Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-06-03
FAIR LUNA.

FAIR LUNA.
Extracts from q Lecture on the Moon by
Prof. Pritchett, of Washington Uniysr.
| sity.
In very suggestive manner the pro-
lessor described the nebular hypothesis,
stating that the sun was the center OF
grand system of planets that had been
thrown off from it as molten masses,
and that the moon had been thrown off
as such mass by the earth millions OF
years ago. This portion of his lecture
he illustrated in graphic manner by
showing how the different nebula APP
peared in the heavens, adding that the
nebula in which the constellation OF
Orion was located was the most extern
sive. The moon, no doubt, was the
daughter of the earth, but she had
grown gray and wrinkled. For all
ages the moon had occupied place in
religion and literature and more es-
! pecially in the primitive ages. To-day
we find the return of religious days,
| such as Easter, were determined by
the movement of the moon. Some
farmers, even at the present day, could
not be prevailed upon to plant pota-
toes in the light of the moon. They
simply followed an old superstition
that was unworthy of credence. It
had been ascertained that the moon
had no effect whatever upon the
weather. This planet was one of the
smallest masses visible in space, it
being only 100000 miles away from
the earth with diameter of only
2,160 miles. All the light we received
from the moou was reflected light from
the sun.
After illustrating the phenomena of
clipses, he described the crater form
ations of the moon, showing they were
the result of volcanic actions millions
of years ago. He compared these era
tiers with craters of Vesuvius and at
other points on the surface of the earth
showing they were very similar in APP
pearance. In all ages it was known
that the moon had an effect upon the
tides, the phenomena being due to the
force of attraction. The tides sweep
ing around the earth in waves from
three to five feet high, twice a day,
produced friction that was bound to
produce an effect in some way. These
tides had an effect upon the earth's
motion on its own axis; it reduced the
velocity of the earth's rotary motion
and acted as a friction brake. AS such
friction brakes the days were being
heightened, as the motion of the earth
on its own axis was being decreased in
velocity. The day might be heightened
only couple of seconds in century, yet
the change was taking place neverthe-
less. 1t was believed among astrono-
mers that the moon once had water and
an atmosphere, as was indicated by the
evidences of volcanic action upon its
surface. The tides of the moon in the
remote past must have been affected in
a very powerful manner by the earth.
They also acted as friction brake,
finally reducing its motion on its own
axis to such an extent that it makes a
revolution once in twenty-nine days.
She also made a revolution around the
earth in that time. While very young
the earth probably made revolution
on her own axis once in three or five
hours instead of once in twenty-fOur
hours, as at the present time. Many
people displayed great ignorance when
they went into an observatory by ask
ing about the magnifying power of a
telescope, not knowing that that power
was changed whenever the eye piece Of
the instrument was changed. There
was no such thing as twilight on the
moon, as there was no atmosphere there.
In some places her chasms were ten
miles deep and fifty miles wide. EX-
cellent maps of the moon had been pre-
pared by astronomers. People had bet
ter Typographical maps of the moon
than they had of the State of Missouri.
There being no atmosphere on the
moon, stars could be seen from its sur
face in daytime as well as at night.
Owing to the small force of gravity as
compared with that of the earth, one of
our laborers, capable of carrying sack
of flour, could carry six sacks on the
moon. A baseball player who could
throw base ball one hundred yards on
the earth would be able to throw the
same ball six hundred yards on the
moon, and he might succeed in knock
ing the ball half mile on the latter
planet. People had specialized in all
ages as to whether the moon was in
habited. Whatever might have been the
power of the moon in the past to sup
port life. it was certain she could not
support animal life at the present time,
as she had no atmosphere and no wa
ter.--St. Louis Republican,
'Do YOU know what time it is!' asked a |
passenger on the elevated road of the |
stranger at his side. Yes" replied the |
other, after glancing at his watch. And he
resumed his paper It'd Bits.
THE worm must be contagious or the |
eacly bird would not catch it.-Chicdyo /
Ledger.
SICK infants on railroad cars remind us
of the tower of babe L. Whitehall Times.
If you want to keep from spending your