The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-10-20

the lesson taught me on that journey
have never forgotten; and during the re-
mainder of my stay in that country, no
pretty woman ever had the honor of be-
ing my business confidante, OF of getting
possession of my trusty and unfailing re.
volvers.
Professor Mitchell on the Comet.
From the Gin. Commercial, Sept. 90.
This remarkable object now presents a
most striking appearance among the ce-
lestial host. In misty grandeur it even
holds high rank among that class of heav-
emily bodies to which it belongs. 1t was
discovered by Prof. Donati, of Florence,
Italy, nearly four months since and for a
large part Of the time since it was detect
ed, has been gradually approaching the
earth, aud in direction so nearly coinci-
dent with the visual ray, that but for the
reliable computations of astronomers might
we'll excite anticipations o, some fearful col.
lision with opr own planet. Indeed,
throughout the present month it seems to
have been plunging downward so exactly
toward the earth that it scarcely changed
its apparent place among the fixed stars
by a quantity larger than two or three
times the apparent diameter of the
MOON l
1t will reach its nearest approach to
the sun in few days Its brillancy will
increase up to the frst week in October,
when it will put on its most splendid ap-
pearance. and will then rival in grandeur
the famous comet of,Hally, at its last re-
turn in 1886.
1t is by far the most imposing object Of
the kind which has visited our system since
the erection of the Cincinnati Observatory.
Owing to the fact that the direction of it's
motion is, or has been so nearly in q
line towards the earth, the elements of its
orbit have not been very accurately deter
mined. The plane in which it moves in
clined to that of our earth's orbit, under
an angle Of about forty-fve degrees.
Its observed positions are for the pres
ent better represented by an orbit in the
form of parabola than by any one of an
elliptic figure. The comet will soon com.
mence to change direction, at first slowly,
afterwards more rapidly, as seen from the
earth, when sweeping swiftly round the
sun it will regain those distant regions OF
space wherein vast proportion ofits or.
bit lies far beyond the reach of telescope
| vision.
Or the evening of the 25th of Septem.
Der, the appearance of the comet, in th:
great refractory, of the Cincinnati Observ
atory, was especially interesting. Tht
Central portion, or nucleus, was examined
with powers varying from one to five hun
dred, without presenting any evidence of :,
we'll defined planetary list. 1t was bril-
liant glow of light, darting and flashing
forward in the direction of the motion to
ward the sun, and leaving the region be
hind in comparative obscurity. But tn,
most wonderful physical feature presented
was portion of a nearly circular, nebulo~
ring, with it's vortex directed toward tn
sun, the bright nucleus being in the center
while the imperfect ring swept more thai
halfway round the luminous center, thi
nebulous ring resembled those that some
times escape from steam pipe, and di
not exhibit the appearance which ought t
be presented by hollow hemispherical en-
velop of nebulous matter. There was a
evident concentration of light in the centr,
portions of the ring, while in the case of
hollow envelop, the brightest porto
should be at the outer edge. BY micro
maticai measurement the distance from tt
central point to the circumference of til
ring, was found to be about 5000 miles, =
3 This would give diameter of cightee
thousand miles, in case the ring wns el
: tire. Similar measurements, made on Il
evening ofthe 26th Of Sept. indicated
decided increase in the radius of the rir
: which was now not less that twelve thou
: and miles in length On the same evenir
T. l noticed the fact that the luminous enve
e op did not blend itself into the head po
J. ton of the tail but appeared somewhat
j. penetrate into the nebulous mass, especia
o ly on the upper part, presenting the a
s. pearance of about 200 degrees of q spirs
Il The tail better defined on the upper tn,
II on the lower portion, while on the evenil
e of the 26lh there was much nearer O
o proach to equality in brightness. especis
e ly near the head of the comet. Throu,
e the telescope, and near the head, the t,
q presented the appearance Of hollow q
y bulous envelop, under the form of pa
10 abaloid Of revolution; the edges bei
brightest ard we'll defined, while there "
l. a manifest fading away of light toward t
u central region. Through the vast dep
" of nebulous matter composing this VIC
RS derful appendage, the faintest telescor
E. stars shone with undiminished brigl
Id ness.
t, No one can gaze on this gigantic obje
Of in all its misty splendor, without de
IS impression that the eye is resting or
E. mass of nebulous matter. precisely such
SIS the nebular theory of La Place suppol
lie to have been the primordial condition
re our sun and all its attendant planets, a
IS from which chaotic condition this beau
/ full system of revolving worlds