Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-10-11
= Gistorifol Gkcttb.
The LAST DAYS OF CopERNICUs.
A TRUE HISTORY.

II was a still, clear night in the month
OF May, l343; the stars shone brightly in
the heavens, and all the world slept in the
little town of Wernica, a canonry of Prus-
sian Poland-all save one man, who watch
ed alone in a solitary chamber at the sum
init of lofty tower. The only furniture
vi this apartment consisted Of table,
few books, and an iron lamp. It's occq-
pant was an old man OF about seventy,
bowed down by years aud toll, and his
GROW iarrowrd 10y ANXIOUS thoughts; bu,
MS eye kInhlrd win the fire OF genius, and
his nu0ir cDuntrnaGCr was expressive OF
gentle kindness, and OF a calm, contrmpla-
tive disposition. His white hair, parted on
his forehead, fell in waving locks over his
shoulders. tie wore the ecclesiastical cos
,uinp OF he age and country in which he
I'vrd-thc IonG, straight robe, with fur
collar ami double sleeves, which Were also
inrd with for as far as the elbow.
| lh~ ulj lnaa was the great astronomer,
Ni,h p,as Cop.ru,,uS, doctor Of philosophy,
| 5nIur!y, aud m,dlcinr, titular canon OF
N'ru,'a, and honorary professor OF Boiog-
IA, Ronr, sc. CopernicuS had Just com
| pir!eL his work "On the Revolutions of The
| ii avcny Bodies" In the midst of pow
eriy, rIdicn!e aud persecution, without any
other support than that Of his own modest
| genius, or anv instrument save a triangle
| OF wood, he had unveiled heaven to earth
and was now approaching the term Of his
career uSt as he had established on firm
| basis those discoveries which We're destined
TO change the whole face OF Astronomical
sciences.
On that very day the canon of WernicG
had received the last proo!-sheets of hi
book, which his disciple Rheticus was get
ting printed at Nuremberg; T; and, beior,
SeEding back these final proofs, he wiShcC
to verify for the last time the results Of hi
discoveries. Heaven seemed to have sen
him a night expressly fitted for the pur
pose, aud he passed the whole of it in hi
observatory. When the astronomer saw
the stars beginning to pale in the east RI
sky, he took the triangular instrument
which he had constructed with his ow
hands out Of three different pieces OF wood
and directed it successively towards tn
four cardinal points OF the horizon. n
shadow of a doubt remained aud over
powered by the conviction that he ha
indeed destroyed en- error Of five thousan
years duration, and was about TO reveal
the world an imperishable truth, Copern
Gus knelt IN the presence of that gloror
volume whose starry characters he ha
, first learned TO decipher, and folding b
attenuaied hands across his bosom, thanke
his Creator for having opened his eyes {
understand and read Alright these, His q,
rious works. He then returned to the {;
BILE, and sezing pen he wrote on the tit
;, page OF his book-"Behold the work of Ii
greatest and most perfect Artisan 1t
work of God himself" And now, the fir
excitement having passed away, he pr,
: ceeded with collected mind 10 write Il
g dedication OF bis book
I, s'To the Most Holy Father, Pope Pa
!. Ill: dedicate my work 10 your Holine:
in order that all the world, whether lear
ed or ignorant, may see that do not Sc,
to shun examination and the judgment
my superiors. Your authority, and yo
love for science in general, and for math