The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-04
The House Tops, Trees, Trucks, Terraces and
Open Spaces Thronged.
Vast Fun Among the Multitude
in New York.
Observations from the Ma
tionaI Observatory.
SPEED OF THE AERIAL LOCOMOTIVE,
Fixed Stars Seen Through the
Nebula.

The comet had a larger audience last evening
than all the places OF entertainment IN town. WIS.,
itor 80 rare, a traveller OF distances so vast and
inconceivable, q character SO mysterious and &C.
centric, could hardly fail to draw. The tops OF
houses, the open spaces among the parks and
squares. the fire towers, the ample summit OF the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. the rising elevations Of the
Central Park, the seats of trucks and omnbuses
at rest were more or less thronged with star
gazers The evening was balmy ana beautiful. A
gentle breeze from the bay brought feeling Of
physical gladness and even though no comet H..
Illuminated the profound depths OF
THE BLUE NFINITY
there was still wonderful fascination in the star
lit sky and IN the delicious atmosphere. Many a
soul that never lifted itself above lager beer and
the dun and daily of this eartn raised
in homage to the wOndr0us Designer OF the vast
system tnat in part was illustrated in the cloudess
heavens. Even in the absence OF the comet enough
OF beauty, wonder and instruction was left to ill
the soul with rapture and admiration. But Of
course the comet was the cynosure OF all eyes.
Some wished that her tail was longer and her head
larger; Others hoped to see her approach closer
even ut risk to themselves; while many with an
innocent and
PLAYFUL RECKLEssNEss,
begotten of natural longing after the impossible,
desired chance OF straddllng her tail and riding
on her through the endless spaces OF the universe
with the hope OF being returned to their friends
by some other comet. II the come: were the In
instrument Of no other good she certainly must be
credited with producing an amount OF merriment
that amply compensated for whatever dry facts
she tailed to furnish the science OF astronomy.
PAIR OF LOWERS
with upturned faces on the roof Of six-story
house found abundant material for CONVEX
satlOn in specializing on the character of
comets, whether they were likely to De mar
ried or single, with unanimous belief, alter
tribe of playful controversy, that comet must be
single, or at least divorced from bed and board,
to go cav0rting around the universe after that
fashion. Here was q comet countless millions
OF miles away from her home, perhaps her once
happy home, flirting with the Great Bear, the
these gay Lotharios. The comet was divorced
and was looking for satisfaction OF soul in wild
and reckless travel 'one good thing" observed
gazers, (which think this comet has accom-
plished Is that see no shooting stars OF late.
This shooting is bad business, and ! am glad TO
! see 1t put stop to-" Much lun and star gazing
hlled the quiet streets up town, and the comet
! looked on quite pleased at what was going on.
GLOhIoUs SPECTACLE.
| At nine O'CLOCK r. M. the comet was easily dis.
| gle between the Pointers and the Polar Star, in
| the direction OF the former. The tail showed q
gradual unfolding since her first appearance last
"Wednesday night. 1t was a fmy vapOr, like SUI
| yer dust scattered over deep cerulean ground.
The nucleus had gathered IN intensity ana defni-
to perceive the contrast between the hxed, set:
tied down and well known natives Of the neav ems.
out in beautiful distinction the Great Bear and the
Little Bear. The Pole Star shone In the far
Northern heavens; and the Pointers kept them
selves, as usual, In range with the bright and
twinkling Poaris. Alar OF the mild-eyed CasslO-
pea and the equally distant Perseus stood as out
anxious to hug the Great Bear. The Northern
Plelades were family visible, but Adebaran IN the
liancy. SIRIUS, in the constellation OF
THE GREAT DOG,
twinkled like the polished wheel OF carriage driv-
Ing at full speed IN the sunlight and organ,
chiefly known as Orion. made the most precise
and well defined figure OF any other constellation.
The Virgin kept reserved distance from the Great
Bear and she was equally shy Of the Lion.
THE CURTAIN FALLS.
norh and West the faint speck OF light began
develop into definite brilliancy. The distance
struck the spectator as something appalling and
| going to heaven At ordinary speed by such tire.
mendous bee line as the vision struck seemed to
be eternity itself. Gradually, near midnight, the
zon amid the good wishes and iond regrets OF
many thousands OF our best citizens.
THE MYSTERY.
And what tale this comet could unfold If the
| Western Union telegraph could only make con
With 81 her oy wire After
way by the Great Bear, the Pointers, the Lion the
himself the hot. blooded old rascal, after enduring
the Jealousy OF Venus and the Noon, after run
Of Ss tall After al s anu
| and other Instances, what history she might re
atel And then to think OF the track!ess and
| silent businesses she must have pierced where nc
and ali was utter darkness ana desolation.
Perhaps in moment OF recSless enterprise she en-
tered Boutweil's 'hoe in the sky" away among the
Southern stars, and not finding Andrew Johnson
| 1inpSa There Dubllshers N 10 ~
York who would pay her handsomely Tor her ex.
per1ences, and as Tor the theatrical managers any
one OF them would feel his fortune made by Sc
curing her LOT a star engagement. II she would
extineuish the Dog Star Mi. Bersh would be will
| ing to give two-thrds OF his prncely income.
| COMET THAT LOST HER TAIL.
Encke's comet was celebrated for having re-
OF a resisting medium in the nterplanetary spaces
Herschei and others dissented from this view and
attributed the change in the comets motion To
the gradual loss OF ner tail. she was Of snowy and
dsstDated habits, but the loss OF her tail broke her
heart and she was never afterwards seen and is
i e. seaS comet Was Answered
1926. In 1s46 the astate astronomers al
washington noticed that this comet had separated
into two parts on account, as the unastrOnOmical
people in Washington concluded, OF q difference
In politics. significant OF large terrestrial differ
which the same people saw with their own eyes
some years later. The two parts OF the separated
out any influence on each other that could be de.
tected by the most accurate measurement Our
terrestrial separation had quite dinerent result.
As q rule the sun has no great love Of comets.
They have acted toward him with degree OF
MPUDBNT FAMILIARITY
to which one OF his dignity was never accustomed
before. Donati's comet, among the rest, moved
| with her tail towards the sun and was instan ly
| repealed. or course this evident polarity leads to
the conjecture that the tail is electricity itself.
inhabitants Of this globe some times led by the
nose comets are Invariably led by the TAIL
FORM OF THE TAIL.
Bessel has computed the form OF the tail. allow
| ing each particle to move forward by inertia and
by repulsive force nom the sun inversey proper
| toned to the square of the distance. The curve
thus computed agrees well with the observed form
| of several noted comets' tails. Professor PIERCE,
| OF Harvard, was led by the comet OF 1858 to the
| same calcnatiOns and reRnlla and nuhlished them