The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-24
THE NEW LENS.
The Wonders of the Heavens Re-
vealed Through the Telescope.

vealed Through the Telescope.
When 1 consider thy heavens. the work OF thy
fingers, the moon and the stars when lhoa naot ~
ordained, what is man, that thou art mlhdiul oi
him
Man knows no. the possibilities OF the
telescope; but by his close observations and
attentive research, investigations and
natural aptitude for invention, he avalls
himself of the power which is daily pro-
ducing marvellous results. The Greclan
philosopher and astronomer Thales VINO
was born between six and seven hundred
years before the Christian era, and VINO
was the leader among the seven great phllo-
sophers of that time, little knew how his
awkward and primitive modes of study and
investigation would be succeeded by dis
coyerieS and instruments of discovery,
which might startle the world, had these
important results been more rapid. so
many wonderful results have originated
from the careful observation and study OF
small things that even in this advanced ana
truly wonderful age, we should never pass
over inattentively the most trifiing thing
that tends to the higher and grandeSt eleya-
ton of science.
Franklin with the aid of a boys toy drew
from the clouds that strange element when
has since become one of mans most Obed ent
slaves The discoveries of Newton and
Huyghens and the theories advanced BY
them in the discovery OF the luminous parti-
cles which produce light, the blacken-
ing of silver by the suns rays which led TO
the discovery of the chemical agency oil
light the ny SteriouS productions OF all ma
ture through the agency of heavenly bodies
and influences, might we'll create in us the
desire and determination to come III closer
contact with those marvellous wonders OF
space, and thereby aid in the continual de-
yelopment of q knowledge that has done so
much toward and which VIII eventually
bring us iuto communion with that wisdom
and power which is the source of all truth
and happiness. In this critical age man Is
not satisfied with questionable science; he
demands and receives dtmOuSuratye science,
and by these demonstrations lie Is slowly
yet surely aiding in the destruction OF those
evils which are the result of ignorance ana
superstition. The abuses Of nature result
from the lack of knowledge, not II ON Inc
Possession OF il, and as man becomes wiser
from the possession of the knowledge to be
derived from the influences of all heavenly
bodies upon etrthly forms and substances,
SO will he become better man III all the re-
Iations OF life.
BY the aid of that wonderful structure,
the telescope of the human body the eye
we are enabled to discover and read the
character Of that most wonderful OF all
cTeatIon-man. We are enabled through
its agency to penetrate, to describe and eX-
pose that mysterious quality that cannot be
seen or touched, but which nevertheless eX-
ISIS. 1t is SO fine, intangible, impaipable,
ry, that it occupies no space, anu yet nils
the whole world. God in his great wisdom
furnished us with an ever-ready instrument
by which we could detect these qualities in
our race, which makes man often the great
enemy Of man, and leaves 1t Tor US to DIS
cover and furnish, after thousands OF years
of patient, anxious study and disappolnt-
ments, he simple instrument which was TO
assist his creatlon-the eye-ln discovering
the agencies which endnw us with all the
blessings and benefits Of this life. And
Slowly, and through suitable mediums, as
he finds US able to comprehend the wonders
of his throne. will lie reveal greater Won
ders to us. The formation OF massive tenn
pies and the establishing of truth is always
the work of ages. We should rel ice that
there are still vast fields Of discovery yet 10
be explored, and that those inspiring ele-
ments III nature, the sun, moon, stars and
the planets, possess still grander mysteries
which We shall yet behold.
AStrOlogy, or magic as 1t was called in the
middle ages. became the parent of modern
astronomy. 1t was used by the wise men
or philosuphers- of that time TO foreteu
future events by the positions and aspects
of the stars, aud we all know that the
against the ignorant masses with disastrous
results. To-day, its use is for the purpose
of distributing only the noblest thoughts,
and creating the grandest results
In the Il packing of the glass 10 be used
in the construction of the great telescope
for the University of Southern California,
at Cambridge, Massachusetts,. one can realize
| with what tender feeling this magnificent
lens was uncovered. Those WHO were
present ''fondled it as though raising child
! from its cradle" And well they might.
| Until placed in its position, and furnished
with all the requisites necessary to produce
| the grand results prOphesied Tor 1t, ii must
| pass through as many trying and critical
tests, as the child dues before reaching man
| hood. Aud then the result! How anxious
| we shall al be for its success. Space will
| not permit of mentioning or describing the
many kinds of telescopes which from time
! to time have been presented 10 the scientific
| world to assist students and lovers Of as
| trOuOmy to pursue their investigations and
| studies. All such are familiar with the pro-
| gress aud results, and they are among the
many thousands who will watch with in
| terest the workings of this lens, which
| promises for them so much.
1t is claimed that this glass will make the
| moon, whose orbit is 100000 miles from the
earth, and which is the nearest of tie
| heavenly bodies to the earth, " look as II 1t
| were only 100 miles sway; and if there are
any cities or large buildings on its surface
their presence vii, be revealed" And it
will also settle the question as to the at
tempt Of the inhabitants of the planet Mars
to communicate to the people Of the earth
| by the use of signals"
Outside of our own orbit Mars is our
nearest neighbor. When on the same side
| OF the sun as the earth it is "a, 600, COO of
miles from us, but when it swings to the
opposite side of its orbit is about 26l, 900, 900
Of miles from US. That is why il is so much
brighter and apparently larger at one time
| than another. 1t completes Its revolution in
| 6S7 Of our days, or nearly two of our years.
| Astronomers have made accurate and in
teresting maps of Mars as seen through the
| telescope, showing its oceans, rivers noun
| tains and plains. And shall we see its in
habitants? And, seeing them, how shall we
| salute them? S. j. MITCHELL.
Alameda. Sent 81 1892