Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-10-11

whose horns and cloven loot designated
Satan, and who caused the psuedo Copper
nicus to act and speak, as though he had
been an automaton, by means Of two strings
fastened to his ears-whch were no other
than asses ears, of considerable dimensions.
The parody was composed of several
scenes. In the first, the astronomer gave
himself to Satan, burnt a copy OF the Bible,
and trampled cruCifiv under foot. In the
second, he explained, by Juggling with APP
pies in guise OF planets, whilst his head
was transformed into likeness of the sun
by means Of torches Of rosin. In the third,
he became charlatan, vender of poma-
tum and quack medcine-he spoke dog
Latin TO the passers by; sold them water,
which he had drawn from his own well,
at an eXorbtant price and became in,oXi-
Gated himself with excellent wine, in such
copious draughtS of which he did indulge,
that he finally disappeared under the table.
In the fourth aud closing acts he was again
dragged forth to view as one accursed by
God aud man ; aud the Devil, dragging
him down to the internal regions amidst a
cloud Of sui phurous smoke, declaring his
intention TO punish him for having caused
the earth to turn on its axis, by condem-
ming him to remain with his head down
wards throughout eternity.
On the day succeeding his visit to Frau
enberg, a letter from Rheticus confirmed
the sinister predictions of the Bishop of
Cum. Thrice had the students of the
University made an attempt to invade the
printing office whence the truth was about
TO issue forth. "Even this very morning"
wrote his friend ga set Of nadmen tried 10
set fire to it. have assembled all of our
friends within the building, and we never
quit our posts, either day or night, guard
ing the entrance. and keeping watch over
the workmen. The printers perform their
work with one hand, whilst they hold a
pistol in the other. IF we can stand our
guard for two days, the book is saved ; for,
let only ten copies be struck off, and Moth
ING will any longer be able to destroy it..
Bot if either to-day or tomorrow our enc
mics should succeed in gaining the upper
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. left the sentence unfnSh-
ed, but Copernicus supplied the want-he
knew how much depended upon this mo-
ment. On the third day another messen-
ger made his appearance, and he, too, was
the bearer of evil tidings: "a compoSitor.
gained over by our enemies, has delivered
into their hands the manuscript of the
book, and it has been burnt in the public
square. Happily the impression was COM
ple'r, and We are now putting il into press,
But popular tumult might yet ruin all.'
When Copornicus thus beheld the trea-
surcd discoveries OF his whole life held up
to the deriSon Of an ignorant multitude
his enlighted faith branded as impietv, and
his self denying brnevolpnce ridiculrd as
the quackcry Of charlatan, his noble
spirit was at first utterly overwhelmed, anC
the most Earlul doubts OF himself, of man
| kind, and even OF Providence itself, rush~C
/ upon his mind. At first he hoped that the
! Frauenbrrgians, the children Of his adop
ton, TO whose comfort and happiness he
had devoted himself for fifty years, woulC
cut short the dSgracpiul scene. But alas
! he saw his detamerS welcomed with ap
plause by those on whom he had conterre'
! 50 manv benefits. The trial was too muct
for his falling strength; and worn ont b,
the emotion and fatigue of the precrdin.
night, and by the labors OF the morning, b,
sunk, exhausted, 10 the ground. Then, to
the first time, did the ungraletul multtud
recognise their benetactor the name o
Copernicns flew from lip 10 lip-the,
heard that he had come that very mOrnin
20 the town TO relieve their diS!rpss-in
moment the current Of popular feeling wa
turned, the crowd dispersed The actors, an
crowded anXiousiy around the astronomer
He had only strength left to call for a lii
ter, and was conveyed back to Wernica i
a diving state. He fingered, however, sli
for five days-days OF trial and anxiety
during which the lamp Of genius and tai
still shed It's halo around the dying man.
Such was the state Of suspense in whic
the great Copcrnicus passed the closin
DAYS of his existence Life was ebbin
fast, and the torpor OF death had alread
begun to steal over his faculties, when
horseman galloped up to the door in brratt
less haste, and sprlrging from bis hors
FASTENED into the house of the dying a
tronomer. A volume, whose leaves wei
| stlil damp, was lItdSuVeu III HiS OOSOlll
, was the chet-d'-Gurre of CopernicuS; tn
messenger was the hode of victory.
5 The spark Of life, so nearly eXhauste
seemed 10 be rekindled for moment in Il
: breast of the dying man be raised hin
self in his dying bed, grasped the boo
5 with his feeble hand, glancing at its COT
: tents with his dim expiring eye. A smI
, lighted up his features, the book fell fro
5 his grasp, and clasping his hands tosethc
= he exclaimed, ''Lord, let thy servant d
D part in pace !" Hardly had he utter,
: these words, before his spirit fed from cart
: to return to the God who gave il. It W
! the morning of the Odd of May-heav,
n was still lighted with stars-the earth W
: fragrant with flowers-all nature seem,
n TO sympathze with the great revealer
0 her laws-and soon the sun, rising abo
d the horizon, shed its earliest and purest II
upon the still, cold brow OF the departe
g and seemed in his turn to say, ''The Xii
e of Creation gives the kiss of peace, for tn,
II hast been the first to replace him on |
y throne"
; Persecution followed Copcrnicus even
Is the grave. The court OF Rome replied