Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-29
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

PRoF. MITCHKL's THIRD Observation-Disclosures
large audience was assembled last night at
the Institute. Prof NJ. remarked first upon
the steady progress made in astronomical dis
ecyery and knowledge. In poetry, the fine
arts architecture, sculpture, painting morals,
ethios-the science Of government itself, we
had made no advances upon ancient Greece
and Rome; not so in science. The substratum
had been laid in past ages, and we now stood,
as it were, upon the summit Of the pyramid.
There was time when the human eve,
alone, was used In the long night vigils of
astronomical investigation, and all that the
human eye unaided could do, was done, but
there was point beyond which the human
vision could not pass. keplcr and Newton
announced their discoveries, and now the
grand problem was Low to apply these. Look
out tonight upon the stars and no human eve
was able to detect in any of them any sensible
dismeter-even mighty Jupiter itself presented
no visible diameter to the naked eye, and
shOne to US like common star.
Then how was it possible to trace the move
ments Of these orbs-how was the requisite
observations TO be made and the date obtained
to enable the mathematical astronomer to
work out his problems? Either the planetary
worlds must be brought nearer to us, or the
observer must be carried out in space to them,
there to watch with careful accuracy their
movements. Now as astonishing as was the fact,
this is absolutely accomplished An instru-
ment has been discovered more marvellous
then anything read Of in Arabian nights-more
marvellous than the tabled carpet upon which
person taking his stand, was by wish trans
ported to any desired place. But here was an
instrument, mere potent and mysterious, which
by placing the eye to one extremity, trans
ported us almost beyond the reach of imagina-
tion itself What should we think of the at
tempt TO frame an instrument which should
increase the sense Of hearingt to the extent that
We might at this distance, hear the roar of the
guns OF Sebastopol, or splendid debate to.
night in the House of Parliament And vet
the sense Of sight, by the aid of the telescope,
was now enabled to pierce beyond the magnif-
cent zone of stars that belts the Heavens. The
lecturer enlarged upon this topic with great
eloquenee.
He then announced his purpose to take his
hearers within the precints of the Observable
ry-these mysterious light houses of the skies
and tell what they and their instruments &c
complished. He proceeded to give lucid and
most interesting description of the construction
and uses of the different instruments of the
Observatory, and of the mode of taking the
right ascension and declination of stars. He
next gave graphic description of the great
telescope at the Cincinnati Observatory, and
OF the labor and anxiety attendant upon
mounting this mighty Instrument composed of
thousand separate parts; alabor undertaken
by himself and his assistants, without any ex-
perimental knowledge.
This telescope required three years Of labor
for its construction; has an object glass of
twelve inches diameter, has a weight of 2 500
pounds, and yet it is so beautifully balanced
that the hand of q child can move and direct
1t Its magnifyiDg power ranges from 100 to
800 times. Put a magnifying power of $50
times upon 1T, and direct it towards the moon
and that planet sweeps around and fills the
entire Heavens; with a magnifying power of
1000 times, the spectator is carried out to a
distance of only 237 miles from the moon By
this instrument he had been enabled to verify
the discovery Of the planet Leverrier, and to
determine its magnitude at distance of 3,OOO,-
600 600 miles
Professor NJ. announced that in his next
lecture he should endeavor 70 penetrate the
region Of the fixed stars.
SHOPPING -" Ites' has had an interview
with dry goods clerk whose pent up % feel
inks" he has endeavored to relieve by Dor
traying what fabric dealers have to suffer from
their customers:
She stood beside the counter,
The day he'll meier forget,
she thought the muslin dtarer
Than any she'd seen vet.
He watched her playful fingers
The silks and satins toss
The clerk looked quite uneasy,
And nodded ar the boss.
"Sho~ me some velvet ribbon,
Barge and satin turc,n
She said, 81 want to purchase -
Then gave the goods a jerk:
The clerk was all obedience,
He travelled ION his shape"
AT length with hesitation,
She bought a yard of tape