Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1885-05-15
Bill Nye On the Stars.

There is much in the great field Of
that is discouraging to the
savant who hasu't the time nor the
means to rummage around through the
heavens. At times am almost hope
less, and feel like saying to the great,
yearntal, hungry world: ''Grope ON for
ever. Do not ask me ter another scien-
tife fact. Find it out yourself. Hunt
up your own new.laid planets, and let
me have rest. Never ask me again to |
sit up all night and take care of new
born world, while you lie in bed and |
reck not"
| get no salary for examining the track
less void night after night whom l
ought to be in bed. I sacrifice
my health in order that the public may
know at once of the presence ef red
hot comet fresh from the factory. And
yet, what thanks do get?
Is it surprising that every little while
l contemplate withdrawing from scien-
tifc research to 60 and skin an eight.
mule team down through the dim vista
of relentless years:
Then, again, you take certain kind
OF star, which, you learn from Prof Si-
mon Nswcomb, is at such distance
that it takes $4,000 years fer its light
to reach Boston. New, we will sup
pose that, after looking over the large
stock of new and second -hana stars, and
after examining the spring catalogue and
price list, decide that one Of the small
Ter size will dc me, and l buy it. How
do | know it was there when l bought
it? Its cold and silent rays may have
ceased $4,000 years before | was born,
and the intelligence be still on the way.
There is toe much Inarginsbetween sale
and delivery. Every now and then
another astronomer comes to me and
says: Professor, l have discovered
another new star, and intend to file it.
Found it last night about mile and q
half south Of the zenith, running loose
Haven't heard Of anybody who has los
star of the fifteenth magnitude, about
thirteen hands high, with light mane
and tail, have yeu?" Now, how do
know that he discovered brand new
star? How can 1 discover whether he il
or is not playing an old threadbare sta
on me for new one?
! We are told that there has been. NJ
pereeptible growth or decay in the sta
business since man began to roam
around through space, in his mind, ant
make figures on the barn-door with rei
chalk showing the celestial time table
No serious accidents have occurred il
the starry heavens since I began t.
observe and study their habits. Not
star has wazed, not star has waned, t.
my knowledge. Not planet ha
season cracked or shown any Of tn
injurious effects ef our rigorous climate
Not star has ripened prematurely o
) fallen off the trees. The varnish O
the very Oldest stars find, on close an
critical examination, to be in splendi
condition. They will all, No doubt
wear as long as we need them, and win
on long after we have ceased to win
back.
. In 1866 there appeared suddenly
~ the northern Gro Hn star of about I'll
- third magnitude, Gnd worth at lea
$3.50. 1t was generally conceded l
astronomers that this was brand ne
" star that had never been used; bu
upon consulting Argelander's star ca
alog and price.lis it was found that tn
was not new star at all, but an oil
: faded-out star of the ninth magnitud
:, with the front breadths turned wrel
- side out, and trimmed with noonlig
p along the seams.
10 After few days 81 phenomen
. brightness it gently ceased to draw
salary as star of the third magnitud
- and walked home with an "Uncle Ton
!. Cabin" company.
~ 1t is such things as this that max
n the life of the astronomer one of consta
al and discouraging toll. l have long &C
r.. templated, as | say, the advisability
Al. retiring. from this field of science a
r.. allowing others to light the nsrthe
as lights, skim the milky way, and
,th aalnofinl 7 xuo,,l1 40
ue myself cheerfully If my health wor
&C. permit, but fer years have realize
.st and SO has my wife, that my duties
70, an astronomer kept me up too much
ed night; and my wife is certainly rle
ue about 1t when she says if insist
he scanning the heavens night after mig
o. coming home late with the cork out
ur my telescope and my eyes red a
all swollen with these exhaustipg vigils
g. will be cut down in my prime. So
he liable to abandon the great labor
which had intended to devote my Ii
my dazzling genius, and my prime
Ion income. hope that other savaRts y
1t spare me the pain of another refus
nat for my mind is fully made up that,
i've less another skimmist is at once secur
a the milkey way will henceferth rem
Sir unskum.
the
lal.
.ho We understand that recently
- order WAS received in Union couI