The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-26

and done their Office; the time has fully
come for making them o part OF the funded
debt.
The Missing Comet and Its Meteor
Train.
Whether Bielas comet or its attendant
meteor stream will stouch the earth"
again, as in 1872, we shall soon know. Tho
star shower predicted for the 26th or 9th
inst, unless its display is intercepted from
our view by clouds, will be eagerly looked
for, if for no other reason, to test the accu-
racy of the astronomical prediction. This
missing wanderer through the heavens,
which in 1916 was seen divided in twain
and in 1866 was searched for in vain, may
yet show enough of it's former self to be
clearly distinguished. The predicted dis
play Of rheteors following in the track OF
this comet in November, 1872 (since which
time nothing has been seen of it either as
the constellation Ahdromeda. This con-
stellation may readily be found. BY rum
ming an imaginary line from any one of the
three stars forming the tail Of the "Great
Bear" through the Pole Star the eye will
be carried to the bright constellation of
Cassiopeia. Just beyond this constellation
lies Andromeda, the region whence the gilt
tering meteorites may be expected to illu-
inmate the sky.
The interest which attaches to the double
comet and to any meteor stream in its trail,
which may throw some light on the mys-
terious fate of the parent body, seen entire
when Biela discovered it in 1926, is specially
felt in this country, where, said the late
Professor Henry, ''the novel spectacle of q
comet divided into two nearly equal por-
tions was first Witnessed by American eyes,"
But it's physical history has an engaging
interest for men everywhere, awakening
some Of the most curious reflections that
can stir the human mind. We involun-
tarily ascribe stability and changelessness
to all celestial bodies, and the Imagination
shrinks from every thought of disorder or
disruption in the calm vault above. In
1919 Encke startled the astronomical world
with his celebrated discovery of the acceler-
alton of the motion Of the comet detected
November &c Of the previous year. But his
calculations pointed to no abnormal cir
cumstance or disastrous misadventure
likely to overtaks that body. That
celestial body which has possibly for
ages periodically travelled unbroken in it's
orbital path around the sun, and in our
day has been seen disiniegrated as by
some mighty internal force of rcpulsion,
and then disappears or leaves only its me-
teoric debris to tell the tale OF it's final
wreck in space, goes far to show that no
part of the creation is exempt from the law
of decay and disorder. Yet this is the les
son with which the eventful history of
Biela's comet would seem to impress us.
With the enormous outbursts and storms
that rage within the burning atmosphere of
the sun and the disturbances indicated by
the spot on Jupiter and the eruptive action
going on beneath the surfaces of other
worlds modern astronomy has familiarized
us. These changes do not, however, affect
the existence or motions of the planets.
But the mystery of which we have spoken
in the comet of 1926, whose fragments our
globe is now about to pass, Is worthy of
earnest and concentrated investigation by
our astronomers.
How ths Country Cousins Help Us.
At one time and for several years this city
lost the greater part of the benefit Of its
own growth 80 far rs relates to increase of
population. High rents, houses that did
not divide we'll and the denominations Of
horse car and omnibus transit sent the
people by thousands over the rivers on
both sides. Brooklyn grew at our expense,
and over in New Jersey the farm lands
changed their aspect. All the fields were
dotted over with little houses or splendid