Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-14

From four to six years will elapse be-
fore astronomers will be able by tedious
calculations to deduce from the facts of
the recent transit their proper significance.
The distance from the earth to the sun is
not speedily to be gotten at with the best
observations. Other points of interest,
however. We're somewhat elucidated by
the work of Wednesday last. The pres
ence Of water i'm the atmosphere of Venus
i confirmed by numerous observations
The probable density of the atmosphere
itself is Indicated by the extent and
brightness of the ring of silveTy light
which enclosed the planet just before
the second and fourth contacts, Two
observers saw very bright spot toward
the centre also Of the planet, the cause Of
which is a mystery. Others saw patches
of light where they least expected. The
Nautical Almanac is shown, il is said, to
have been incorrect in its predictions as
to the time Of the phases Of the transit by
from ten To seventy seconds. The latest
cablegrams show that at Melbourne, on
the other side of the world. excel
lent results were obtained by Observ-
ers. 50 that the largest attainable diff
ference of position has been secured. All
taken together. the astronomer must con-
fess that he is no about as well armed
with facts to reason from as he could have
hoped.
New Workers have so often pOked fun at
the blue laws Of New England, and have
made so merry over Yankee legislation,
chuckles the Boston AdCertjser, ''that their
recent enforcement of the new Sunday
law gives us all a certain grim satisfac-
ton. 1t seems to us delightfully."- absurd
that express wagons should be stopped,
saloons closed. nurses forbidden to wheel
baby carriages. and boys to cry newspa-
pers in New York on a sunday. The great
commotiOn and excitement caused by this
sudden spasm of goodness shOwss plainly
the laXity Of the observance of the day be-
fore. If Mr.. Robert IngersOll should be
appointed Bishop Of Illinois and show /
marked tendency toward High Church it !
would not cause halfthe uprOar which this /
giant brave ofthe metropolis has created. /
The pendulum has swung so far the other 4
way that it is not possible that it should 1
not swing back again sOOn.''
Mr.. Perry Belmont has submitted to the I
House his report against the substitute |
bill for the incorporation of the Nicara-
qua Canal Company, which was favor
ably reported by a majority of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs at the last
session. Mr.. Belmont bases his OppOsi-
ton TO the bill mainly on the ground that
il binds the United states to guarantee
that the annual net receipts from the traf-
iic through the proposed canal shall not
be less than 3 per cent, on the total cost,
which must not exceed $4,000, 600. Mr.
Belmont worried Mr.. Blaine very much
hv probing the guano deal, and is no doubt
prepared to furnish abundant exercise
for other agile statesmen in connection
With the big jobs they have on hand. The
government was hardly successful in the
railroad business, and should leave canal
building in foreign regions to private en-
teTpTise.
Georgia state taxes continue gradually
% decrease. During the past six years
he taxes fell from 10 mills, and the
-sceut Legislature reduced it from 10 "a
nils. This shows a gratifying increase (
4 the wealth of the State, as well as its
ro,d f;paucial mana cement