Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-04-18

the stroke of a comet against the earth are TO
be feared. The merest cobweb would ofer
more resistance TO musket-ball" M.Arapo,
in the little work from which we have quoted
above has given a vivid account of the manner
in which the earth might be DESTROYED by com.
ing in contact with comet. sour iangeni,al
velocity Of progress round the SUM-" he saws,
''is about eight leagues, or tweniy-four miles
per second. If comet Of sufficient mass in
meeting the globe should be single shock in
simultaneously stop its motion, the bodies placed
upon the surface, such as animated beings, our
carriages, furniture, utensils, all objects in
short not implanted directly OF Indirectly in the
soil would fly Off to the point of the earth not
shocked by the comet with the velocity with
which they were in common originally endued,
velocity OF eight leagues or tweniy-four miles
per second. The effects of such an event NAV
be better conceived If hpie remark that a
tweniy-four pound shot has not, even on its
discharge from the gun, more than velocity
of 1900 feet per second all animated nature
would certainly be destroyed in an instant. -
There can be no doubt Of that, and one could
almost laugh over the thought of the brief in
slant of surprise that of our magnificent
dons would experience as he felt himself whiil-
ed through intermnable space at the rate of
Sc 400 miles per hour. cheek by iowl with the
disreputabe mendcant 10 whom he was in the
very act Of refusing cent of the new issue
and no respectable beggar would so far conde-
scend as TO accept that vilanous con-when
the earth had struck for a new siiuation But
it will be observed that NJ. Arago's idea Of the
mode in which a comets collision with the
earth would affect US is based on the SUPPOSE
iion that comets are solid bodies, whereas there
are cogent reasons for believing that they are
bodies of Infinite lightness. However, if there
are people who are resolved not to he deprived
Of their terror Of comets, there are three things
which may be held in the light of fixed facts"
even with regard to such erratic affairs as COM
cts. /. The danger from known comets, even
allowing them to be vast solid bodies is so small
that i, is not within the power of mortal Ian
guage to express it. 2. The danger from an
unknown comet, admitting it 10 be solid body,
is as 10 1893, ,999. 3. So many facts have
been adducec to show that comets are not solid
bodies, that To believe them TO be such in the
present state of astronomical science would be
almost as absurd view OF their nature as
the old belief that their Emission" was to
perplex monarchs and herald the way for
great physical and moral cslamities.-
At all events, no prudent man will refuse 10
pay his honest debts on the ground that Charles
the Fifth's comet is coming to make bankrupt
law of universal application, particularly as it
is by no means certain that that comet will
make its appearance before 1860. 1t is quite
as likely to be in our vicinity in 1860 as in
June next; and as it has always been harm
less, wel-bred body heretofore, we really can
conceive of no reason for supposing ,ha, it has
from lis playful ,ail'' on the occasion Of its
next periodical visit.