Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1851-04-21
rhe dous.s 4fcsihsts
By rsaor.A nlrcsftL.

The wonderful characteristics which marx
the fight of comets through space, the sud-
denness with which they blaze fpFth.- their
exceeding velocity, and tbeir terrific aP-
pearance, their eccentric motions, sweeP-
iGg towards the sun, from al regions and
in all directions, have rendered these bod
les objects of terror in all sges ofthe world.
While the planets pursue an undertaking
course round the sun, in orbits nearly cir-
cular, and almost coiDcident with the plane
of the earth's orbit, sll revolving hssneni-
ously in the same direction, the coReis per-
form their revolutions with every possible
confined to no partienlar plane
and moving indifferently, in accordance
with, or opposed to, the general motion OF
the planets. They come up from below the
plane of.fhe eclip;ic, or plunge downward
towards the sun from above, sweep swiftly
round this their great centre, and With in
credible velocity wing their fight fsS into
the fathomless regions Of space, in some ca
ses never again to re-appear to human vis-
ion.
Ia the early ages of shs world. supersti-.
,ion regarded these wsndering fiery worlds
with awe, and looked upon them as 0mens
of pestilence and war; and indeed, even in
modern times, Do eye can look upon the f.
cry train spread out for millions of miles
a,hwart the sky, and watch the eccentric
motions of these anomalous objects without
feeling of dread. Tie movements of the
planets inspire confidence. They are even
visible, and true to their appointed times,
while the comet, erratic in its course, bursts
suddenly and uDabnounced upon the sight,
and no science can predict in the outset its
certain track-whether IT will plunge into
the sun, or dash against one ofth plaDeta-
nv systems or even come in collision with
our own earth, is equally uncertain, until
after a sufficient number of observations
shall have been made 10 render the compu-
tstion Of the elements Of its orbit possible.
Previous to the discovery Of the law Of
universal gravitatiOn, comets were looked
upon as anomalous bodies, Of whose motion
IL was quite impossible to take any account.
By some philosophers they were regarded
as meteors kindled into blaze in the esrth's
atmosphere, aud when once extinsuished
they were lost forever. Others looked mp
on them as permanent bodies, revolving in
orbits far above the moon, and re-sppear-
ling at the end Of long but certain intervals
When, however, il was discovered that I'M
der the influence Of gravitation,anyr revolv-
ing worlds might describe either Of the four
curves, the circle, ellipse, psTabols. or lry-
iboIs, it at once became manifest that the
eccentric movements Of the comets might
be perfectly represented by giving them
orbits of the parabolic or hyperbolic form,
the sun being located in the focus of the
curve. According to this theory, the COM
ct would becom visible in its approach to
its rerihelion, or nearest distance from the
sun-would here blaze with uncommon
splendor, and in It's recess to the remote
parts Of the orbit, would gradually fade
from the sight, relaxing its speed, and per-
forming vast portion Of its vast curve far
beyond the reach Of human vision.