Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-04
Aailp 9en',tbef Journal.
Augusta. Wednesday Morning. Oct 4.
The Celestial Mystery.

Astronomers know but little concerning
comets. Whence they come, whither
they go, and Of what substance they are
composed, are matters upon which those
who read the heavens most profoundly
have formed no definite conclusions.
They are, to astronomers, one Of the most
perplexing of celestial phenomena. and
yet they appear to be Of small importance
among heavenly bodies. The most prev
alent belief Is that they originate with
the sun and are cast off from that lumina-
y into space. But that Is merely conjec-
ture. Their origin is unknown and entire
~ a matter OF speculation.
BY means of the spectroscope it has
been ascertained that the head and coma
Of comets are of gaseous nature. Ithas
also been demonstrated that the only
meteor systems whose paths have been
recognized are found TO travel in the track
or orbit OF known comets, thus seeming to
indicate a connection between comets and
meteors. 1t is fancied by some that the
loss of Biela's comet first discovered by
that astronomer in 1926. is due to its dis
persion by metoric streams with which it
came in contact, and that similar process
ofdissipation Of comets is continual going
on. The connection, however, between
comets and meteors, if any, is not yet de-
termined. and still remains subject for
astronomers to puzzle over and explain if
they can.
The return OF some comets has been
accurately predicted Biela's comet reg
ularly returned several times as foretold.
but in 1866 it failed to put in an appear
ance at the appointed time. and the best
telescopes have not been able to discover
IL since. Still other comets appear I'M
expectedly, like the one which now occu-
pies the attention of the world. They
come and go, sometimes without the least
notice, and this adds to the mystery and
wonder with which these fiery and Singh
disappearing visitants are regarded; and
all the more because of the regular and
decent behavior of most of the other
heavenly bodies which have been care
fully studied.
The appearance OF comets in earlier
days generally excited fear and consterna-
ton, as omens Of dire calamites or threat
ening the destruction of this world of ours
by some unfortunate whisk of their blaz-
ing tails. Proctor tells the story of
housekeeper in Sheffield, so late As 1872.
who having her washing day appointed
on the same day that it was predicted the
comet of that year would destroy the
EARTH sought her master and inquired if
it was really true that the destruction of
the world would take place on that day.
Being assured to the contrary she re-
marked: 'though what you say may be
very true, might it not be just as well to
put off the pashing al to-morrow2"
Fortunately the superstition and fear
with which comets were once regarded
do not now exist among intelligent people.
Though they are erratic, mysterious and
wonderful bodies in their structure and
movements. and we know but little con-
corning them. we feel assured that they
are controlled by fixed laws as the rest of
the universe is so far rs the powers of
mankind have been able to discover. and
cannot by any possibility devi,te from
their appointed course or intervene to de-
stroy the order and harmony which exists
among the worlds. amid which they take
their way. of which this planet on which
we live is one.