The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-03
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

L
| The following amusing account OF a strictly
unscientific observation of the transit OF
Venus was sent to the Pail Nall Gazette from
Ramleh, SUBURB of Alexandria:
| All the people here, save ourselves, got a
notion that the transit Of Venus was to take
place this morning instead of yesterday; so
We were the only unscientihc people who saw
it. The day before was cloudy, and during
the night we had storm so violent that |
thought the windows and even the roof in
danger.
We had prepared smoked glasses aud bor
rowed a big telescope, but had little expecta-
ton Of seeing the sun the next morning.
Half an hour before sunrise l was called, and
felt very little inclined to get up to be disap-
pointed. However, | did get up. and was
out on the terrace before the time The rain
had stopped heavy clouds filled the heavens
save in the east. Long rays of light were
shooting up into clear bit Of sky. fixed
the telescope, put my spectacles on, and
waited with my bit of glass ready for the ap-
pearance of his majesty above the desert Up
he came in golden glory. Half of him was
still below the horizon, when | saw through
the glass a round black spot like distant
cricket ball, just entering the disc. Time by
my watch, Cos but as observers go by infin-
itesimal divisions of seconds, and as my watch
is not particular as to five minutes, | would
willingly sell the observation cheap.
My lady entered on her golden path rather
high up on the left shoulder OF the sun, and
evidently intended only to traverse thin
slice of the upper half Of the disc. She went
very slowly, her motion being no more appa
rent than the hour hand OF a clock. | called |
N, and we watched the small round spot al
l sent next door to invite them to
come and see, but NJ. was in Cairo, and G. |
and A. in bed. The former could not, and
the latter would not come We sent off a |
smaller telescope and some smoked glass to |
S. L tried to interest the Arab servant | |
failed 10 make things clear, as knowledge of
a common language is limited but he got so
far as to know that something was wrong with
the sun that morning.
l tried to make hin see Venus. but he first
his face with the smoked glass and
then knocked the telescope stand down.
and finally walked away shaking his head,
md saying "Malesh (never mind). l had a
great business in getting her Ladyship in
locus again. The sun was very fierce, and
smoked glass was insufficient, so we got a
bottle and filled it with ink and water, and
ound that much better as medium of safe
observation through the telescope. Now the
clouds were blown back by shift of the
Wind, the sun wasicovered, land squat of rain
illed the plain. Through the storm we saw
hree umbrellas bobbing up and down in
ierce combat with the weather. Then we
Jaw the umbrellas beaten and the holders
axe to flight
1t was three enthusiastic lady astronomers
With the C.s. They arrived breathless and
vet, and dry shawls and smelling salts were
leeded for their recovery Then we set to
york observing the clouds, which were flying
apidly across the sky, but still persistent in
ding the SUM- N, to beguile the time, gave
short discourse on the great event that was
aking place, but am not quite sure that any l
he OF us was perfectly clear as to what were
0 be its particular scientific results. The
oungest of the party, having been last at
chool. and being filled with a natural desire
0 show that she had brought away thereirom
luch valuable information, said that the suns
istance from the earth, was estimated va
iously at ninety-two and ninety-ive millions
miles, and that now that the mean distance
-ould be accurately ascertained.
L added to this certain facts from the Illus :
ated London Ne1cs, and as l carefully con-
ealed the source was looked upon as much
ne most learned of the party. Meanwhile,
e kept lookout for the sun, and each in
I'm tried to see him through the clouds,
18th no effect save that all the noses of the I
arty were blackened with the smoked glass,
hich each insisted on trying. as well as the
lk-and-water device. At last the clouds be-
IN to lift. 1t was close on 5. The transit
lust be nearly complete. Through break
| the clouds, the sun appeared. A fresh
ramble, but no luck. He had gone before
e had 'got him in the tube"
ut the clouds were tearing along, l.
Id in five minutes more the sun was clear 2
ON them all. This time, through the ink,
e fixed his majesty, and just on the edge of
e disc the black spot was still visible The
eight of our visitors was great; they all
'wed they saw it, a fact l was rude enough
doubt, as it was by no means easy to make
1t the tiny bit of Venus still left. saw no :
ngular effects at the moment of egress, such
was foretold, but eager young women are
1t the best assistants for careful solar OBJ 2
rvation. What with fear of occupying too
UGH Of the telescope, my observation was
1t such as would have contented the Astron-
aer Royal. v
The Demon RusiupSS IL