Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-18
TIE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.


Erratic MoYemeuts OF Great Celestial
Bodies.
The star called the Pilgrim, says COR
respondent Of the Hartford Tunes, we
were not so fortunate as to see; and, from
so little being published about it, we
Judge that many others We're either in
like ignorance or careiessness aOout 1t,
But if, what history relates concerning
certain periodical stars Of great splend0r,
be correct, there was no carelessness. if
ignorance; neither will there be at its
expected retarn, about 1891. There does
not appear to be any name given to this
star, which appeared in the dark and dim
past, A. d. 81 in or near CassiOpeia.
Another appeared in the same region in
1904 Bat 50 benighted was that age Of
the world, that very little has
en- preserved concerning their eX-
act date or OF their size and APP
pearauce. But in 1872 another appeared
TN the Same region IN the early part OF
November, ana was observed by the cele-
brated iycAo Brake and others. This
VAS SO remarkable that il determined
that gentleman to become am astronomer.
II. also wrote "a treatise upon this star.
1t is described 10y some as larger than
Venus at it's bright ST. it retained lis
size ard spleEdOr, dazzling Whiteness,
with a biueish cast, for a few weeks, then
gradually diminished in lustre and sic,
and being circUmpOlar it was followed
TIL it was no larxer than q star OF the
sixth or seventh magnitude; then it dis
appeared. ii had been in sight for about
IL months.
This wonderful star naturally started q
serious train of thought in the minds of
the thinking men of That age. This i'm
mense star for, az it has no paralaX, it
must nave been immensely distant seems
To have appeared suddenly, as if it had
recently become lenited. 1t may have
done 81, and thus become an example OF
what is predicted for our own earth.
But if this was a world gradually con-
Stunning il cannot return to us in it's OrIgi-
nal spendor in 1891. But If it was as
gradually approaching enough upper
eeiyed through tavOring c2us S as it re-
ceded we yet may be favored with the
sight. These periods, though varying a
little. are something more than 800 years.
But could this, through the hindrance OF
clouds and twilight, have escaped their
view till 1t was upon them with all its
splendOr? II is not absolutely ImpOssl-
bic. We have not forgotten how q
large comet bounced upon us early one
morning a few years since. But this an
Gent star was not thought to be comet;
1t seemed to keep its position among the
starry worlds. II it was neither burn
ing world, with all its vast accumulation
of cOmbustible gases in the higher regions
OF its atmosphere, combined with It's de-
COMPOSED waters, nor yet a comet, what
was it? Some have thought that it was a
vast sun, with very elliptical orbit, and
that that orbit lay along our line OF vision.
1t is possible that if they had possessed
instruments, as we do now, they would
have discovered motion enough in IL
months, or rather in 80 months, counting
it's visible approach, to justify such the
DRY.
if this is one and the same star with
the present one, its time of leturn varies
little. Its first recorded period IS 3l9
years; its next, sos years. Ii It's next was
the same as last, it should have been
here in 1880. But if it should return in
the time of its first observed period, 1t
would be in 1891. But if it varies, it is
liable TO appear at any time now, in or
near CassiOpela History mentions other
sO-called new stars; one in A. ID. $50,
another in A. d. 3S9, near Affair. Il con-
tinued in splendOr equal to Venus Tor
three weeks, and afterwards entirely DIS
appeared. In view of all these cases, II
seems as though the combustion theory
should not be disregarded, as these are
spoken of as appearing suddenly. The
fact that the one discovered in November,
1872, had not become less than Jupiter IN
apparent size within three months time
while vet it was circumpolar, is against
the idea of its gradual a proach undis
covered.
On this subject the late Prof. Vince
one OF the most learned astronomers OF the
age, has the following remark:
The disappearance Of some stars may
be the destruction of that system al tht
time appointed by the Deity for the prOba
ton OF its inhabitants; and the appear
ance of new stars may be for the lorma
/ ton of new systems for new races OF be
/ ings then called into existence to adore
/ the works of their creator"
! DIR. Mason Good seemed to have abou
| the same opinions. In the course OF hi
remarks he says: "lt is an extraordinary
/ fact that within the period of the las
! century not less than thirteen stars, il
/ different consultations, seem TO have
/ totally persisted; and ten new ones haY,
/ been created" And still farther: "Wha
has betallen other systems will surel.
| befall our own.'