Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-23

| day four telescopes were brought to bear
I upon it, the two belonging to Lieutenant
| Casey and Ensign Holcombe, our three inch
/ instrument and another lent for the purpose
by young man in the village. The young
1 ladies' took their turns in counting aloud the
seconds as they watched the ehronometer.
We who were observing the contact would
/ note the times, and then compare, to see how
i nearly we agreed. Sometimes Professor
Newcomb would stand by the artificial tran
sit, noting the exact time there, and then
comparing with him we could see how accu-
rate we had been.
It fell to my lot to observe the actual tran
sit with our three-inch telescope, SO my prac-
tice was largely with that instrument. Our
own lenses were of too low power, but En-
sign Holcombe fitted up the telescope with
higher power lens and with dark glass.
Miss C. was TO observe with our large equa-
torial, which was carefully arranged and ad-
iusted for her. Miss B. took the borrowed
three-inch telescope, and we waited for the
9th of December with eager interest. We
did not think that our observations would be
of much value to science, especially with the
smaller instruments, but it was grand to be
in it, grand to be linked in our small way
with the hundreds of scientists in different
parts of the world who were just eagerly,
as faithfully and as patiently making their
preparations, as we're the astronomical party
who had taken up their station In our garden.
Our American Thanksgiving day came
week before the transit. 1t was pleasure to
gather as many Americans possible to eel
ebrate the home festival. We could not have
our dinner at six, as we had planned, because
our astronomers must be back to their star
gazing as soon as the darkness covered the
earth. Sc at five we gathered company of
twenty mine Americans with few other
friends who considered themselves American
citizens for the time being. We had the ira
ditional turkeys, and some other good things
similar to those that graced the home tables
and we had some things which they had not,
such as fresh vegetables from our garden,
luscious Strawberries Just gathered, apricots
right from the trees, roses and other flowers
from our flower beds We had summer heat,
too, instead of winter cold; white dresses
were in place rather than furs Notwith-
standing some of these un-Thanksgiving ac-
compartments, we were very much in SYM
pathy with your dear people in the home
land, and we felt very American and very pa
triotic. There were after dinner speeches
which stirred all our American blood, the
true Americans and the Americans pro tenn
pore uniting in the praises of our home land,
though one reverend gentleman did sugg gest
that the time was coming when Africa should
be greater than America. The response was
that America would congratulate herself that
she had helped to make Africa great. Pro-
fessor Newcomb expressed his surprise at
finding our little colony of Americans here.
the interests of the transit of Venus that we
had come He was sure their party could
not have found better place for their obser-
vations than the grounds of the Huguenot
seminary, and he you'd recommend that the
transit of 2004 be observed from the same
| spot. Their pins and their meridian line
would be at the service of the party; or if
| the clouds should be unfavorable in 2004 he
would certainly recommend this place for
| 2o12. when the transit would occur in our
| summer time, and certainly more cloudless
skies and clearer atmosphere were to be
| found nowhere.
We had pleasant little service in the even
ing. Our Thanksgiving sermon considered
| the interests and prospects of America as
keenly as if we had been on American soil.
| We could not consider the interests of one
| particular section, but rather of the country
| as whole, thanking the Lord for all the
| good it is bringing to the world and asking
| that it may be kept from the evils that threat
| en- it, and be made country glorious in its
allegiance to the King of Kings.
| The first week in December was a busy
| time with US. Examinations, the transit of
| Venus, the closing exercises of our school
| year with presentation of diplomas, musi-
| cal entertainment and a reception, all came
| into four consecutive days.
We had continually to remind ourselves
| that as there would not be another transit of
Venns before the year 2004,. this was the
|
examination of the astronomy class, heard
| the young ladies' discourse concerning former
| transits; the methods of observation the
| Importance to science what was gained by
the observations of 1874; what is hoped
| from this; the number of parties sent TO
| different parts of the world, ETC., and then
! went to observe the transit itself. Police
| men were guarding the entrances to our gar
| den none but those observing, or these as
| sisting the observers, were allowed within
the charmed precincts. We were about half
an hour before the time. Our telescopes
were in position. 1 seated myself at mine
and turned it toward the sun. It was a very
good mirror, rejecting my hat and the wav-
ing of the trees. but saw no sun. It was
out of focus. Lieutenant Casey quickly put
that right, and had fine view of the king
of day, his light so softened that it was
pleasure to look at him. But chance
breeze, or failure to follow carefully the
motion of the sun, and he was gone, and
how should I find him again Professor
Newcomb came to take q last look at US to
see that all was right, and he showed NE how
to find the sun If It ran away.
At the appointed moment the counting at
the chronometer began. A second assistant
was stationed at the window keeping time
with the first SO that could hear. Miss B.
was on the opposite side of the observatory
and Miss c. within. We could not see one
another, and therefore could not influence
one another's observations. lone, two,
three" regularly and solemnly the beats of
the chronometer were counted Off It is al |
most time. Will Venus really appear true to
time Do the astronomers know? One can |
hardly help such queries fitting through the |
mind. Oh have lost the sun. The wind |
has turned my telescope or my hand was IN
steady. Now must be very cool or I shall |
not find it in time to see the first contact. |
''The sun just visible at the upper edge of
the telescope, the dark spots Illuminated"
NnWe00nf'a
for finding the sun. The slow monotonous
count goes on. Forty-two, forty-three, for |
ty-there-I have the sum- Venus has
notehed the edge-just little indentation. |
I must remember the second-forty-fve.
How beautiful it is. How like the artificial |
transit in size; but this is the real thing |
Now I must make sure of the minute. I
turn to my little assistant who is keeping |
count of them for me. voice beside me |
inquiries, MAY I have" 'Be quiet" is |
my response & must know the minute"
'tJust one question, pleads the voice. How
can one ask questions at such time? How
dared the policeman let her pass is my
thought. But secure my minute; write in
nay note book, s'First contact Las, 45'-a
few seconds behind time" f" and then turn to
at the instant of first contact She thought
it important. The policeman allowed her to
pass because she must speak to me. She (
was sent. Yes, she might have anything in
the seminary, but she must not interrupt |
again.
Now we compare notes. Miss G. the
contact eight seconds before me; that was
when was hunting for the sun, but Miss
B. g time is behind mine Was it because
she had a lower power? Miss c. runs down
to report to Professor Newcomb. We look
through the large telescope and watch the
black ball passing slowly on. 1t bewitches,
fescinates, but must go back to my tele-
scope, for I am determined not to lose the
sun again. The sun is marching exactly be-
hind the limb of an apricot tree; and the
leaves dance before it like dozen transits.
My little helper cannot find the offending
bough, so leave my telescope and with
spring catch and break off the little branch.
It is all right now. Miss O. ellis to me to
look through her telescope to see the beau
tiful appearance caused by the atmosphere
of Venus but L dare not leave my post.
Venus is almost on. Now the outline of the
sun is perfect, forty-two, forty two. My as
sistant notes the time, ~. but keep my
eye on Venus. Now there is q thread of
light outside Venus. Another note, 2 7.4O.
O5,r ia drsraa