Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-30
The Perihelis of the Great Planets.
a Year Of Trouble and Peril.

1t seems unnecessary to haye incurred
the expense and trouble Of a commission
to investigate the causes of the pestilence
that ragged during the last summer In the
southern states, when astronomers tell us
that the yellow fever was only the premo-
milton of the dire calamities to be expected
from physical disturbances shortly to be
Initiated. The four great planets of the
system, Jupiter. Saturn, Uranus and Nep-
tune have mighty influence in the solar
economy, even though they reyolve at i'm
mense distances from the center of the
scheme. When one or more Of these pIan-
cts 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 solar
surface is reflected TO the systems remotest
bounds, and our planet bears witness to
the solar outburst In terrific storms on land
and sea, long continued drought. failure of
crops and consequent disaster. and pesti-
lence In myriad forms. Jupiter, being the
largest and nearest OF the giant brother
hood, produces the greatest disturbances
So well Is this fact established, that the
suns maximum year tor spots and general
commotlon Is coincident with Jupiter's
nearest approach TO his surface. Many
renee of this period about 1869. when bril-.
liant auroras illuminated the heavens, rosy
protuberances flashed from the suns pho
tosphere, and huge spots dotted his disc
while evidences of intense excitement were
visible on the Jovian surface, and terrest ri
al tempests, hurricanes, and all manner of
physical Ills bore evidence to the malignity
of the celestial conjunction. IL takes Ju-
ptter less than twelve years to complete a
revolution around the sun. Saturn little
less than thirty years, Uranus about eigh-
;y-four years, and Neptune about one hun
dred and sixty years. The year OF maxi
mum sun-spots coincident with Jupl,er's
perihelion Is looked upon as an epoch
when all manner of evils affecting human
lty may be anticipated, aud this dlreful pc
riod Is near at hand. A much more la
mentable period Is also near at hand; one
OF those eras that occur At intervals count
ed by thousands of years Is about TO take
place. The four great planets reach their
perihella very nearly together, and the
mighty planetery quartette will pull upon
the sun with one accord. They will be al
their nearest approach In the year 1880, or
soon after. and the influence OF their un-
welcome union may continue for several
years. Such a conjunction of forces has
will the sun do. with his blazing surface
tossed into such fiery commotiou, What
will the earth do as she responds to every
troubled pulsation of the great luminary
There Is fearful prospect ahead. and 1t
may be, that the pestilence OF last summer
was but the shadow OF events TO follow 10
its train. There j. nothing for poor NOR.
tails to do but to take wise precautions and
await results. Seed time and harvest have
not yet failed, aud the time for the earth's
destruction will not occur In the present
generation.
A careful observer announces that the
perihelia OF three OF the great planets took
place al the same time IN the sixth and al
so IN the sixteenth century, and that the
epochs were marked by the occurrence OF
the most pcsttlential periods on record
livery sensible person will understand
when Jupiter, planet whose volume Is
thirteen hundred times that of the earth,
reaches its perihelion, being then forty-slx
millions OF miles nearer the sun than when
in apheliou, the increased attraction must
create commotion in the suns seething
mass, as well as in the chaotic elements of
the planet. 1t is just as certain that our
atmosphere and temperature will be dis
turbed, and that the disturbance will he
uniavorable to health and prosperity. In
the same way II will be seen that the COIN
cident perihelia of the four great planets
Will vastly increase the untoward inilu-
ence. This period we shall enter upon be-
fore another year closes, and we can only
trust that science and observation will do
their best TO avert the caamities threaten
ed by the malignant influence OF the sun
and the four remotest members OF the sys-
tem.-[Prov Journal.