Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-12-16
TIE nov A,rRoNOnER
jeremiah HOrrWN-Ihe tirst ObserVn-
ton of the 'rau,ii of Venus.


The first transit of Veuus ever seen by A
human ,ye was predicted by n hoy, and was
observed by that boy just as he reached the
age OF MANHOOD. His name was jeremiah
HOrryx. We have somewhat wonderful
story 10 tell you about this hoy.
lie lived in an obscure village near Liv-
erpuol, England. He was lover of books
Of -cirnce, and before he reached the age Of
eighteen he had mas cred the astronomical
kuuwlcd e OF the day. He studied the prob
lem, OF kepler, AMI he M de the discovery
IN 1t the tables Of kepler indie tted the near
approach OF the transit of Venus across the
suns center. This was about the year
1873.
Often on midsummer nights the boy Hor-
ruX might have been seen III the fields
watching the planet Venus. The desire
sprung up with hun TO see the transit of
the Deaut full planet across the disc of the
sun, for it was light that M eye had ever
seen, ami one tina. would tend to solve some
of thu greatest probtcm- ever presented to
the mind of al astronomer. SO the boy be-
gan to examine the astronomical tables of
kepler, and by Their aid endeivored to de-
mOnstrate Al what time the next transit
would occur. He found an error in the Ia
bles, and then, he being the first OF all as
trouomers TO make the precise calculation,
discovered the axaCJ date when the next
transit would take place.
He tod his secret TO an intimate friend a
boy, who, ike himself, loved science. The
young astronomer then awaited the event
which he hal predicted for number Of
YEAR, never secDng the loved planet in the
shaded evening SKY without dreaming of
the day when the transit should fulfill the
beautiful vision he carried in his mind
The memorable year came at last-l639
The predicted day Of the transit came, too,
at the end of the year. 1t was Sunday. Ii
found Hurrox, the boy astronomer, now just
passed twenty years of age, intcntly watch
ing a sheet of paper in n private room, on
winch lay the suns reflected image. Over
this reflection Of me suns disc on the pa
per he expected moment by moment to see
the planet pass like moving spot or a
shadow.
Suddenly the church bell rang. lie wa.
very religious youth, and was accustomed
to heed the church bells rs call from
heaven. The paper slill was spotless nc
shadow broke the outer edge OF the sun,
| luminous circle.
Still the church bells rang. Should he
/ 60! A cloud might hide the sun before ms
return, and the expected disclosure be lost
| for century.
But HORROR said to himself II must moi
neglect the worship Of the Creator, TO see the
wonderful thing the Creator has made
| So he left the reflected image of the sur
on the paper and went to the sanctuary.
When he returned from the services ht
hurried to the room. The sun was still shin
! ing, and there like shadow on the brigh
circle on the paper, was the image of th'
planet Venus 1t crept slowly along thu
bright CENTER like the finger of the invisi-
BILE. Then the boy astronome knew tina
the great problems of astronomy were cor.
rect, and the thought filled his pure hesr
with religious joy
HORROR died at the age of twenty-five
Nearly 100 years afterward Venus was seel
crossing the sun. The whole astronomica
world was then interested in the event, anc
expeditions Of observation were fitted GU
by the principal European governments
1t was observed in this country by DaviC
Rittenhouse, who tainted when he saw tn
| great vision.