The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-03
A Royal Salute from Heavens
Artillery.
CURIOUS THEORIES ABOUT COMETS
Difference Between a Cows Tail
and a Comets.
Scientific Opinions on the
Cometary Question.

the COggia comet, with its brilliant nucleus, Dear
ing down towards us from It's northwestern efe-
walton, carrying its tail behind IL ike the Irish
mans pig, were fortunate III the extreme Last
night the azure was hidden from view, and so was
the comet: but very singular thing occurred
with significance that few Will TAIL to appreciate.
Bv some oversight there had been no official an
nouncement of the approach oil the conner. ana.
as II TO make up TOR this, celestial consultation
was held. the curtain drawn down and heavens
artillery numbered salvo after salvo and the pyro-
technlc display was dazzling in the extreme. THIS
was as it should be- Before midnight the curtain
went partly up again, bit tue great exhibition was
postponed till this evening. Ola Probabilities being
determined to do his best. Despite rain cloud and
thunder thousands prepared to see the comet and
their talk was all cometary aud their views were
OF the most elevated character. III the American
people appreciate anything foreign 1T Is that which
exhibits sympathy for the independence OF which
the Fourth OF July is the loud expo
nent. The fact that her cratic majesty
now looking down upon the Empire City from
above the heights of Weehawken has come all the
way rom coquettlng with bun Old Sol ana stern
Old Jupiter to attend our national festival is
high honor indeed.
APPEARANCE OF THE COMET.
The appearance Of the comet night before last
as seen through an eight foot achromatic tele-
monds. The mead OF the comet s nucleus OF In
finitesmal stars, but the central cluster seems to
blend into one star, and the combination bringing
together O variety OF tlnts makes the resemblance
to an opal.
ODD THEORIES ABOUT COMETS.
Various theories have been offered as to the
purpose for which comets were created and sent
flying about through illimitable space. BY some it
Is thought they may be the scavengers of the uni
verse sweeping up the impurities that accumulate
from the countless worlds OF an Infinite creation.
They have been regularly appearing in our solar
system as long as astronomy can recoilect, and
mayhap If they did not put in an appearance at
intervals some dreadful explosion OF electricity
might occur that might blow our globe to
pieces. Those or religious turn will have it that
they come to remind man of his contemplate help
lessness of the little account ne could possibly be
IN the struggle with the tail OF comet, ana to
drive the rulnous and sinful passions OF pride,
avarce and ambition from his heart Again, there
are those VINO believe that comets may act as a
balance wheel IN the vast machinery Of the uni
verse. No serious thought can be given the notion
that comets are rebels who have declined to sub
init to established authority and broken loose from
their allegiance Nor Will 1t do to contend
that they are sent around the universe to inspect
the condition OF the regular Old stagers such as
we happen To have III our solar 8, stem. Certain
1t Is they are the mystery OF the skies, and when
ASTRONOMY IN A FOG.
sir Isaac Newton gave some attention to the
subject, and the conclusion he reached was taat
the course OF comet regular as the course
Of our own planet. He Intended that the orbit
OF the comet was an enpse, but since his day the
idea appears to be taking possession Of the minds
OF astronomers that the comet describes an
latiOn. Many comets have come and gone and
have never been heard OF since, though according
to astronomical calculations they should have
turned up long since and obliged the observatOres
DONATES comet was SAID to have visited this earth
about 5000 years before its discovery by Donat,
and that 1t would come 1900 lears Fence on au-
other VISIT when DOnati and all OF US are dead and
buried. it Is clear that astronomy has not yet
reached that perfection OF calculation which can
furnish the precise travels OF comet. II comet
comes from the depths OF space as 1t has been sald
and returns thereto, the Journey Is not ended.
She must keep forever on the move to fulfil her
evident destiny and she cannot stop here or there
for refreshments, cannot turn down lane to see
friend, but must hold on to an allotted track as
evenly as a locomotive.
BRUSSELS LACE TAIL.
Now, as to the tail OF the present comet, 1t
streams, according to Professor Parkhurst,
100000 miles across space like an enormous man.
with more mix IN it-that Is to say, 1t IS more
condensed. II spreads like q ian, ana IN that re-
spect resembles the comet of 1911.
DIFFERENT FROM A cows TAIL.
People ignorant OF astronomy and little given to
to nnd out when II is about to rain, have an IDEA
that the TAIL OF comet is like che tail Of cow,
whisking around IN warm weather when coming
through the MAky Way. II the tain Of this comet
were TO whIsk around ever so piayiuliy AT this
moment 1t would take the top or the North Pole,
the Bunker Hill Monument and relieve the God
dess OF Liberty rom duty on the summit OF the
Capitol at Washington.
ANOTHER ERRONEOUS IDEA,
that must be corrected, is that comets are sort
OF celestial manlacS or fanatica relormers, buck
ing against the established order OF the unive Sc
and racing around space to irghten conservatism
| and earn O cheap nOtOrlety
CELESTIAL COBBLESTONE PAVEMENT.
COLLECTION Of small particles of f matter anoay
! the size OF mete0rltes, rom an ounce to pound
in weight His reason for tins statement IS
to the nucleus. lie even thinks you might see the
OF the nucleus destroys IT.. IT would be curious to
! observe an enormous cobble stone pavement
and science ievelling tue spectroscope on the
! singular phenomenon. The tail OF the comet,
according to the Professor Is little more than thus,
and perhaps he is right, for is there not a path
way OF light through the skyf" as the poets ex-
press 1t.
This will hardly prove as beautiful or as large
comet as many that have preceded II. The one Of
| 1911 was esteemed by astronomers as q most mag
ni1cent comet. It's nucleus was 400 and its mead
liz, 900 miles In diameter. It's tail was beautiful
ian shape, extending ll2.OOO.0o0 miles. 1t is right
| to say that among the numerous comets observed
up to the present time, either with the naked eye
or by means OF telescopes, the majority are dis
| u
nucleus, and great number, especially OF the
most brilliant ones possess q luminous train or
tail.
THE DIVERSITY OF ASPECT
will perhaps SOME day enable astronomers to
class comets into genera, species and varieties.
and will doubtless facilitate the perfection the
| theory OF the phenomena which these bodies pre-
sent, and which is still SO obscure. According to
Professor Spoor, OF Rochester comets controlled
! by the same specific law which governs planets or
tue solar system. Waen in their orbits thou
sands OF millions OF miles away from the
! sun they move very slow In the arc of
an ellipse almost unreasonable. The sun be-
ing positive and they deeply negative Is begins
exert controlling influence over them as that at
traction increases continua Ally In proportion "a the
squares OF the distance decrease they move swilter
and swliter until as they approach the sun they
sometimes ly more than 500, 900 miles per nour.
At THEIR PERiHEtfON
! they are very near the sun, and become highly
positive, and hence are propelled back again int o
nelds Of space with the same lightning speed they
were attracted towards the great fountain of ali