The New York herald., 1874-07-13
OUR CELESTIAL VISITOR.
She Is Still the Centre of Attraction
Crowds Of Star GaZerS.
Facts and FancieS About
Other Comets.

The marvel or the summer heavens-Coggia's
comet-continues to attract attention every clear
evening from wandering groups scattered
throughout the city; occupying every point "ap-
put, and specializing as to the probable erect OF
the near approach of the celestial visitor TO the
earth. The curious throngs debate, generally
with amusing ignorance as TO the origin and des'
tination OF the mysterious orb with the meteoric
tail. Some Of the more reverent OF the star gazers
express the belief that the comet Ia a warning
from Heaven and menace to this planet on ac-
count OF the corruption and wickedness existing
everywhere, presagng destruction to this revolv-
ing sphere; while others, and perhaps the most
intelligent think 1t to be but the proof of Oliver
wendell Holmes erudite idea, expressed in the
two lines:--
Bsre the wild swayings of our planet show
That worlds unae surround the world we know.
The Bashful Comet-ClOuds Obscure the
View OF the Lady Of tho sky-Her
Movements and Those OF the Earth
Composition of the Mysterious Body.
WASHINGTON, July H. 1874.
II the stars are vaingiorious and envy the atten.
ton of Us poor mOrtals, there might be some
reason in suppOsing their influence combined had
induced the formation Of heavy clouds and made
night unfav0rable for the observation of the Cogga
comet But, whether the stars or the cyclones,
heat or sudden change Of the weather have been
at the bottom Of the privation, certain it is that
the people OF the capital have been deprived
nearly every night of the heavenly travellers
presence, while other portions Of the heavens than
that traversed by the comet have been as spark
lngly bright as on the coidest night of winter.
Nevertheless this beautiful stranger has
called forth and kept alive, for many days.
emotions Of interest, wonder and pleasure that
cannot be described. 1t Is now passing away,
leaving even the best informed to speculate, with
out satisfaction. to its origin and the cause Of
its beauty. There Is no evidence that the green
old earth has ever been disturbed by comets,
whatever their size or their fancied lorm whether
blazing sword, as the comet OF A. d. 49, or the
names OF fiery connagration settling upon the
earth. The active mind Of man is restless In
ignorance, and has always attributed to them
more or less interference with affairs as If
they were heaven-sent messengers to bid kings
leave their thrones nations go to war, or the
cholera or some worse plague traverse the earth.
1t seems strange that to things so beautiful should
be attributed only evil. 1t will perhaps add in
terest and prevent some of these ungracious accu-
satons If we call to mind what we certainly know
about their history and conduct.
THE NOTION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
The motion Of the planets among themselves is
generally, In q superficial way, understood; the
ton OF their relative distances and the relative
size OF the earth. There Is, however, another mo-
ton very pertinent to this subject which IS not
generally understood, the motion which the whole
system has, not around the sun, but in q direct
say direct, because there is yet no evidence Of
curvature in Its path, although supposed to exist.
OF the motion itself there is no sort Of doubt.
Along this pathway, infinitely cold and beyond
any apprectable attracting influence OF our sun or
any Otner, are scattered small patches OF smoke
Or m wi iv
at rest. or having no appreciable motion OF their
own. AS our sun approaches them they begin to
| leel the wal ming and g1avitating influence which
| keeps the members OF our own system III motion.
Gradually they take on life as It were, and begin
They become for time harmonious members OF
our system and journey with US until they fail INTO
space again. there to lie in the pathway of some
other warm. ponderous system IKE our own.
| COMETS AND THE BOUNDLESS VOID
The contrast between the motion OF the planets
| and our comet guests is very striking. The
the parior OF New York fashion. The march of our
planets Is wonderful IN its stately order All
move IN the same direction, rising and falling but
| little above or below the same great level.
| The movement OF comets Is remarKa for the
total absence Of these characteristics. AS might
our company, their entrance is sideways or back.
wards with the procession, or across IT, just as 1t
against them, as unconscious Of their existence.
ss, ns. ssnsEgs gs R ssSB5 B5ssse Ess
|
of as awkward in their exit as their
entrance. They plunge into the plane on which we
down from above; sometimes they rush up from
below; but however they come or wherever they
Co. while here @ they SUBJ, submit to al the rules which
VeaaS &ofs SSS grace s II, and their apparent awE
| wardness when understood only reveals ne " kinds
! OF grace 1t was to comet that we owe The es-
| Enlistment OF the belief In the law OF gravity.
! The path of comet predicted Dy Newton was re-
| iad NOR as "A
| The comet did not fail him, but came graceiully
and beautifully INTO view at the proper time,
| blaZed out his evidence for a while ana retlreu,
| dropping his mantle of glory upon Sir Isaac
HARMLEssNEss OF THE HEAVENLY VISITORS
r,,1u our knowledge OF their extreme lghtness.
Tppe -elative weights OF the earth and planets are
hnown hnan 'ight to be weighed. However near they
ma come tn ey neither impede or IN the slighLest
degree Suna SsL %hetaer ney rest essD in the
Sca1nS or nos Tne possibility OF electrical or mag
netc disturbance is aso ,or ~ e,ectp,ca, acton
there be some more suot. In the absence. then,
OF any adequate cause for dis sclous result from
evidence OF any enect or pern Sson TO Iauph at
them the astronomer has good re..
the specuatOns OF the nnlnformed. .soaeimen
The present comet Is not a remarkable "a To- the
OF the family, except in being piainly vlsio, siion
naked eye IL mas already passed the perth. -av
or nearest point TO the sun, and is now on It's "
into the cold regions of space passing somewna.
nearer the earth IN It's return irOm than ia It's
approach to the sun. While there 1t loses bright.
ness in getting further from tn. sun, 1t increases
IN size lor a lew days IN It's nearer approach to
the earth, being at It's nearest point on the goth
Inst.
ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS.
III Is Impossible to say what the atmospheric
e1ects OF comet might be II the densest part
should come into actual contact with the earth or
us atmosphere, because we do not know the KIND
OF material composing comets class, and could
never Know OF any special comet whether 1t was
IKE ttS class or not, even II we knew something
about their material generally. 1t is concelvaDie,
for instance, that cloud composed Ia part OF
sulphur dust, alter appearing for a while as q
comet, might fill the air with the peculiar odor OF
burning sulphur, producing effects something ike
the great epizootic OF two ySars ago, wnen, as is
supposed Biea's comet fel 10 tine earth. The
evldence OF contact IS too slight I'd arrest the at
tentioh however. And TO assume the relaton OF
cause and erect where there Is only that OF c0ipc
dence is the fruitful source OF most popular errors
III Is not possible at present 10 trace any physical
effect to any comet among the hundreds that in