The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-02-05
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
Prospects of It's temperance in tn
Near Future.

Prospects of It's temperance in the
Near Future.
There have appeared from time to time
within the past few years notices of the ex-
pected temperance of the ''Star of Bethle-
hem" in the constellation Cassiopeia, with
dark surmises as to the ominous results to the
world and to humanity which its coming is to
foreshadow. AS an instance of the kind of
speculation in which some minds delight, the
following may be quoted:
"In 1887 the Star of Bethlehem will be
once more seen in 'Cass!opeia's chair and it
will be accompanied by total eclipse of the
sun and moon. This star only makes its APP
pearance every 3I5 years. 1t will appear and
illumine the heavens and excel in brilliancy
even Jupiter when in opposition to the sun,
and, therefore, nearer to the earth and
brightest The marvellous brilliancy of the
Star of Bethlehem in 1887 will surpass any
of the previous visitations. 1t will be seen
even at MONDAY, shining with a quick, fash
ing light the entire year, after which it will
gradually decrease in brightness and finally
disappear, not to return to our heavens till the
year 22o2, or 3I5 years from 1887. This star
first attracted the attention of modern astron-
omers in the year 1872. 1t was then called a
new star. 1t was no new star, however, for
this was the star that shone so brightly d B.
c., and was the star that illumined the
heavens at the nativity Of Christ. 1t has
REAPPEARED EVERY 3I5 YEARS
since, and every educated astrologer is GER
tain that it will appear in August, 1887. The
appearance of the star, accompanied as il
will be by solar and lunar eclipses, together
with the baleful influence that follows the
positions that Mars and Saturn will occupy,
will cause universal war and potentous
floods and fearful shipwrecks. North Amer
lea will be involved in civil strife, and a
reign of terror will prevail in the Atlantic
States, unless Napoleon arises to quell it.
There will be war of classes-the rich will
array themselves against the poor, and vice
versa everywhere"
Whoever will cast his eye upward O'Clock
on a clear evening will perceive the constella-
ton Cassiopeia, lying in the milky way,
nearly overhead, little in the north of the
zenith. 1t is this constellation, according to
the prophet above quoted, that the messenger
of dread is to appear. There are five bright
stars in it, forming, with one or two fainter ones,
the figure of an inverted chair. The chair is
not difficult to discover, and no doubt those
gifted with powerful Imagination can sue
coed in seeing the lady who is supposed to be
sitting in it.
The last appearance of the Star of Bethle-
hem has been best described by Tycho Brahe,
the Danish astronomer. On the night of the
nth of November, 1872, Tycho's attention
was drawn to
ABRILLIANT AND UNKNOWN STAR
in the constellation Cassiopeia. The fol-
lowing is his own statement in regard to it:
"When | quilted Germany to return to
the Danish coasts stopped in the ancient
cloiSter, admirably situated, of Herritzwaldt,
belonging to my uncle, Stentoa Billie, and |
became accustomed there to remain in my
chemical labratory till the fall of night. One
evening as was surveying as usual, the &C.
lestial vault, the aspect of which is SO familiar
to me, saw with indescribable establishment
near the zenith in Cassiopeia a radient star
of extraordinary size. Struck with surprise,
could scarcely believe my eyes. To con-
vince myself that there was no illusion and to
gather the testimony of other persons, I had
the workmen come out who were occupied in
my laboratory, and asked them, as well as
all the passers by, if they saw like me the star
which had just suddenly appeared.
learned later that in Germany some wagoners
and others of the common people had APP
prised the astronomers of great apparition in
the sky, which had furnished occasion to re-
new the railleries against learned men, as in
the case of comets, whose coming had not
been foreseen."
This is the great astronomers account of
the apparition. Tycho Brahe considered the
advent of this star of importance enough to
write a book specially on the subject. The
star received the name of the Pilgrim, but it
has also been called the Star of Bethlehem.
This star outshone all the stars in the sky, in
Guiding Jupiter, which was then at its bright
est. 1t continued to shine during the rest Of
the month with
A LUSTRE so GREAT
as to be visible to some persons in the day
time. When first seen the star shone with
brilliant white light, which in time assumed
yelIowish hue; afterward it displayed ruddy
appearance like Mars or Aldebaran, and at
last became leaden-colored, like Saturn.
After November its lustre began TO diminish,