Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-11-24

Gays ago and is now growing larger and
larger night by night, has excited the
astronomical world TO an unprecedented
kxtent, because of the mystery surround
ing its appearance and the results which
hre likely TO follow its approach to the
earth When the comet was first seen by
Holmes, on No.. 6, it was q mere speck,
but its appearance il the part of the
heavens where it was found was so unex-
pected and startling that the news was
tolegraphed TO astronomers in all the lead
Ing observatories OF this country and
Europe. Professor Berberich, at the Ber-
lin observatory, was one of the first to de-
vote his entire time to the study Of the
new comet ~ soon rs its pos ton in the
heavens was known. After careful eX-
animation Professor Berbcrch took up
the Astronomical statistical tables, which
are supposed TO explain the movements Of
ali the heavenly bodies, but could not
there find anything which would explain
the appearance of the comet at this
Tins.
1t was, in fact one of those things which
occur from time to time that 30 to prove
that astronomy is by no means an exact
and wrought-out science that nature does
not always harmoni2e with statistics and
that principles of scientific observation
have constantly to be made over to fit new
conditions. Accordingly, from the very
outset the new Gomez was surrounded by
doubt and an element of the mysteries.
fhere WIS illmitabie room for speculation
as TO !tH origin and destiny Onc thing.
however, was quickly discovered. rs the
new comet was observed from night 10
night in Berlin and elsewhere, 1t Was seen
that the monster was approaching the
earth at incredible speed, Every night the
Astronomers looked at it it had increas ID
Vi size frola tbs previous evening, and,
while at the tune o. its discovery it could
only he seen thrcuCh the very largest tele-
scopes, it is now visible through glass OF
fery SIN IL naEnlfvln% power IhS m
grease bn, taken place during period OF
about teA daN~, and the comet n"U only
Growd Constantly Larger
from night 20 night, but it does so in
constantly iu,.lpl.ins- ratio. which will in
A very short time make il the most CON
t,iciou. ohier, in the heavens.
Unable to 80 ,cllca!ly identify the comet
A. one previously observed and to be cX-
sectod at this lime. Professor Berhcrich re-
sorted to the law of probabilities to cx-
Lain its apBp9ranCp. Alter much calcutta
(ou the oniy explanation he could hit
upon to account for the strangers pres
ence was that it was the famous comet of
Bicla. whose d;sa3nedrauce. after they
drought they knew ali about H.. has long
uiystifed astronomers. for durn.its brirt
career j, wa~ rh. most astonishing object
they had eve p o';cd up,a.
Sta!tlIn. 49,, >,aetni, theory of proc.~,,r
Be1brrich. IL ..a~ c,n,t1 ur COMMONLY at..
rcptcl hy OF cniuru: astronomers. In
6etl a. ..c.n.inai observers WORKING indie
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'"''' ~ WIS P''"'"'f ''''l''0'' VAN D''''
comet.
foi eS~ ~ ii'-S' lf"n what ne mas seen
81 IT, l. uheN'N' convinced that jnerr Is
Hke'y IT, DC very Close "PproacH beiWetA
enc comet ana IN" ca''E' ahi ne mentions
tEc -NiL 1i lH!- month "a the u1tc WurI