Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-02

equator and ecliptic. The celesuei pole
and shc terrestrial one point in the same
direction, and the sun sends his be-
nignAnt rays with undertaking impartial.
~ over that portion Of the celestial
sphere extending from pole to pole.
Equal day and night mark this
point OF the eafth's revolution.
The sun rises to tho south pole
after It's six months night apd sets
to the north pole after its six-months
day. The astronomical autumn COM
mences, therefore, under tho happiest
auspices. at the moment when the sun
enters the sign OF Libra, but the cordl-
lions quickly change. In moment
almost in the twinkIing of an eye--the
sun crosses the equator, the scales are no
longer evenly balanced. the great circles
are no longer intertwined. The sun 10
in southern declination, tho night Is
longer than the day. The sun will
travel southwark, the days grow shorter
until the advent OF the winter solstice on
December 2lst
No season Of the year is moro en-
ioyable than the one that is ushered IN
by the autumnal equinox. Even the
departing sun ssnd lessening daylight
throw a glamour over the swiftly pass
ing DAYS. An indefnable charm sur
round them that belong TO no other por-
ton of the year. The cool mornings and
evenings. the sunny Moons, the bracing
atmosphere, the dreamy beauty lingering
over the landscape, the breath OF sum
mer in the golden haze invite to the
healthful enjoyments Of outdoor life, to
rAmbles in the woods, drives in the
country, and everything bright and
pleasant in the domain where the beauty
of nature is free as air. Departing sum
mer has laid her garnered treasures al
the feet OF her successor. Autumn SITS
enthroned with the royal gifts around
her, ripened fruits. flowers Of gorgeous
hues. grains ready to be harvested, and
sll the untold treasure won from the
bosom of mother earth. The days pass
too quickly. Their evanescent glory IS
beautiful as dream, and soon will pass
into dream again.
SEPrEsBER is rich in curious and IN
teresting events TO commend 1t to the
lover OF the stars. The constellation
Scorpio is brilliant on the records for,
wandering in its bright domain, the
planets Jupiter and Mars approach, meet
and recede from each other, while ITS
two principal stars, Beta Scorpii and An
tsree. are in the vicinity of the passing
planets. The constellation Virgo claims
possession OF three planets during
the month. Mercury overtakes and
passes Venus aud meets Uranus, while
Venus, in her turn, encounters Uranus,
the three coniunctions occurring In the
short period OF seventeen hours. The
meetings and paintings take place within
the boundaries of Virgo, Mercury clos
ing the record by near approach to
Spica, its leading brilliant 1t is seldom
that eight conjunctions of planets and
stars find place on the annals of single
month. September also holds within Its
gift the Harvest Moon, when on the eve
ming of the Goth, and the three or four
succeeding evenings, the moon rises on
each evening with only an average diff
ference of twenty-siX minutes. Then, II
the clouds are kind, the moon will be
seen in the east as soon as the sun DIS
appears in the west, and the serene Sep
tember nights will be full of beauty.
The husbandmen of old believed that the
so called Harvest Moon was due to a
Divine interposition to prolong the day
and aid them in gathering in the harvest.
Science shows that the phenomenon is
the result Of natural law. The name so
devoutly given is, however, still lovingly
cherished, and as long as the solar sys-
TEN preserves its present relations the
return of the Harvest Moon will each
year commemorate the simple faith of
the first observers of this crowning
beauty Of September nights.