Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-11
A Look Upward.
No. IL.

stars as they appeared at nine O'Clock
on some evening late in the month of
May.
As they appear this. evening, Oct.
9th, at the same hour, all the stars
have moved apparently to the west
ward more han one third OF the whole
circuit OF the heavens. Then we saw
as consultations Of the Zodiac, Gem
mi, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, and
ScorpIo.
Now all of these have sunk one
after another behind the western ho-
rizon, and we see Agitarins, Capri
cornus, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, and
Taurus. These names are a marvel
of mystery to a child reading the Far
lners' Almanac. He takes much
more interest in the foolish predictions
of the weather. (Tnese, however will
soon be entirely neglected in favor of
"0dd Probabilities" at Washington }
But it would be much better for the
child if some one should point out
some of the clusters OF stars represent
ed by these mysterious names
In some cases this can be done as
easily as teaching the a, b, c's. At
this date, however, nine o'clock is too
late for children to be looking at the
stars. They should then be abed, so
for them we change the hour to seven.
Any child of ordinary intelligence
will then be able to know the Milk
Dipper in Sagitarius which we see a
little to the west of south. Toward
the southeast we see perfect letter
y, as easily known as any in the al
phabet, which marks the position of
Aquarius.
Any little girl will at once fall in
love with the beautiful Andromeda
who is lying upon her back, chained
to rock toward the East, while her
mother Cassiteia, is sitting in her
chair not far above her, as we should
say. So much for the children
At nine we see the Pleiades, we'll
above the mountains, with the Hyades
just rising. Here is plain letter Y.
opening toward the North. (This is
an easy letter for children at the next
lesson.) 1t marks the face of the
Bull for is there not letter'V. in the
face Of every OK?
Before midnight one may see Orion
in all his glory. When you see him
take off your hat.
Buuritts Geography Of the Heavens,
a book which every one should consult
about the stars, gives US this quota
ton from Latin Poet.
"First next the Twins see great Orion rise,
HIS arms extended stretch DER half the skies
HIS trde as large, and with steady pace
he marches on, and measures vast space.
On each broad shoulder bright star displayed
Anu three oDliquely grace his hanging blade.
IN his vast head, Immersed in boundles
spheres
> Three stars less bright, but yet as great hi
But farther off removed, their spIendor's lost
Thus graced and armed he leads the starr,
host"
Three. stars across the middle O
the body form Orion's belt, anc
g these are referred too when the book
of Job asks "Canst thou loose The
bands (belt) Of Orion?" In our ad
miration for this constellation anC
the "sweet influences Of the Pleiades'
we should not forget the higher senti
ment of the Prophet Amos, "Seel
t Him that n1aketh the SeUen stars ont
! Orion, and turneth the shadow 0
/, death into the morning, and maketl
b the day dark with night: that eallet
e for the waters of the sea and. pouretl
e them out upon the face of the earth
: The Lord is his name.
h When you look at the seven, star
get an opera-glass, if you cannot hav
a telescope. A good opera glass wi
e double the number of stars which yo
see. Some stars which to the make
Y eye appear single, are seen to b
S double by the aid Of such magniiel
s One Of the curious facts which oil
servation Of the stars will reveal is
o that many of them vary in respect t
n their brightness. There is nothin
II really surprising in this for huma
e faces are not so bright at some time
:" as at others for various reasons. A
% gol in Persons, and Mira in ii
= Whale are variable stars. Algol b.
comes dim once in about three day
=. Mira vanishes in a little less than
" year, and returns again to star
the third magnitude. The light
E. the SIM varies. The planets a
N brighter when at that point of the
! orbit which brings them nearer t!