The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-01-31

Astronomical.

A8tIOHoM1Odi.
A California vag. ..John Phoenix" in
some recent Lectures on Assonemy, in
1.-The Pioneer" thus holds forth -
s.Sacred history informs US that dis
tinguished military man named Joshua
once caused the sun to stand still : how
he did it, is not mentioned. There oan.
of course, be no doubt Of the fact that he
arrested its progress, and possibly caused
it to stand still ; but translators are not
always perfectly accurate. and we are IN
clined 10 the opinion that il might have
wiggled very little when Joshua was not
looking directly at it,. The statement.
however, does not appear so very incredi-
BILE when we reflect that sea -faring men
are in the habit of actually bringing the
sun doom to the horizon every day at
twelve meridian. This they effect by
me ans of tool made of brass, glass, and
silver, called sextsnt. The composition
OF the sun has long been matter OF dis
pute.
| "By close and accurate observation
with an excellent opera-glass, we have ar
rived at the conclusion thatits entire sur
face is covered with water to a very great
depth which water being doco,nposed
by a process known at present only to the
Creator Of the Universe and Mr.. Paine,
Of Worcester, Massachusetts, generates
icarburetted hydrogen gas, which, being
Iinllamed, surrounds the entire body with
an ocean OF fire, from which we and the
other planets receive our light and heat.
! The spots upon its surface are g!impses OF
water obtained through the fire; and we
call the attention of our old friend and
former school mate, Mr.. Agassiz. to this
fact; as by closely observing one ofthese
spots will. strong refrac,ing telescope,
he may discover new species OF fish,
" ith little fishes inside oftheSn. II is pos
sible that the sun may burn out after a.
while. which would leave this world in o
4 state Of darkness quite uncomfortable TO
lconteinplate !; but even under these cir
cumsiances il is pleasant to reflect thai
courting and loye.making would probably
increase to an indeinita extent, end tina,
many persons would make large fortunes
by the sudden rise in the value Of coal
wood. candles, and gas, which would &c
Ito illustrate the truth of the old proverb
|.lt's an i'll wind that blows no body any
good
aUpon the whole, the sun is gloriou
creation pleasing to gaze upon, Through
smoked glass,) elevaiing to think upon
, and exceedingly comfortable 10 ever,
Gre ated being on a cold day it's the larg
est. the brightest, and may be considered
by far the most magnificent object in tn
celestial sphere; though with all these al
1 i "a J., Cd thnt 70 or
casionglly entirely eclipsed by the moon
"To the inhabitants Of Venus, the cart
II appears like brilliant star, very much, i
\ fact, as Venus appears to us; and. rea
i soning from analogy, we are led TO helies
3 that the election of Mr.. Clark. the Euro
d (pean war, or the great Know Nothin
i. Etarty produced but very little exeitemel
9 among them. .
!. ..To the inhabitants of Jupiter, our in
d portant globe appears like a small star
the fourth or fifth magnitude. We reco
d lect some years ago, gazing with asto'
k ishmeut upon the Inhabitants OF drop
n water, developed by the solar microscop
d aud secretly wondering whether they WEI
D or not reasonable beings, with souls to
ID saved. 1t tisSnot altogether pleasant r
s. Hection that highly scientific inhahiia
Id of Jupiter, armed with a telescope of {
10 us) inconceivable form, may be pursuii
k similar speculation regarding our ear
y? and its inhabitants. Gazing with curio
,e eye, his attention is suddenly attracted
er the movements Of a grand celebration
at Fonrih-of July in New York, or NIGH
d. convention in Baltimore. God bless n
leI soul !f,he exclaims, 4 declare. they're
fe live, these little creatures do see the
,e wriggle 7 To an inhabitant of the su
h. however, he Of Jupiter is probably gu
ne as insignificant, and the sun-man isPt
it, sibly a mere atom in the opinion OF
hy, dweller in Sirius. A little reflection
by. these subjects leads to the opinion that
De death of an individual mar on this ear
TO though perhaps as important event as
do occur to himself, is calculated to car
Ter no great convulsion Of nature, or dist,
i'm particularly the great aggregate OF crea'
tbsings.''
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