The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-03
COmetary Curiosity i'm Philadelphia
The Excitement Oh Wednesday Night
ind the Disa ppoi ntment Last Night.

PHILADELPHIA, July ., 1874.
1t is not possible to know how many thousands
tonight imagined they saw the comet who did not
behold IL but there were so many looking Tor 1t
that 1t Is not to be wondered at that, as modest
comet, it renamed yelled behind the dark clouds
that flied the sky and refused to meet the inquisi
tive gaze OF so great multitude.
Last night 1T was amusing to witness the motley
throng assembled at every street corner earne silly
and patiently scanning the heavens. 1t was only
necessary for pedestrian to pause, point his
finger towards the sky and exclaim with the
proper emphasis, There she ~ in order TO
gather about MIN crowds representing every
sphere and condition of llle who, upon their part,
would anxiously question.
''wuERE IS suEs"
Before nine. O'Clock this simple act became
JOKE ana every wag who happened to be out was
constantly gathering crowds upon the street cor
ners, to which, AS soon as their curiosity was
aroused, he would say something about Tom Col
llns and desert them quite speedily.
ANOTHER "sELLn
Some fellow, taking "a long, empty black bottle
gravely stepped Out OF Il beer saloon, ana, pro-
ceedlng to the centre OF the street, began to in-
! tently look az the stars. Livery now and then he
would pull the bottle from his eye, rub it's bottom
carefully with has handkerchief and then continue
ms search. Pedestrians nurrying along suppos-
ing the bottle LII the dim moonlight to be a spy
glass, would stop ana eagerly watch him. he
Kept the bottle partially concealed by constantly
street ncar nlm became really full Oh people. sud
denly, after this crowd had became quite large, ht
dashed the whiskey bottle upon the stones smash
ing IL INTO thousand pieces, eXclaIming:-
"COnfOund Sucn telescope as tlat, anyhow"
Or course, the people saw tnat they were sold
laughed heartily and went away no doubt, Il
| play the same trick In some other portion OF tn'
| city.
| Near the Continental, the ST. Cloud, the Girard
the Bingham aud other OF the principal hotels
numerous parties were seen scanning the heavens
with opera glasses, while u hOuSetOp here and
there was graced by many young couple, all de-
termIned to ind the comet ana all finally satisfied
that their search had not been rewarded.
SMALL HUMANITY,
by which Is meant those little chaps who never
seem 10 be at home, but who day and night, are To
De found upon the street. ready 10 do you a lavoI
or ask you question, take no less interest III the
approaching luminary tnan older and more cui
tured heads
.'Say, Mister" says one OF them, show many
billions OF miles long Is the comets tail agon tl
beS"
or again: ''say, Mister, is a comet like kite,
wonder. Can't ny without tail En-"
or still again: 'Where did il start from, how
long has it been on the road and where is 1t gong
to Z"
1t is safe to say that there Is scarcely any one
residing in the quaker City, young or old, VINO has
hot heard about Coggia's comet, ana IL Is equally
safe to say that tonight all who had heard OF Il
were upon street corners, balconies and house
tops TO catch glimpse OF its size and brightness
but, less fortunate than last night they were sadlI
disappointed