The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-05-15
THE COMET.


a western philosopher is Of opinion that
Z. !, the comet which makes the weather so
cold. We had supposed that the comet was
10 make ne hot, and were looking FORWARD 10
its appearance as the last chance Tor warm
weather. We should like to Know whether
the extraordinary weather OF last winter was
also owing to this comet. Whether Tue
we're winter OF '55-'6, and the late sprung y
the last year, also the work OF this ho-''"s
iceberg Of the celestial sea!
According to our Western SdtaM' VI.
eomet il bound TO bit the EARN pe'"eeI,
wind and waier the 10th Of June next ana
mn, 4 in the nrsdicameni vhich Mhglhh saiu
o., p,i,.in was IN IS3I-"scuddlng 10 Tue
;rc.-r.I ,.,,,;ons with a fair gale oil vino 10
b. ,',Is The West is a great country Ger
- raj IN philosophers ss well a. pump
t''''!' ostri,ti.m. We trust that u the
-, does hit the earth, II may strike II
se,,..,,b here in the West-say IN Utah. IL
S.Hlrvss such a distinction. For our part,
,ys ,re thankful that this comet has made its
appearance, aud giving US all something 10
talk about. Nothing is more 0enevoent 10
life than the simple provision winch is maze
for the exercise Of the gift OF the CAB. First
we have a war, then an election, then fuss
in Kansas, then dissolution Of Parliament,
and now a bright prospect Of row IN Utah,
and comet IA real. wide-awake old fashion
ed comet long, low, red piratical craft,
which Maury. the lookout at the masthead
of tue National Observatory, has reported IL
distinctly visible in the Northwest, bearing
down upon us with all sail set, sEd travelling
with velocity compared with when Inc
speed of a cannon ball is but the pace OF 4
snail. We shall expect this comet TO grow
larger and brighter every night, ana ihfnish
fruitful topic of speculation, delight 10 as
tronomers, and of wonder and awe 10 the
outsiders. Nobody in this country ought to
k.v. the least alarm about it, the comet is in
more danger than we are; if il comes near
the United States we will anneXti It.
Comets have always created more or less
manic among the intelligent inhabitants OF
Ibis excellent planet. Mans inward convic-
ton, that his moral nature is out OF gear, is
always suggesting that the physical universe
has various screws loose, which may bring
the terrestrial machine about his ears, in an
abrupt and ruinous manner. In old times
there was a superstitious fear Of comets, as
prodigies portendng the fate ct governments
and nations. When the light of philosophy
had dispelled the mlsls of superstition, then
arose the fear of collision. A railroad col
lsion, with cars travelling at thirty miles al
hour, is MS gentle as the kisses Of lovers, CON-
pared with such "A smash up as that OF the
earth coming in contact with comet, each
of the locomotives travelling more than q
thousand miles minute. Happily, howev-
er, the earth has hitherto escaped this grand
catastrophe, though comets have often passed
through different parts of the solar SYSTEM
"a within the orbit of Mercury, At within
that of Venus, So within that Of the Earth
10 within that of Mars, and the whole within
that of Jupiter. There is not trace of the
physical effects of comets upon this or any
other planet, or any authentic record of the
existence of such effects. There are no
known data from which it would be possible
TO predict with certainty, such a thing MS 4
collision of comet with the earth. 1t can
not be even said, with infallble accuracy
that on given day, month, or even year, d
comet will so much rs cross the orbit of
planet. We know nothing of their nature
save that more singular in their form and
varied in their time of appearance, than the
other heavenly bodies, they are subject to
the same laws, moving about the sun in or
bits, more eccentric than the planets, proclaim
ing, with the whole host of heaven, in their
mighty and eternal march "Ihe hand that
made, and directs us, is Divine."-Richmond
Dispatch.