Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-12-25
HIS NATAL STAR.
Why a Scientists" Sanity Was
Called in Question.

My name is Jules Bertrand. l have
lived in Paris all my life. tits the first
time that l have ever been in conflict
with the pUlice-the first time | have
ever been arrested. AS my sanity has
been called in question. and you, Mons.
Barbierre, justly distinguished as an
advocate, have kindly undertaken to
defend me. | send you this truthful his
tory of the circumstances which have
led to my being thus incarcerated in the
insane cells of La Mazas.
have purposely applied TO you to
conduct my defense, as you are not alone
learned in the law; but have spent, like
myself, whole nights in studying the
complex systems of the stars, which but
yesterday were under my feet, and to-
night, as write this in my gloomy cell,
shine so brightly overhead.
Perhaps you may have never noticed a
small star of about the thirtieth magni-
tude, which on very clear nights with
a powerful telescope may be discovered
almost midway between the constella-
tions of the Pleiades and Ursa jor.
1t is the com parauively insignificant star
called Perigo. 1t has a Portuguese
name, an ominous one, signifying
peril" hazard" Jeopardy" 1t is
my natal star. Born under its direful
influence, l have been subjected to it
ever since. My father, who was as you
know a celebrated astronomer, has cal
culated that its orbit is so vast that it
takes it nearly fifty years to complete
it His last words to me were: Be
ware of Perigo when in perihelion. 1t
will then possess its greatest power over
you for evil. What effect it may have
upon you at that time it is impossible
to surmise; something, however. tells
me that it will materially change not
only your mental but your physical be-
ing"
That warming was uttered fifteen
wears ago. 1 have never forgotten it.
Pursuing, like my father. the study of
astronomy, l was enabled to watch
through the long nights the steady,
irresistible approach OF that fateful
star, which was to have such an in
fuence upon my destiny.
You are well aware how have strug-
gled against it Sometimes l have
dreaded that it would tempo me to the
commission of some dreadful crime.
Dwelling on this, what wonder if my
mind should have assumed morbid
cast. But / am not insane.
/ could confide In no one. You, the
successful advocate and | the obscure
astronomer, had not then been linked
in the bonds of friendship through our
simultaneous discovery OF new planet
NV wife's relatives, ever on the watch
to secure some preteXt for her separa-
ton from a man who brought her but
little fortune, I could not trust Even
from nv wife herself | concealed
my growing. appalling apprehensions.
1T is perilous to confide secret TO
woman.
Two weeks ago / insensibly became
aware of the near approach of my natal
star TO that great center of the solar
system which ordinary men call the
sun. but which to US is merely one of
nany planets around which systems of
far greater immensely than ours re-
voIye. 1t was then that | set myself to
a calculation of the exact time when, in !
with the memorable laws of
nature, the star Perigo would attain its |
perihelion with the sun of our system. /
A lengthy series ofcalculations had as !
sured me of the fact that at or about /
midnight OF the 18th of October, ferlgo |
would be in the zenith.
A prey TO the profoundest apprehen- /
sions. | at ten o'clock that night babe /
nv wife goodnight, and, STOPPING over |
the cradle of our youngest born, i'm
printed upon its forehead what L
thought might be perhaps my farewell
kiss. l then shut myself in my study, /
closed the door tightly and sat down to
wait unaided and alone, the coming OF
the fateful moment
To divert my mind as much as posi-
BILE from thoughts of the impending dis
aster which | felt certain was about to
me. 1 plunged at once into
the solution of a problem, which had al
ready caused me many sleepless nights.
While thus engaged, overcome with IA
ticue of watching, / sank into pro-