre'
the Free Trader for one year to any farme