Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-23
The Transit of Venus.

observations were taken of the transit OF
Venus in many parts of the world, and RS
ports of many of them have been published,
little interest would ordinarily be felt at this
late day in farther description of the impor-
tant event. But we have been favored with
the opportunity of publishing an account of
the way observations were taken by one of
the scientific parties sent out by our govern
nent, that under Professor Newcomb, of the
Washington observatory, which went to the
Cape of Good Hope, and selected as the most
eligible site for their operations the grounds
of the Huguenot seminary. AS is well
known, the principal of this seminary, Miss
Ferguson, formerly resided in this city, and
many of the forty-seven ladies who subse-
quently went to the Cape were from this SEC
tion of the country. It will be gratifying to
their many friends, as well as interesting to
the public at large, to read the account re-
Gently received, as follows:
Our telescope had come, and DIR. Gill, the
astronomers royal, was with MS to advise about
the site of the observatory. 1--WE must train
some of your young people to observe the
transit of Venns, p" he said. ST will examine
the astronomy class, and the two who do
a few days for the training" Our pretty
observatory was finished, the dome that had
come all the way from America was put to-
gether, and revolved to q nicely. Dr. Gill
was again with US to mount the telescope
and to impart fresh inspiration. A very en-
thusiastic little company gathered day by day
to study the science, and night after night to
study the heavens themselves, and to rejoice
in the wonderful revelations that came to
them through the telescope DIR. Gill had
told US of various parties coming to our own
South Africa to observe the transit. We
were especially Interested in Professor New
combs party, for were we not studying his
books? and SO, being in daily converse with
him, he would seem like an old friend And
more than that, he came from America.
America has given us most of our teachers :;
our telescope was given us by good friend
in America; and so, for u.s. this party had q
special interest.
Professor Newcomb and his party have
come This was the announcement the
daily paper brought to us one October morn
ing, and the same paper told us that Beaufort
West would probably be the site chosen for
their observations. But 10 few mornings
later we read that DIR. Gill and Professor
Newoomb were planning to visit Wellington
that day, to consider our own little town as
the site of the observations. How we did
want to look our best, and how we did hope
we would do, from Venus point of view.
few hours later telegram from DR.. Gill
announced their coming, requested that we
would select some enclosed places that seemed
desirable fer the observations, and get per
mission from the owners to have their land
thus occupied. We sailed forth very eager
ly in response SO this request, and looked
about our village more critically than we had
ever done before. This place was too much
sheltered by trees that one was too open
there hill would hide the setting sun. We
must consider where the sun would be De-
cember 9Th, SO that the places clear now
would have no obstruction then. This gar
den would perhaps do, and the owner tells us
he would be honored If the astronomers
would make use of it. There is another
place on hill top. We linger to admire the
beautiful view, and to see the sun sink below
the western horizon. Surely, this is the
place. We call upon the farmer who owns
the land, and, half in Dutch and half in
English, make our request known. Willing
consent is given and we go back to await our
friends. The evening train brings these two
men whose earnest, patient investigations we
have followed in our small way with 30 much
interest. We have rejoieed with them in the
success 50 far achieved, and hope with them
that Venus will enable them to solve with in,
creasing accuracy the problem. of problems
in astronomy-the distance of the sun from
the earth. There is a warm greeting for
Professor Newoomb from our little colony OF
Americans, while DIR. Gill feels himself at
home among old friends. Over a social cup
of tea places are discussed. Our site upon
the hill top would be too much exposed to
winds, and especially unfavorable for photo
graphing the sun. We go to our own obser-
Vatory, and our hearts give a little bound
when Dr.. Gill says to Professor Newoomb,
'You did not expect to see such an instru-
ment as this hers.' Professor Newcomb
peers through the darkness into our garden,
evidently taking in the situation, and in
quires if Ii is running water he hears, and
seems, almost before he has seen it, to have
made up his mind that he had found the
right spot. We find that the meteorological
probabilities of Wellington have been care
fully considered. The records that we have
been keeping these eight years have been
looked over, and Wellington, with its clear
crystal atmosphere, Is found to be most de-
sirable place as compared with others in the
colony.
Early the next morning our friends are
seen wandering about our grounds, and soon
after breakfast comes the formal request that
the American astronomical party may be per-
mitted to pitch their camp at the foot of our
garden. The level ground there, the run
ming stream, the trees protecting from the
southeast winds, the good outlook for the af-
ternoon sun, all form favorable combina-
tion, added to which is the privacy that may
be secured here. We suggest that they look
at other places before deciding. They do SO,
but still give the grounds of the Huguenot
seminary the preference. One of the trus
tees is waited upon and consent officially OBJ
tanned and SO it is decided that these obser
vations about which we have been studying,
and to which we have been looking forward
with eager interest, shall be made on our own
grounds:
In response to telegram from Professor
Newccmb Lieutenant Casey comes in the
frSc tha
ings. A little before his arrival Professor
Newconb comes in and asks if we have any
thing that will do for stakes, as he wished to
mark off the ground. Now this was putting
his finger on our poverty. Our wood is
bushes, or twisted, crooked sticks. Our
trees are shade, or fruit trees, that have been
carefully planted and irrigated Reeds or
bRmboos were suggested, but they would not
answer We did not like to be found want
ing, so took hasty look about the place.
Some old broom handles suggested them
selves, but there we're not enough of these
Ahi there is the coney's cageL The Stats
will be just the thing. The dogs had shaken
the poor little coney's life ont of him, SO we
may remove the Stats. Abel, our black boy,
Gall black men are boys here) Is called, and
he soon appears before the professor with
the desired stakes in his hand and, with some
one to act as interpreter, drives them accord
ing TO the professors direction.
had arisen In our garden. There was a trun-
ding of many boxes down our garden walk.
All bore the mark, 'Transit of Venus Com
mission, " and the very appearance of them
seemed to indicate the value and importance
of their contents. Lieutenant Casey, OBJ
serving the sun by day and the stars by night,
drew the meridian line. Then two iron pins
and one half feet apart were
fixed on this line, and it was with little ex-
ultation that we recognized them as the pins
used in the American method of photograph
ing the transit. We had seen Illustrations of
them in Professor Nevcomb's Popular AS
tronomy, and it was like recognizing the face
of one whose picture We had seen. How
careful they were to get them in exact per-
pendicular, and at exactly the right distance
apart. A little village rose as if by magic.
The photograph house, the transit hut, the
for Professor Newcomb's tale-
scope, the framework of which had come
from America. long. roef-like covering
enclosed the space between the two iron pins
and within this the rays of light were to
travel from the polished glass plate to the
phetographing apparatus. Our friends were
very kind in showing and explaining all, and
we rejoiced in every new lesson learned.
There was a futter among the members of
the astronomy class one morning. Profess
sor NeWcomb had sent word that he would
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