The New York herald., 1870-12-02
SCIENTIFIC TRIUMPHs.
Lecture by Professor Doremus Before the
Young Mems Christian Association-In-
genious Experiments Lucid Explana-
tion and an Interested Audience.

Professor Doremns delivered last evening" before
the Young Mems Christian Association, corner OF
Fourth avenue and Twcnty-thrd street, the nrst of
O series Of lectures announced on "Tne Triumphs
of Modern Science.' There was large, fashion
able and Intellectual audience, including many
Of the Professors former pupils at the Free
College. Frequentyhe lecturer ventured into paths
where most or his hearers had certainly rarely II
ever, strsyed; but the lucid manner In which he
displayed the truths he wished to convey made him
always interesting while occasionally, at some OF
the more striking experiments the most rapt
ana absorbing attention was exhibited.
After . few Introductory remarks, In which the
Professor alluded 10 the comparatively feeble nte-
rest shswn by our rich citizens In the claims OF
science, and the smallness or the pecuniary aid
yielded TO our colleges he said he should confne
himself in the present lecture to the discoveries
brought to light by the lens and the prism,
and the instruments which depended upon them for
their Eower and value. But he wished first to
briefly sketch the history OF the development ofknow
ledge with regard to celestial Objects Strange to say,
although we had such perfect records Of the work
ings OF the human mind In other nel0s. we
did not know the authors OF some Of the grandest
achievements In connection with astronomy. Natu-
rally we should conclude the first object OF atten-
uon would be the Sun and the second the Moon.
These were evidently the means OF indicating
to rs the udrss nsrs Of q as day. t In s4s
nation. tongue and cline, each in its meridian the
eternal sun strikes twelve at noon, and the glorious
stars, far up in the everlasting befry or the sky
chime twelve at Midnight" AS time measurer
the sun was the first object of attention
shadow Of the Sun heightened and shortened
and thus we had two periods OF the yearthe period
OF the longest and !he shortest day; Next came the
movements, magnitude and grouping, especially
these consultations through which the Sun and
The Professor then detailed the various discoveries
made by Pythagoras Copernicus, Galileo and kep-
OF all lands had agreed in awarding him the proud
and well-earned Title OF aw-giver OF The heavens.
His discovery Of the eiptcal movement OF the
planets was one Of the greatest achievements OF
science. In regard to Gaeo the lecturer said, "Let
us not forget the painful termination OF his splendid
career and the extraordinary and internal vice OF
the human brain to humiliate this great champion
OF truth; who, though assured OF the reality OF the
revolution Of the Earth, Was obliged upon his knees
| and With bis hand upon the Sacred Scriptures to
swear The Earth did mol move. have never seen
more internal vice in history"
The lecturer then advanced TO the discoveries OF
Arago and Leverrler and gave several instances OF
| the marvellous accuracy with Wnlcn mathemaJlcs
| had been applied to astronomy. In 1S46 Leverrler
| predicted the locality where the new planet tnat
had been previously observed, and had then disap.
peared ought to shine, and his friend III Berlin ex-
/, amlned the ornament on the night announced,
and, lo there the new world was fouad. DR..
| Doremus concluded this portion OF his lecture by
showing how vividly the discovery tnat our wnoie
solar syst en- revolved round sun (Which some mad
supposed 70 be Hercues, which again IN ITS turn.
| with its attendant systems. rotated round yet
another central sun, impressed us Win sense ol
| the Doundessness Of the universe
His remarks on the prism consisted chiefly ol
! a clear and interesting explanation OF spectrum IA
| analysis. He said that probably the prism would
1 prove even more fertile as means OF discovery
! than the lens. Several new metals naa ALREADY
| been discovered by its aid, and we had now some
thing ike proof rs to the real nature Of the sun
which probably consisted OF metals IN highly iAcan
| descent state.
The lecture was illustrated by some interesting
| experiments, which were conducted with the cart
and delicacy OF anipulation Tor which the Proies
| sor is famous He gave among others the well
| known experiment OF q bedy Of OIL suspended In {
| globe OF alcohol end water which, upon beint
moved upon an axis gradually threw or bodies o
| morpheus bur eccentric FORMS The motions OF th'
universe and the results OF spectrum analysis Were
displayed BY the aid Of dissolving views.