Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-07-23

two centuries were 1744, $4,000, 900
miles; 1860, 100000 miles; 1861, a.
900, 600 miles; 17e9, 40,000,00 miles;
1858, 42,OOO,0OO miles; 1913, 50,000,0OO
miles; 1880, 100 100000 miles; 1911,
the same; 1S43, 100000, 900, and 1874,
uncomputed. The cometary orbits
have varied from 3S3, SOC, 900 miles per-
helion distance of the comet of 1923, the
greate-t down to 535, 900 of miles of the
comet of 1913, the smallest ever known.
The aphelion distances ranged from
406, 100, ,000, 900 miles, comet of 1S43, to
1856, 500, 900 Encke's comet, the greatest
and least orbits ever known in apheli-
on distance.
Astronomical history gives us an au-
thentic account of eight hundred COM
cts. Many more (about five thousand)
have been seen during the past century
by means OF improved Instruments, but
possess no special features.
The visible existence of comets differ,
as in every other respect. That of 1911
could be seen for seventeen months;
and that of 1913 eight months. The
others known came between these.
A compilation from the works il the
valuable library of the Observatory
shows a long list of important events
associated with comets. The following
are some of those events:
We are told by Hyginus, cOtempO-
rary of Ovid, that on the fall OF Troy,
Electra, one of the Pleiads, quilted the
company of her six sisters, and passed
along the heavens to the Arctic pole,
where she remained visible in tears
with disheveled hair, to which the
name of comet is applied.
On the departure of the expedition
of fimoleon from Corinth for Sicily the
gods announced his success and future
greatness by an extraordinary prodigy.
A burning torch appeared in the heav-
ems for an entire night, and went be-
fore the fleet into Sicily.
After the death of Demetrius, King
of Syria, little befUre the war in
Achaia, there appeared comet IS
large as the sun.
At the birth of Mithridates a comet
appeared and lasted seventy days. The
heavens appeared on fire. This was
I34 B. G. When he ascended the
peared for seventy days, exactly like
the first.
Before the battle of Fontenay, June
%, 841,a comet was seen in Sagittarius.
AT the time of the death of Pope
Benedict Ill, in 85S, a comet appeared
in the East.
The death of the Emperor Louis III,
in S75, was announced by a blazing
star, like torch. In S77, the second
year of the entrance of Charles the
Bald into Italy, a comet was seen.
That year the Emperor died.
Theolilon, Bishop of Tours, set out
from Laon to return home, and was ta-
ken sick. Just after taking the sacra-
ment he died. AT that instant lumi-
nous comet appeared traversing the
sky.
The death of Casimer, King of Po-
land, was announced by comet.
The Emperor Conrad set out for Pal
estine May, 1147, and his departure
was preceded by comet.
In 1898 celestial signs announced the
death of Beomond, Archbishop of
Treves.
James II, King of Scotland, was kill
ed August 3, 1850. Theevening before
a very brilliant comet, with long tail,
was seen.
In 1861 the death of Ferdinand, the
Catholic King of Arragon, was announ-
ced by a comet, which lasted many
days.
The last comet employed in an as
trological character was that of 1853,
which Napoleon /. looked upon as his
protecting ge1aae, and regarded it with
profound superstition and reverence.
What wonderful development will
be announced in connection with Cog
gia's comet of 1874 remains to be seen.
Perhaps it has some connection with
the final demolition of the Democratic
party next fall.