The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-07-28
DOES THE MOON ROTATE.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE LADY OF THE NO,

DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE LADY OF THE MOON
AND PRACTICAL ASTRONOMER.
spray, sir" says the Lady of the Moon,
.'why have you been staring at me all this
evening, through that long tube' You had
better 90 home to your wife-the poor lonely
woman !"
81 can assure you, madam" quoth the As
tronomer, "beautiful as you are, it is not from
gallantry. have kept my eye on you pro-
tessionally. Pray don't be offended"
al am offended, sir. Every time show
myself of clear evening, there are so many
quizzing glasses turned upon my FACET is
so provoking! should not care straw
about it if you could learn anything new
about me or about my affairs, but find that
you are more ignorant Of my ways now than
some astronomers were hundred years
ago."
"You are beautiful" replied the Astrono-
mer, in very seductive tone, sand | fancy
YOU know how beautiful you are! Your face
is reflected back-you see yourself from our
ocean mirrors"
"You are getting saucy, sir"
81 am talking to a coquette. have watch
ed you in your libratons-in your tossing
your head back and forth You love, madam,
to display your charms to us of the earth.-
Sometimes you nod to show US more of your
beautiful forehead, and after, you look up,
that we may see the dimre under your chin;
then, turning slowly around, you reveal the
tip of pretty ear; and soon after, you shake
at us the clustering curls on the other bright
cheek"
"Nonsense, sir! Ifyou had any astronomi-
cal acumen,"-
The Astronomer, abruptly, and in a pet {:
Permit me to ask, madam, if the great New
ton had not very great astronomical acumen?"
"What of that, sir, so far as you are con-
cerned"
The Astronomer, in a very emphatic man.
ner: 81 never had n thought which he did not
think out. | never advanced n principle
which he had not elaborated. (Raising his
voice) "What do you mean, madam! no as
Economical acumenp
The lady replied in very calm and must
cal tone, spray, my dear sir, don't get angry.
If were your wife, it might be well to let
off little sharpness now and then; but it
does not pay to get angry with one who don't
care whether you are angry or not. l am,
sir, lone spinster, and load rather p mono
tonous life of 1t; so ] have come for familiar
chat. intend to ,eil you of things worth
knowing-things which will quite set you
up" ~ "a
Excuse my abrnptness, my dear madam.
am very sensitive On the score of my astro.
nomical reputation. am now all ears,"-
and he bowed very politely.
The lady contnued-"Light from me, If it
s mere moonshine, will make you n little
visible star in the astronomical galaxy. You
spoke just now of what you very unpoctically
called my ibration'-jnst as if rocked back
and fOrth ana up ana DOWN !!
ayes, madam, you do! We astronomers
know very well of that habit of yours
Astronomers, then, are much mistaken. |
keep my face directly to one point that one
point is not on your planet, sir. The earth
has no attraction for mem
The Astronomer replied with assured do
liberation. "Pardon me, Madam; we know
you 'librate.' | see more of your face now
than could see last evening"
The Lady-"IIow apt some folks are to be
mistaken! The point towards which keep
my face is considerably distant from the earth;
and the earth bobs about and around it, so rs
to enable you to seeat one time my forehead,
then my neck, now this cheek, (patting it
with her hand) and then the other, But
truly, my dear sir, never turn up nor down.
| neither look to the right nor to the left,
(solemnly.) There S point from which l
never t'ke my eyes
The Astronomer, much perplexed: "Is it
possible. Madam :"
The Lady replied firmly and distinctly,
"What have told you is true"
"On whom, then, 40 you look so constant
ly, and with such loving eyss!''
The Lady, little bashfully: 81 have kept
the secret so long"
"Oh pray tell me! do!'
81 can't speak out plain," replied the Lady.
in sweet whisper; "just wait till that cloud
hides my bushes; III tryto give hint. Don't
you remember reading the calculations of one
Seth Ward-a famous mathematician, who
computed the central points Of circular plane.
tary orbits! he almost found me out Did you
ever hear of Jeremiah Horrox, the same man
who detected Venus on the very lap Of the
sun! lie had sharpeye for flirtations among
the stars; and he showed point towards
which whoever sees me, never doubts of my
consistency, nor Of the uniformity of al my
goings and comings."
After II pause, the Lady laughed right mer-
rilv, Mt which the Astronomer was much
offended.
Excuse me-" said the Lady. ~ could not
help laughing when thought how complete
ly Horrox exposed the secret Of my inclina-
tions. and none of your star.gazing gentry the
least wiser for IT,"
~ must confess, madam, that you are far
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