Richland beacon., 1881-08-06
sYRTI-S.

the brightest among tho WV 40,
bls to the naked eye. or the 'V'''o'''
revealed by the telescope.
7. hos been obserued and admirF'
from, the earliest ages, and is CLOSELY
,;nloJ with the superstitions OF ths
mas, as the famous dog-star OF the hsFP'
tians.
T, vou,d be natural to infer that SIRIUS
g orr nearest celestial neighbour DIV
srcb ia not the case although 1t is one
Of the nine or ten stars whose o'''"n'
has been approximately Determined ny
on intricate process requiring the most
careful and oft-repeated measr'rcplen'
Several smaller stars are nearer I" 'n'
earth than this peerless orb, which Is
.o,.,,otod to he more than million
times rs far away as the sun, while u
takes light more than sixteen years -
travel the distance, so that II TINS pea'i'-
mo Star were tonight blotted from IN"
sky. il would continue to SHINE Tor SIX
teen years.
The size of Sirius has also been meas
ured. and brings the astounding result
that it las probably diameter OF IL
600. 900 miles and volume 1000 tunes
! that OF our sun.
! Let us imagine blazing sun stretHh-
inc from the earth's center, filling the
intervening space between us and the
moon, aud extending more than o,'oo'-
oO, miles beyond, and We have FAINT
conception of the dimensions OF ms
treat Globe of fire, the largest measured
by terrestrial Instruments.
The most curious discovery respect
inc Sirius is, however, that 1t has
dark companion. Certain Irregular
ties in its motion had for many years in
dicated the presence of an invisible sat
elite. It's orbit, position and size were
computed. but no ono could detect its
presence.
In 1862, Messrs. Alvan Clark e. Sons
completed a telescope with an object
glass of eighteen and half inches IN
diameter. The new instrument was
pointed to Sirius to test its power. and,
to the intense delight of its makers, the
long-looked.for companion came lmme-
diatelv into view at a distance Of ten
seconds from the primary.
The news quickly spread over tho
world, and the great telescopes we're
turned TO the bright star. 1t was easy
enough to find it, when one knew whers
to look, and, ever since, skillful ohserv-
ers. with good instruments, have fol-
lowed its movements with ,lnfailinS in
tercst.
This mighty sun has, therefore. al.
least one satellite revolving round It,
; Youths Companion.
WASHINGTON AT YORKTOWN.
The London Telegraph publishes tis
following incident, aud remarks that
:" there is much IN the memories ol
Yorktown even now to draw living En-
gisl,men and Americans nearer together,
, and unqiestionably the bearing Of Gen
, Washington at the supreme moment ~
, ward his vaniuished and Inundated en-
envy was of that character which it is
y meet and right that historians should no,
willingly let de-"
|, When, on the 18th Of October, 1871
, Lord CORVALLIS had lost his two at
, vanced reloubts by storm, he made NJ
q attempt to escape with his rank am
n file who were still fit for duty-rathe
T more than 1000 in number-across th'
n river to Gloucester. The attempt VA
= frustrated, rs might have been expect
O ed, when it is remembered that the OF
;, posing forces, French and American
. vastly outnumbered the British, an,
E that French feet OF more than thirt,
e sail, under Comte de Grasse, Law in IN
a adjoining river and roads. On tn
d morning of the 18th of October Lor
;. CORVALLIS accepted the inevitable, an
i tho terms of eapitulation were settle
between him. as representing the Bri,
d ish side, and Gen. Washington and tn
k Comte de Rochambeau, as several
representing the triumphant forces c
j. America and France. But it is nc
q generally known that at the memen
when Lord CORVALLIS surrendered I
10 Gen. Washington, the humbled f.
y glishman simultaneously uncovered h
70 head. With characteristic thoughtful
j. ness Gen. Washington prayed hil
1t to put on bis hat, as-the weather bein
ID chilly and wet-there was danger
it catching cold. at does not much ma
q, ter what now becomes of me-" e.
in claimed tho detected Englishman. I
e. which, In a firm voice, Gen. Washin,
er ton at once replied "On the contrar,
W my Lord, I anticipate for YOU a lon
y career of distinction and honor in ii
10 service of your Kinr and country