The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-05
Reasons Why the Comet Belongs to the
Feminine Gender.
SCIENTIFIC VIEWS THE SpECTROcCOPE.
Among the Stars at thu OBJ
Se1vatOIy.

The curtain OF clouds was drawn down again
last evening and the comet remained in happy
cusion An Old friend OF hers. Jupiter Puyius,
wished 20 spare her the occasion OF seeing the
American Republic celebrating independence Day.
she was therefore UNCONSCIOUS OF hearing the Dec
laration and OF the mountebanks who make the
occasion means OF lifting their little heads above
the dead level OF their fellows. she heard nothing
Of the fierce storm oil frecrackers that swept
every street the city, and she was left in quiet
privacy ENJOY the delightful music ofthe spheres
There were hopes toward evening that the clouds
would break and make away IN a body TO the
horizon. AS fast as one set scudded OF another
set was revealed Immediately above, and then
another above that, so that 1t would appear the
ampest precautions were taken to screen both the
head and tail OF the comet from observation. Old
Probabilities being engaged celebrating the
Fourth no arrangements were made for more
satisfactory condition OF things. Astronomers
wept in private, but consoled themselves with the
reflection that the reign OF Jupiter Pluvius would
sOon be over. OF course thousands felt keenly
mortified at the
ACTION OF OLD PLUvIUs,
for the programme with many was to picnic at
COney Island and spend the evening up tree or
on housetop gazing on this beauteous wonder
OF the heavens. However, there some few
nights left still, and the great nope is they may
prove clear and satisfactory. This comet has en-
gagements elsewhere but she has promised Pro-
lessor Eastman, OF the Washington Observatory,
TO unfold her tail and give the multitude, without
putting them 10 the expense OF opera glasses and
telescopes, better look at her comey lace.
THE SEX OF THE COMET.
There is no occasion to enter into an argument
70 prove that the comet belongs to the feminine
Tho
Is an Old bachelor is evidence not exactly OF her
sex, but OF one OF its characteristics. She carries
a TAIL and so does every lady's dress. She is coy
and bold by turns, inconstant, erratic and per-
AS Virgil says, ''VariuDa ct .nutabie ge7aus.n
She knows not her own mind an instant. and when
you think SHE is madly III love with OLD SOL straight
way she nies of to Mars, gets tired OF him and
picks up acquaintance with Mercury Finally she
Is found in a Irritation with old Jupiter, and that's
the way her sex was determined. Then observe
her love OF admratlon-her excessive vanlty-
showing herself on before every star IN the uni
verse.
THE ASTRONOMERS IN EUROPE
have heard OF her and she has been received with
open arms. They know how 10 prize such phenom
ena. II is the first body OF the kind they have had
an opportunity OF investigating satslac oriy by
meaus OF the spectroscope. No comet briliiant
enough to give conclusive results when subjected
to spectral analysis mas come WITHIN telescope
length the earth since the invention Of that ex
traordlnary instruments. The present comet has
with results which the observers consider nighy
the present hour. this comet has presented
A CONTINUOUS SPECTRUM,
which experience has demonstrated TO be indca-
tive of bodies in q state OF red heat-such
iron bail, for instance, just alter IL Is Withdrawn
spectrum, apparently giving proof that the nucleus
is surrounded by nebulous rings. In the spectre
scope the tail OF the comet presents the appear
ances Identified with gaseous bodies IN state OF
cOmDustiOn, mixed with scarcely sensible guam
tity ol solid lncandescent matter 1t is question.
able If we nave among us any scientific men who
Will give the public such clear sketch OF the
nature and habits or comets as IN this day OF as
Economical research 1t Is only fair TO expect.
ASTRONOMERS AT LOGGER HEADS.
Three well known astronomers have been found
already at variance. WIZ the tail strike the earth
sweep away all the Boston bluelights, the New
York politicians and the Philadelphia lawyers. 1t
Of the tau will prove true. Another professor
says the comet Is travelling south probably to
rectly affairs IN south Caroiina), ana that It's tail
Will be at high elevation 1t Will send down me-
mentoes as it passes III the shape OF meteors ana
shooting stars-au good shots and ready to enter
~ Creednocr.
PRopIGIoUs TRAVELS.
This comet has come perhaps fifty billions OF
miles to see U.s. and Is travelling at the rate Of
100000 miles an hour According 10 NJ. q. Rayet,
Professor OF Astronomy in the Observatory in
Paris, sue was when seen by him very faint
condensation very marked, forming a luminous
point the diameter OF neouloslty being two
cult to perceive the Existence Of Spectrum since
then the comet has been continually approaching
DOM me sun ard the earth, and lis Drlhancy is
regularly increasing. Tue original discovery was
lnaue oy M C0ggia, at Marse1les on the 18th OF
A AZ do o.iGe then the comet has travelled
g0OooocOo miles on bee Inc Tor this planet. How
far she mad travelled up TO the period OF ner dis
covery II Is Impossible 10 say; out If Daniel
Pratt, the gr.at American traveller, had covered
30 much 2 ouud his election 70 tue Presidential
char would be certain doubt is however,
thrown on the previous leats In tayellin0 which
this comet have performed Paw din.
clareS that at the time vi her discovery She was
only three minutes in diameter and was forming a
tall. she had not yet entered July INTO the harness
but was, no doubt. doing her best and was stirred
by noble AMBITION to have her head and tan spec
troscoped by the Wasnlng on observatory.
THE BEAUTIES or THE COMET.
M. Rayet further remarks that the light seen
through the spectroscope gave continuous spec
trum from the orange TO the biue spectrum OF
solid nucieusJ traversed by three bright bands
spectrum OF gaseous neDulal. TINS spectrum Is
well recognized IN comets. Dut ~ diners rom
others in its dimensions and IN the relative brill
fancy Of the different portions. Thus winnie the
continuous spectrum Of The nucleus IS III general
large and dlDuse. 1t Is IA NJ. COgga comet very
narrow. Moreover, the luminous bands instead
OF being sharply Defined on the SIDE, the most re-
frangibie are terminated both toward the red and
the violet by fine lines. Ihls act especially promi-
brilliant, was very STRIKING.
AS the HERALD reporter observed the comet,
and the first 10 recognize the resemblance
winch the immediate centre OF the nucleus bore
10 opal, whose shifting tints include the colors
here named 10y NJ. Rayet orange and blue, and
ioT bhdt matter, du bnS pIiLudtJ SHdutS, ne can
easily recognize the accuracy OF observation In
the Paris astronomers remarks.
AN uNCoMMONLy BRIGHT SPECTRUM.
But he dld NOS stop there. NJ. Rayet gave further
attention to the approaching stranger and, under
favorable atmosphere conditions, ne observed
that the comet Trad "A round very bright nucleus
ut being equal to star OF about the eighth mag
nitude), It's edge SHARPLY defined by the surround
lug nebulosIty. Inc position Of the nucleus
could be observed with the same exactness as that
vi fixed star. This pont was surrounded with
a nebulous envelope of about Jour MINUTES IN diam
eter ITS brightness decreasing regularly from the
centre 70 the edge This envelope IS prolonged on
the SIDE opposite TO the sun into tail to a dis
lance OF eight minutes rom the nucleus. The
brightness OF the comet (whiCh Is about lOur times
greater tnan when discovered) must be considera-
to furnish 50 bright spectrum. The con
tInuUus spectrum corresponding 10 the nucleus IL
remarkably narrow, almost as narrow that OF
q star seen in the same instrument. ~ re-
calls the spectrum OF star OF the sixth magnl-
Jude, but without color towards the eXtremtles.
The spectrum extends on both sides beyond the