Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-07-30
Bethlehen,'s Star.

Judging from the predictions OF emil
nent astronomers, the denizens on this
mundane sphere will have a chance be-
fore this year ends to witness a lovely and
a rare sight in the heavens.
The beautiful and brilliant star of the
east, that guided the Biblical three wise
men to the lowly stable in Bethlehem
where Christ was born, will reappear for
the seventh time since the birth of the
Saviour of the world.
The appearance of this historical and
sacred star is an event that will be hailed
with the greatest interest by the people
of the earth wherever the beautiful sto-
ries and legends of the Christ-child are
heard
Aside from the general interest taken
in this rare astronomical occurrence, the
readers of General Lew Wallace's famous
story "Ben-Hur," will be specially inter-
ested. That novelist's powerful descrip-
ton of this star, though purely imagina-
tive, is not in the least exaggerated, If
what history says is to be taken for truth.
According to the latest astronomical
calculations, this most brilliant and daz-
zling of the suns satellites will appear
sometime in the latter part of August, in
the constellation Of Cassiopeia.
This constellation is situated on the ce-
lestial map 26 degrees north of the con-
stellation of Andromeda and midway be.
tween it and the Polar star. Its mean
declination is GO degrees north and its
right ascension is Il degrees 1t is a
beautiful constellation, and it contains
ffty-fve stars that are visible to the naked
eye. Among these will appear the star
of the east.
1t is undoubtedly the brightest star
that has ever adorned the armament.
Astronomers declare that its glorious ra-
dance out-rivals Venus, even when that
star shines in its fullest splendor. SO
beautiful and brilliant is this Star of
Bethlehem, that it resembles the distant
sun. 1t is encircled with a golden light
and it will present vision of glittering
beauty that will not be soon forgotten by
those who will be fortunate enough to
witness it.
According to Leonwitz, an old Bohe-
mian astrologer, this star has appeared at
regular intervals covering period OF
about three centuries. 1t blazed forth in
all its splendor in 945. Not until 1864,
319 years afterward, did it put in an ap-
pearance in the heavens again.
The last time it appeared was in 1872.
Tycho Brahe, the illustrious Danish as
trologer, owes his fame to the last appear
ance of the star. To him belongs the
glory of having first observed it in that
age, though according to an old Danish
story he is not the first one who had found
the star.
According to this old story, of the dis
coIvery of the star of the east, Tycho, af-
ter scanning the heavens all night for the
star, left his observatory the next morn
ing in disgust. While strolling along his
attention was attracted by rustic little
boy who had stopped playing to gaze at
some strange phenomenon in the sky
The little chap pointed out to the famous
astronomer what afterward proved to be
the glorious Star of Magi. So brightly
did it shine that it was plainly visible in
daylight. At night so dazzling was this
star that its flaming glory outshone all
the stars of the first magnitude. 1t was
observed with the naked eye and lasted
for a period of seventeen months.
Its color during this time exhibited all
the phenomena of prodigious flame.
First it was of dazzling and flashing
white, then of reddish gold or yellow,
and finally of an ashy paleness in which
its light expired.
Toward the end of the sixteenth month
it lost its beautiful lustre and grew dim
until it faded away like some lovely
dream. Everybody regretted the disap-
pearance of what seemed to be a good
omen. Mothers who were fortunate enough
to have children born unto them while
this star lasted felt certain that their little
ones contained spark of genius that
would one day blaze forth and illumine
the world. They regarded the star as a
God-given sign.
1t is this same wonder that is expected
to appear in the heavens next August.