McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-04-30
BILL NYE ON THE STARS.
The Ex-Postmaster About to Retire from Sci
entifc Research.

The Ex-Postmaster About to Retire from Sci
entific Research.
There is much in the great field of
astronomy that is discouraging TO the
savant who hasn't the time nor means
to rummage around through the heav-
ems. At times | am almost hopeless,
and feel like saying to the great.
yearDful, hungry world, 'Grope on
forever. DO not ask me for another
scientific fact. Find 1t out yourself
Hunt up your own new-laid planets,
and let me have rest. Never ask ne
again to set up all night and take care
of newborn world while you lie in
bed and reck not
get no salary for examining the
trackless void night after night when
| ought to be in bed | sacrifice nv
health in order that the public may
know, at once, of the presence of a
red-hot comet, fresh from the factory
And yet, what thanks do l get?
1t is surprising that every little
while contemplate withdrawing from
scientific research to 90 and skin an
eight-mule team down through the
dim vista of relentless years?
Then, again, you take certain
style of star, which, you learn from
| Prof. Simon Newcomb, is at such Il
distance that 1t takes $4,000 years for
its light to reach Boston. Now, we
| will suppose that, after looking over
the large stock of new and second
hand stars, anG after examining the
spring catalogue and price-list | de-
old hot IF hc, c;,>
do me and l buy it. Howdo L know
it was there when | bought it? Its
cold and silent rays may have ceased
1000 years before l was born, and
the intelligence be still on the way.
There is too much margin between
sale and delivery. Every now and
then another astronomer comes to me
and says: Professor, | have discover
ed another new star and intend to file
it. Found it last night about a mile
and a half south of the zenith, running
loose. Haven't heard of anybody who
has lost a star of the fifteenth magni-
tude, about thirteen hands high, with
light name and tail. have you?" Now,
how do / know that he has discovered
brand new star? How can | discov-
old thread bore star on me for new
one?
We are told that there has been no
perceptible growth OF decay in the
star business since man began to roam
around through space, in his mind,
and make figures on the barn door
with red chalk showing the celestial
timetable.
No serious accidents have occurred
in the starry heavens since | began to
observe and study their habits. Not
a star has waXed, not Il star has waned
to my knowledge. Not q planet has
season-cracked or shown any of the
injurious effects of our rigorous eli
mate. Not star has ripened prema-
turely or fallen off the trees. The var
nish on the very oldest stars | lind, on
close and critical examination, to be
in splendid condition. They will all,
no doubt, wear as long as we need them,
and wink on long after we have ceased
to wink back.
In 1866 there appeared suddenly in
the northern crown Il star of about
the third magnitude, and worth at
least $3.50. 1t was generally conceded
by astronomers that this was 4 brand |
new star that had never been used,
but upon consulting Argelander' star
catalogue and price list ii was found |
that this was not new star at all, |
but an old, faded out star of the ninth
magnitude, with the front breadthS |
turned wrong side out and trimmed |
with moonlight along the seams.
After n few days of phenomenal |
brightness it gently ceased to draw a
salary as star of the third magnitude. !
ard walked home with an Uncle TOMS |
Cabin company.
1t is such things as this that make |
the life of the astronomer one of con-
slant and discouraging toll. I have !
long contemplated, as | say, the ad-
visibility of retiring from this field of |
science and allowing others to light |
the northern lights, skim the milky |
way and do other celestial chores. | |
would do it myself cheerfuliy if my |
health would permit, but for years L |
have realized, and SO has my wife, |
that my duties as an astronomer kept !
me up too much at night, and my wife |
is certainly right about it when she |
says IL IHSISJ On SCdnIlIuO liic Httth CHS |
night after night, coming home late
with the cork out OF my telescope and |
my eyes red and swollen with these ex-
hausting vigils, will be cut down in
my prime. So am liable to abandon |
the great labor to which | had intended |
to devote my life, my dazzling genius
and my princely income. l hope that
other sayants will spare me the pam of |
another refusal, for my mind IS fully |
made up that, unless another skim
mist is at once secured, the milky way
will henceforth remain unskum.-
Boston Globe.
Going to War III a Pullman.