Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-08-13
TIE CoMEr. Saturdays mail brought
an exchange which contained the following

ominous extract:
"Astrchomers tell us that a remarkable comet, a
regular old whopper, and one that has done much
mischief in its tme is now straight Tor the
side traek n collision will be the result.
Mr.. Comet, with his frey train, is now visible,
and be seen on any clear night IN the northern
Having nearly won q BET Of the ice
cream for three that the CREST solar eclipse
set for Saturday afternoon would come off
according to programme, which II did to
the entire satisfaction of all, we were Tie
more ready to believe the story in regard
to the comet. Several Of our townspeople,
particularly the young ones, "set up in
order to see the promised wonder, which
was expected to have tail longer than the
longest trail of the most fashionable dress.
AS our "setting up days have passed, at
least for the present, the plan of using the
alarm in the clock was adopted, and 1t
was set for o'clock A. M. promptly at
the hour it rang out its warning, arousing
US from dreams wherein comets and many
other heavenly and some earthly bodies
formed prominent features. Our love OF
ease was strong, but astronomical re-
searches must be made; modern science
sbonld not be deprived of the benefit of
our discoveries. Mrs. A., who had also
been aroused, we found already outside,
who declared between yawns at least
yard in length, that comets were a hum
bug: that she knew Of but one thing that
was greater one, 1--WE were particular not
to inquire what that was,) and that there
as no comet in sight. We assured her
that her altitude was not sufficiently great.
and requested her assistance at boosting,
in order that we might make our observa
tons from the top of the house, which is
unfortunately located in hollow. This was
reluctantly rendered and with her help
and that of rain-barrel we were enabled
to ascend. We regret that no special art
list was on hand to " take us on the spot"
though it is difficult to say which paper
the picture would have been most appro
pirate for-Harpers Weekly or the Days
Doinos. AS will be noticed, the comet
was to he in the northern sky; and, hav
ing at last reached the ridge-pole, our eyes
swept the heavens in that direction, from
the zenith to the horizon-but no comet
was visible. Tried shutting one eye;
then the other, and finally-in dispair-
both Mira, who had also risen, and who
had taken an active part in the eclipse bu-
siness, suggested smoked glass. Being
a child, her remark was allowed to pass
unnoticed. The comet hunting was aban-
dored, and we re-retired, mentally re-
solved to never again set the alarm" for
q comet till one is visible.
AS some people have actual misgivings
in regard to comets and the possible re-
suit should one collide(?) with this nun.
dane sphere, we sujoin the opinion of a
distinguished astronomer who must be
regarded as good authority on such ques-
tons:
"Comets cannot exercise any material influence
upon our globe; and the earth, should it traverse
comet in: its entire breadth, would perceive it no
more than if it should cross cloud hundred
thousand millions of times lighter than atmos-
phere and which could no more make its way through
our air than the slightest puff of an ordinary bellows
could make its way through an anvil
1t would be difficult to find a comparison
more reassuring.
In THE Hollow. - Business matters
called US on Saturday to that portion Of
the village every where known where Dodge
vile is known as The Hollow" Drop
ping in on Uncle Rogers, the good natured
proprietor of the Dodgeville Hotel, we
found him obligng and his pop cool and
delicious. Many thanks. :. Mr.. John
Fl. Penberthy we found at his post in his
store, in which he keeps a general assert
ment of dry goods and groceries, and with
whom it is a satisfaction to DEAL. Gross
ing the street, we learned from the pretty |
girl in charge of his store, that Mr.. Joseph
Hooking, who is also proprietor of the
Wisconsin Hotel, was at the farm. He
has good store, and well-kept hotel. 49,.
Messrs. Prideaux & Hooper, we found
busy waiting on customers, as all men are
or should be who advertise. They are
doing a really prosperous business-much
larger than one would suppose, and have
found it necessary to enlarge their store,
which they will soon do. Their motto is
to sell as cheap as the cheapest" 800.
Among the other business places at which |
we did not call, are the firms of Letcher
& Clark, wagon makers and wheelwrights,
VIM. Johns & Bro, blacksmiths, Harris &
Ralph, proporietors of the "new carriage
and wagon shop" James Mari, dealer in
all kinds of furniture, and Thomas Bosan-
ko, and Frank j. Prideaux, harness'mak-
ers-all good men and fair dealers......We
had plate of delicious ice cream at Emily
Sims, but as this was nothing new, we
nearly forgot to mention it.
nag Mr.. j. P. Cholvin, of the village of
Highland, has natural curiosity in the
shape of an asparagus plant. The stalk
is about three and one fourth feet high,
and is perfectly fat in shape, as though it
had been pressed in machine, being two
and onc-half inches wide by one-eighth of
an inch in thickness. The stem is per-
fectly clear of branches for about two feet,
then it becomes bushy and very large.