Smyrna times., 1872-09-04

rius-that is, for twenty days on each side of |
the one on which the star rose at the same mi |
mute as the sun. These were the dies c0nicu-
ares of classic times, and from them we OBJ |
tanned our dOg-days. They could not be deter
mined with any degree of accuracy, for the
hellacal rising OF star varies with the latitude
of the place of observation, and the date of
this rising in any one place differs from century
to century on account of the procession of the
equlnoXes; 50 that the present middle ordatum-
day of the canlcuar period differs greatly from
what 1t was when the observance of the critical
dues was established
A word now upon the star itself which origi
mated the ancient belief. Sirius is one of the
most interesting bodies in the stellar universe
On account of its prominent brightness it was,
IN the early days OF exact astronomy, referred
to as standard object for correcting instru-
mcnts and setting tImekGepers, and generally
| it was used as a datum point for celestial
measurements But as accuracy advanced it
was discovered to be subject to vagarl0us
| movements, slight in extent, but nevertheless
| fatal to its use for the above mentioned exact
purposes. These mysterious motions so both
cred the astronomers that they at length turned
Sirius out of their standard star lists The
vagarieS alluded to excited the greatest GU
| riOsity, and one Investigator after another
| sought to account for them The famous Ger
| dHIIbuOIuClf 1OGSSCl, WdlClCu lIG SLdI
assidiou>ly. and by constant measurements
satisfied himself of the extent and direction OF
its deviation movements. He was at length
led to the strange conclusion that the great
star-which is sdoubtlessly sun vastly exceeding
our luminary in magnitude aud splandor-was
pulled about by some disturbing body in it.
neighborhoOd, which body, as it could not be
seen, was concluded to be non-luminOus
Another an another investigator took up tn,
inquiry. They all adhered to the disturbing
body" theory, and even went so far as to indl
cate the probable position of the Hypothetical
disturber at certain specified times Telescope
had hitherto failed to detect it; but, at last,
famous instrument-maker and observer Mr.
: Alvan Clark. of Boston, employing one Of tb
largest glasses that had then been constructed
succeeded in discovering tiny star in tn
: beams of the great one, and actually in tn
position assigned to it by the calculator:
thereby completing the accomplishment of a
e astronomical triumph akin to that famous on
r by which the planet Neptune was brought I
:, our cOgnZance.
d Little doubt now exists that this satellit
d body Is the cause of Sirius's vagaries, thoug
= information is still in request concerning som
/. points that require to be asccrtained before
Ie Uerd cduSa can be considered as complete
1t established. 1t seems as though the small
j object were planet, revolving, like those
ID our system, a out its primary, and possib
ar deriving its light and heat thercfrOm. Does
Sc derive vivifying power also? And, if so, VIII
y is the stage upon the scale of creative devclO
ut ment at which life has there arrived! Has Nj
e. been reached? Or has he been surpassed
beings still more intellectual2