The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850, 1850-09-25


e charged twenty-five per cent higher than the above
es reasonable deduction will be made to those who
advertise by the year.
Letters to the Editor must come free Of postage.
THE LAST DAYS OF COpERNICUS.
TRUE TALE.
Il was a still, clear night, in the month of May,
1913 the stars shone brightly in the heavens, and all
the world slept in the little town of Wernica, Ca
watched alone in a solitary chamber, at the summit
Of lofty tower. The only furniture of this apart
mept consisted of table, a few books, and an iron
hmp Its occupant was an old man of about seventy,
bowed down by years and toll, and his brow furrowed
by anxious thought and in his eye kindled the fire
Of genius. and his noble countenance was expressive
Of GENTLE kindness, and of calm, contempative dis
positon. His white hair, parted his forehead fell
in waving locks upon his shoulders. He wore the
ecclesiastical costume of the age and country in which
he lived the long, straight robe, with for collar and
double sleeves, which were also lined with fur far
as the elbow.
This old man was the great astronomer, Nicholas
Coperncus, doctor of philosophy, divinity, and med-
cine; tituar canon of Wernca; and honorary pro-
fessor of Bologna, Rome, &c. Copernicus had just
comple,ed his great work "On the Revolutions of the
Heavenly Bodies.'' In the midst of poverty. ridi-
cue and persecution without any other support than
that of his own modest genius, or any instrument
earth and was approaching the term of his career
Just as he had established firm basis those dis
coveries which were destined to change the whole
face of astronomical science.
On that very day the canon Of Wernica had recev-
ed the last proof sheets of his book, which his disc
pie Rheticus getting printed at Nuremberg and,
before sending back these final proofs he wished to
verify for the last time the results of his discoveries
Heaven seemed to have sent him night expressly
fitted for his purpose and he passed the whole of it in
his observatory. When the astronomer saw the stars
beginning to pale in the eastern sky, he took the tri-
angular instrument which he had constructed with
his own hands of three different pieces* of wood,
and directed it successfully towards the foar cardinal
points of the horizon. No shadow Of doubt re-
mained, and overpowered by the conviction that he
had indeed destroyed an error Of five thousand years
duration. and about to reveal to the word an I'M
ppshabie truth, Copernicus knelt in the presence Of
that glorious volume whose starry characters he had
first learned to decpher, and folding, his attenuated
hands his BOSOM thanked his Creator for hav-
ing opened his to understand and read Alright these
his glorious works. He then returned to the table,
and seizing pen, he wrote on the titlepage of his
book Behold the work of the greatest and the
most perfect artizan the work of God himself" And
now, the first excitement having passed away, he
proceeded, with collected mind, to write the dedi-
cation of his book.
"To the Most Holy Father, Pope Paul ILL.,:
dedicate my work to your holiness, in order that all
the world whether learned or ignorant. may see that
do not seek to shun examination and the judgment
of my superiors. Your authority, and your love for
science in general and for mathematics in particular,
will serve to shield against wicked and malicious
slanderers, notwithstanding the Proverb which says
that there is remedy against the wounds inflicted
by the tongue Of calumny, &c.
NICHOLAS CoPERNicUs-O 1horn.
Soon the first dawn of day caused the lamp OF the
astronomer to burn more dmy he leant his forehead
upon the table, and overcome with fatigue. sank into
peaceful sumber. After sixty years Of labor, he in
events, was not destined be of long duration it
was abridged by the entrance of aged servant, who
with slow and heavy step, ascended the tower stairs
"Master, said he to the canon as he gently touch
ed him upon the shoulder, "the messenger who arrv-
ed yesterday from Rheticus is ready set out his
return, and is only waiting for your proof sheets and
letters.''
The astronomer rose, made the packet, which he
duly sealed, and then sank back upon his chair if
weared by the effort.
"But that is not ALL" continued the servant; {;
" there Ten poor sick people in the house waiting
for you and besides you wanted at Frauenburg
to look after the water machine, which has stopped
working and also to see the three workmen who
have broken their legs in trying to set it going again.
Poor creatures ~ exclaimed Copernicus. !" Let
my horse be saddled Directly" And with resolute
effort shaking off the sleep which weighed down his
eyeds, the good man hastily descended the stairs of
the tower.
The House of Copernicus was, in outward appear
ance, one of the most unpretending in Wernica it
was composed of laboratory, in which he prepared
medicine for the poor; little studio, in which this
man of genius, skilled in art as we'll in science,
painted his likeness those of his friends, OF
traced his recolIectons Of Rome and of Bologna and
lastly, of small parlor on the ground-foor. which
was ever open to all who came to him for remedies
fOrn forf food tho
ture had been cut, through which ray Of the mid
day sun daily penetrated, and resting upon certain
point in the adjoining room, marked the hour of
This was the astronomical gnomon of CoPernicus
and the only ornament the room contained were some
verses written by his own hand, and pasted up ove
the chimney piece.
1t was in this parlor that the good canon found thu
ten Invalids who had come to claim his assistance
ne dressed the wounds of some, administered rene
dies to others, and all bestowed aims and words o.
Kindness and consolation. Having completed his Ia
bors, he hastily swallowed draught of milk, ant
was about to set out for Frauenberg, when horse
man, gailoPing up to the door, handed him letter
HE trembied as he recognised the hand writing of hs
friend Gysius, Bishop Of Culm "May God hav.
pity on u.s." wrote his letter, and avert the blow
which now threatens thee Thy enemies and thy
rivals combined-those who accuse thee of follv ant
those who treat thee as heretic-have been 90 sue
cessfu IN exciting against thee the minds of the
PIC VI NuFemoefg' mat men curse thy name in the
streets; the priests excommunicate thee from thei
Paip.ts !; and the university, hearing that thy book
printing presses Of the publisher, and to destroy tht
work to which thy life has been devoted Come and la,
the storm; but come quickly, thos wi DO too late
Before Coperucus had finished the perusal Of thu.
letter. he fell back voiceless and poweess into tn.
arms Of his faithful servant, and it was some moment,
oeiore ne rallied. When he again looked up, The
horsefnan, who had been CHARGED to escort him hack
asked him how soon he would wish to set out.
must aet dis>o&ls. y .e>siai