Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-10-12
On Comets.

considered interesting to your readers
you are welcome to insert them in your
paper. They were called to my mind
from the late appearance of one Of these
beautiful celestial bodies. Their origin
have ever been mystery TO all the most
learned philosophers that have yet lived,
indeed, scarcely any Of them agreeing in
their statements
The Chalt'eans, who were eminent for
their astronomical researches, were OF
opinion, that comets were lasting bodies
which had stated revolutions as well as
the planets, but in orbits considerably
more extensive, on which account they
are only visible while near the earth, but
disappear again, when they ascend into
the higher regions. Pythagoras taught
that comets were wandering stars, dis
appearing in the superior parts of their
orbits, ard becoming visible only in the
lower parts Of them. The illustrious
Aristotle was OF opinion they were me-
teors. Modern philosophers have been
equally perplexed as their predecessors
IN accounting for the nature of these
magnificent celestial appearances. The
eccentric but learned Paracelsus grave
ly affirmed that they were formed and
composed by angels or spirits,to foretell
some good or bad events. Kepler, the
celebrated astronomer, asserted that CO.
NETS were monsters, and generated III
the celestial spaces, by ain animal facul-
ty! The sentiments Of Bodin, learn
ed French writer of the 10Th century,
were yet more absurd; for he maintain
ed, that comets are spirits which have
lived upon the earth innumerable ages,
and being at last arrived on the confines
of death, celebrate their last triumph, or
are calico, to the armament like shining
stars
The absurdity of most of these by
potheses is now proved by the observa-
tons which have been made on those
bodies, by the celebrated astronomers
who have lived since; and particularly
DR.. HALEY and Sir Isaac Newton, ac-
cording to the theory of Newton, the
are compact, solid, and durable
bodies in fact species of planets,
which move in very oblique and eccen-
trio orbits, in every direction, with the
greatest freedom; in their motions even
against the course and direction Of the
planet.
The number of comets which have
been observed and recorded exceed $50 !;
but not one third of these have been OBJ
served with such accuracy as to allow
the elements of their orbits to be ascer-
tanned. DR.. HALEY, following the theo-
ry of Newton, set himse to collect all
the observations which had been made
on comets, and calculated the clements
of "a of them; and by computations
founded on these elements, he concluded
that the comet Of 1882, was the same
that appeared in 1907, 1881, and 1855,
that it had period of 10 or rs years !;
and that it might, of course, be expected
to appear again about the year 1859,
which it actually did; it could therefore
be no longer daubted that the comet OBJ
served in each of these years was the
same, although its appearance was very
different. When it appeared in 1881, it
was OF bright gold color; in 1907 it
was dark and ivid; in 1852 it was
bright; and 10 1859 it was faint and OBJ
scure, as was also the case when it last
in 1885. The next return of
this comet may be anticipated about the
year 1911.
Some comets have came very near the
earth, particularly one which appeared
in 1472, and another in 1850. 1t APP
pears they contain very little matter, for
in the year l454 one appeared so near
the earth that it is said to have eclipsed
the moon and yet it produced no sensi-
bic effects. 1t has, however, been sup
posed bv some astronomers, that too near
an approach of a comet to any other pla-
net, might be productive of very great
changes in the system to which they be-
long The celebrated Mr.. Winston and
other eminent writer's have INDUCED an
idea that the dissolution of this globe by
fire will be occasioned by the near APP
proach of comet which will cause the
general conflagration.
Whatever difference of opinion pre-
walls among tie various sects protesting
the Christian faith, they all unite in be-
lieving that at the final consummation OF
all things, general conflagration will
take place, and that this earth will be
destroyed by fire. Now if comet, in
its revolution, should approach too near
the orbit of another planet, and de-
rangement of the order of the heavenly
bodies ensue, those powers must be sha-
ken. Therefore in this point of view
comets are particularly calculated to i'm
press a serious and religious awe, but
not superstitious fear, on every spec
tator. They blaze forth in the Heavens,
not as signs of approaching events, Ell
Their of good or evil, but to warn US Of
the final dissolution Of this globe on which
we dwell by such phenomenon.
At bis command affrighting hnman kind,
Comets drag on their blazin., lengths behind,
Nor as we think, do they all random rove,
But in determined times, through long ellipsis
move;
And though sometimes they near Approach the
sun,
sometimes behind our SYSTEMS orbit run;
Throughout their race they act their Makers
will,
His power declare, his purposes fulfil.
THos. S. SHAW