The Grange advance., 1874-07-15
COMETS.
Curious Theories About These CeIes.
tial Vt1StOro,

Various theories have been offered as to
the purpose for which comets were created
and sent flying about through illimita BILE
space. By some it is thought they may be
the scavengers Of the universe, sweeping
up the impurities that accumulate from
the countless worlds of an infinite crea~
ton. They have been regularly appear
ing in our solar system as long as astron-
omy can recollect, and mayhap if they did
not put in an appearance at intervals some
dreadful explosion Of electricity might oc-
cur that might blow our globe to pieces.
Those Of a religious turn will have it
that they come to remind men of his con-
temptible helplessness, Of the little &C.
count he could possibly be in the struggle
with the fall of comet, and to drive the
ruinous and sinful passions of pride, av-
arice and ambition from his heart. Again,
there are those who believe that comets
may act as balance wheel in the vast ma
chinery Of the universe. No serious
thought can be given the notion that COM
cts are rebels who have declined to sub
init to established authority, and broken
loose from their allegiance. Nor will it do
to contend that they are sent around the
universe to inspect the condition Of the
regular old stagers, such as we happen to
have in our solar system. Certain it is,
they are the mystery Of the skies, and
when we think we know most we know
perhaps least about them.
ASTRONOMY IN FOG.
Sir Isaac Newton gave some attention to
the subject, and the conclusion he reached
was that the course Of comet Was as reg
ular as the course Of our own planet. He
contended that the orbit Of the comet was
an ellipse, but since his day the idea seems
to be taking possession Of the minds of
astronomers that the comet describes an
eccentric rarabola SO intricate as to battle
calculation. Many comets have come and
gone and have never been heard of since,
though, according to astronomical calcula-
tions, they should have turned up long
since and obliged the observatories. Don
ati's comet was said to have visited this
earth about 5000 years before its discov-
cry by Donati, and that it would come
5000 years hence on another visit, when
Donati and all of us are dead and buried.
1t is clear that astronomy has not yet
reached that perfection of calculation
which can furnish the precise travels of a
comet. If a comet comes from the depths
of space, as it has been said, and returns
thereto, the journey is not ended. She
must keep forever on the move to fulfill
her evident destiny, and she cannot stop
here or there for refreshments, cannot turn
down lane to see friend, but must hold
on to an allotted track as evenly as loco
motive.
A BRUSSELS LACE TAIL.
Now, as to the tail of the present comet,
it streams, according to Professor Park
hnrst, 5000, coo miles across space like an
enormous mantle Of Brussels lace. It re-
sembles the Milky way, with more milk in
it-that is to say, it is more condensed. 1t
spreads like fan, and in that respect re-
sembles the comet of 1911.
People ignorant Of astronomy and little
given to the study of the heavens, except
when they want to find out when it is
about to rain, have an idea that the tail OF
a comet is like the tail of a COW, whiskine
around in warm weather when coming
rather close to the sun, moon and earth,
and hanging down straight and quickly
when passing through the Milky Way. II
the tail of this comet had anything like
the solidity of cows tail and were ito
whisk around ever SO painfully at this mo.
ment, it would take the top of the North
Pole, the Bunker Hill Monument and re-
lieve the Goddess Of Liberty from duty on
the summit Of the capitol at Washington
ANOTHER ERRONEOUS IDEA,
that must be corrected, is that con cts are
q sort of celestial maniacs or reformers,
bucking against the established order Of
the universe and racing around space tc
frighten conservatism and earn a chear
notoriety.
Professor Chapman says that comet is
merely collection Of small particles o1
matter, about the size of meteorites, from
an ounce to pound in weight. His rea.
son for this statement is that you can SEE
the stars through the matter radiating from
the comet, even close to the nucleus. He
even thinks you might see the star through
the nucleus, only that the light of the nuc
leus destroys it. It would be curious te
observe an enormous cobble stone pave