The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-07
THE COMET.
Success of the Celestial Star
Engagement.
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO THE COMET
Mayor Havemeyer's Rec0llectiOns
of a Hundred Years Ago.
Professor SWift's Views OF the
Present Phenomenon.

The comet Is now an Old acquaintan The
whole country Is talking OF her. She is the staple
food Of gossip in every household throughout the
land. In the city she has created perfect furore
She is called the Cogga comet, but the boys and
girls OF the BOwery, who have their own peculiar
way of getting around names of foreign spelling,
call her "COdger's comet" Last evening she mad
another enormous audience extending from the
Battery into the primeval forests OF Westchester,
and even further north. 1t is great mistake TO
suppose the visit OF the Coggia comet is responsible
for all the irregular things that have happened
within the past few weeks. Astronomers have at
last reached the conclusion that the visit of q
comet Is purely of o scientific character. This
comet comes on
A SPECIAL VISIT
to the Washington Observatory. She recognizes
the ability OF Professor Eastman and his entire
corps or assistants. The eccentric action OF Mayor
Havemeyer in restoring the discarded Police Com
missioners Is due more to the influence of the
moon than OF the comet. Should the latter come
near enough to Long Branch President Grant will
make long speech. He will say that the Empire
is peace; that it Is on easy terms with all foreign
nations except South Carolina, Louisiana and
Arkansas; that these turbulent nations tried in
vain to disturb the solid foundations OF the Empire
and are now fighting among themselves like the
famous Kilkenny cats, Of whom the tails were the
only reminders.
THE PRESIDENTS FURTHER REMARKS.
He will continue in his remarks to say that the
Idea OF Mayor Havemeyer, OF New York, village
just west OF Long Branch, seeking third term is
one OF the most absurd conceptions OF the age.
"Your Celestial Highness" he President will say
(hls speech being already in the hands of the Asso
ciated Press), "shOuid understand that am OPP
posed to this third term theory " has the posi-
tive effect of sapping the efficiency of the civil
service, and Of making the servants Of the people
the tools OF an autOcrat. | am down on it tooth
and nail, and my wish is that at the end Of my
term, in the year 1890, pure fresh stream of
water may be turned on, and the foul places Of
Official lie be swept clean. Your Celestial High
ness Is cordially invited to visit the W hlte House
before the assembling of Congress- Comprenez
vous" President Grant viii thus deliver himself
to the comet when she dips down TO Long Branch
1t will be the longest and most remarkable speech
Of his life.
STIR AMONG THE HEAVENLY CONSULTATIONS.
The comet Kept steadily forward in the heavens
siderable development since the previous night
The spectrum was more positive and as seen
aed Inc nose Of the Great Bear seemed to have
been squeezed little, as the comet appeared to
have crossed directly over the bridge Of that
feature. Her present location is between the Dip
per and the Pole Star, OF course there is great
curiosity felt in regard to this among all the
considerations from Geminn or the Twins, to
Organ. The Great Dog and Little Dog have got into
snarl over her, and the Lion roars and the Bull
bowls all the night long. Castor and Poux take IL
easy. knowing they have fast and abundant friends
and admirers, but the Eagle and the Great Bear
scIENrIF1c ANALYSIS OF THE COMET.
! Professor Rayet, OF whom mention has previously
! been made, and VINO knows more about comets
! than niost men, declares that since astronomers
have used the spectroscope in research In celestial
physics no brilliant comet visible to the unaided
they are able to explore. The problems that such
q comet would without doubt solve are numerous.
IL IL only necessary to cite the exact measurement
| OF the wave lengths Of the three bright bands Of
! their spectra and the determination Of the
chemical composition OF the bodies to which they
belong. All comets which become visible to the
unaided eye 1t is important to study aud TO watch
while visible, in the hopes OF discovering changes
The spectrum of the bands is composed of three
lines which, rom their reirangibity are found IN
the yellow, the, green and the blue. the central
band Is long and bright, and when the slit OF the
instrument IS properly closed 1t Is terminated both
toward the red and the violet by sharp, narrow
| lines There Is nothing OF the appearance OF snad-
ing toward the violet that is noticed In the usual
telescope comet. When the light oil the comet
very narrow, 1t perhaps will be possible to reduce
IL to bright line. The yellow and blue band have
Drilliancy OF about half the other, and they are
| little dl1HSe toward the edge, approaching the
CURIOUS SEARCH FOR THE COMET.
The search for the comet has run into the most
ROckaway day before yesterday, night came on
and the ladies retired to their canvas tent Tor rest
tastes were discovered on hands and knees rails
ing up the canvas OF the tent and seeking TO enter
They were caught in the act, and Oh being brought
before the reverend gentleman IN charge OF the
encampment, they declared one and oil that they
were looking Tor the comet.
MAYOR HAvEMEYER's REC0LLECTIONs.
Mayor Havemeyer says he recollects seeing q
great many comets. He remembers famous old
comet that appeared In 1770 and as he sat fishing
in the canal, at the presen. junction OF Hudson
and Canal streets, ne was greatly SURPRISED TO OBJ
serve the fish float up to the surface OF the water
Looking upward, he saw the tail OF the comet
hanging down. He says, as well as his memory
serves him, he could have laid hold OF that tail.
| Another comet came along IN 1877. ana nc
aud his friend Matse started out with boat
hooks to fasten on to the TAIL but MatseU had &c
return to see after his goose, and Havemeyel
alone was unequal to the OCCASION The Mayor ma:
rather contempt for the present comet He
looks upon her as a young chit fresh from board
ing school, now running around on her vacation
lie wilt keep his eye on her, however, for the sake
OF her mother, with whom he became acquainted
100 years ago. II she tails to behave herself prop
erly Matsell will be directed to send posse CONT
tatus alter her.
ExsHERIFF O'BRIEN ON THE COMET.
He SAYS that this is no comet. He looked for tn
tail through the largest tumber in the Filth Avenue
Hotel and failed to find It.. He is now certain ii i
Apollo, and that his appearance at this time inii
Gates that the Apollo Hall democracy will carr.
the next election. This thing about comets 1
PLAYED out" observed the eX-Sheriff. 1t was to,
Mr.. O'Bren that the comet might possibly destro
the earth, and he replied, "Well, so long as sh
LET'S Apollo Hail alone she may rip.n
Tonight Marx Twain will try to make connec
. tion with the comet by kite covered vita sevcra
OF his latest contributions to the daily press 1t Is Il
be hoped that he may not be lost to the puolisher
in his daring undertaking.
PROFESSOR SWIFT AND THE COMET