The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-16
The Perihelia Of the Great Planets.
A Year of TroubIe and Peril.

1t seeEns unnecessary to have incurred the
expense and trouble Of commission to in
vestigate the causes OF the pestilence that
ragged during the last summer in the southern
states, when astronomers tell US that the yell
low fever was only premonition of the dire
calamites to- be eexpected from physical dis
turbances shortly to be initiated The fou.
great planets of the system, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus and Neptune have mighty influence
in the solar economy, even though thay re-
volve at immense distances from the center
of the scheme. When one or more of these
planets are at their nearest point to the sun,
great disturbances are sure to take place from
the Increased attraction of the masses upon
each other. Agitation on the collar surface is
reflected to the systems remotest bounds, and
our planet bears witness to the solar eu.burss
in terrific storms on lapd and sea, long contn-
ued drought, failure of crops and conse quent
disaster, and pestijence in myriad forms. Ju-
piter, being the lsrgest and nearest IF the giant
brotherhood, prc duces the greatest disturbances
80 well is this fact established, that the SUMS
maximum year for spots and general commo-
lions Is ccincident with Jupiter's nearest sp-
proach to his surface. Many observers will
remember the last recurrence of this perIod
ABOUT 1869, when brilliant auroras illuminated
the heavens, rosy protuberances flashed from
Tue suns photosphere, and huge spots dotted
his disc, 7hile evidences of intense excitement
were visible on the Jovian surface, and terres-
trial tempests, hurricanes, and all manner of
physical ills bore evidence to the malignity of
the celestial conjunction. 1t takes Jupjter less
than twelve years to complete a revolution
around the sun, Saturn little less than thirty
years, Uranus about eighty. four years, and
Neptune about one hundred and sixty years.
The year of maximum sun-spots coincdent with
Jupiter's perihelion is looked upon as an epoch
when all manner of evils affecting humanity
may be anticipated, and this direful period
is near at hand. much more lamentable
period is also near at hand; enc of those
eras that occur at intervals counted BY thous-
ands OF years is about to take place. The
four great planets reach their perihelia very
nearly together, and the mighty planetery quar-
tette will pull upon the sun with one accord,
They will be atther nearest approach in the
year 1880, or soon after, and the influence of
their unwelcome union may continue for sew
eral years. Such a conjunction of forces has
not occurred since the Christian era What will
the sun do, with his blazing surface tossed into
such fiery commotion! What will the earth do
az she responds to every troubled pulsation of
ahead. and it may be, that the pestiience of
last summer was but the shadow of events to
follow in its train. There is nothing for Door
mortals to do but to take wise precautions and
await results Seed time and harvest have not
yet failed, and the time for the earth's destruc.
ton will not occur in the present generation.
A careful observer announces that the peri.
nena OF three OF the great planets took place at
the same time In the sixth and also 10 the ak.
teenth century, and that the epochs were
marked by the occurrence of the most pestlen.
tial periods on record. Every sensible person
will understand when Jupiter, planet whose
volume is thirteen hundred times that of the
earth, reaches its perihelion. being then forty
six millions OF miles nearer the sun than when
in aphelion, the increased attraction must
create connection in the suns seethiDg mass,
as well as in the chaotic elements of the planet.
1t is just as certain that our atmosphere and
temperature will be disturbed, and that the
disturbance will be unfayorabie to health and
prosperity. In the same way it will be seen
that the coincident perihelis of the four great
planets will vastly increase the untoward influ.
ence. This period we shall enter upon before
smother year closes, and we can only trust that
science and observation will do their best to
avert the calamities threatened by the malig-
nant influence of the sun and the four remot-
est members of the system,-Prov. Journal.