Tombstone epitaph., 1892-08-14
THE SPECTROSCOPE.
A New Uso for tho Instrument
 Recently Discovered
1t Can Iieasnrc the Movements of the Stars We'll Their Compost tion-Thc Pecuiiarities of a
 Celestial pemon.

v results obtainable by the use of the spectroscope Sir Robert Ball describes how astronomers have at last got equal with the vagaries of Algol-thc demon star. The peculiarities of this celestial demon arc that for two days and ten hours the star remains of uniform lus- ter, being ranked about the second magnitude; then Q decline of bright ness sets in and the star in few hours parts with three-fift of its bright ness. These changes are visible to the naked eye and have been known for centuries. But nobody knew how to account for them. At last, adds the Pall Mall Budget, Vogel has made the star reveal its mystery:
 Applying the improved spectograph- ic process to Algol, he determined on one night that Algol was retreating at a speed of twcnty-Six miles q second. When he repeated his observations he found that Algol was again moving with the same velocity, but this timo the movement was toward the earth in stead of from it. Now, it is impossible for star to run along Q straight line for certain distance, stop, turn back, again retrace its movement, stop ana again return. Such movement is sim ply forbidden by the laws of motion. But there is no objection to the sup position that Aigol is moving in path which is nearly if not exactly a circle. During the description of one semicir- cle Algol is coming toward us, while during the other scmicirclc 1t is going from us, and thus the observed facts of the movement are conciliated with the laws of motion"
 But the results of the new astronomy in connection with Algol are not ex- hausted yet Such movement as has been above proved admits of no other interpretation1save that there must be another mighty body in the immediate vicinity of Algol.
 We have already seen reason to be- licvc in the possibility of the presence of such companion for the demon star, simply from the fact of its varia- bility. There cannot be any longer q doubt that the mystery has been sol-ed. Algol must be attended by . compan- ion star which, if not absolutely as de- void of intrinsic light Gs the earth or the moon. is nevertheless dark, relative F to Algol. Once in each period of revolution this obscure body intrudcs between the earth and Algol, cutting of portion of the direct light from the s-ar and thus producing the we'll known effect"
 But the new astronomy not only proves the existence of this unseen star: it measures and weighs it us well. Here is an object" says Sir Robert Ball, which i've have never seen and apparently never can expect to see, but yet we have been able to weigh it. to measure it and to determine its move ulents-"
 Not Quite the same-
 Slight mistakes in speaking foreign language, or in understanding it when some one else speaks it, arc commonly nothing moro than amusing, but mem Der of the Alpine club mentions an in stance of a moro serious nature. He was climbing ono of the Alps with guide, who, o,as he says. persisted in talking bad English instead of indifferent French. My guide had just crossed Q snow bridge over . wide crcvaSsc and turned to await me on the farther side. asked him if it was weak; he answered: No strong" Naturally attempted to walk across i. instead of crawling. I had d. most reached the other side when the 1 bridge gave way, and after delirious scramble to save myself Subsidcd help lcssly into the crcvassc. However. I did not go far, and when had crawlcd out with snow down my neck and up my arms and in all my pockets dis covered that my friend meant Not strong" strongly cnjoincd him to re- serve his English hcnccforth for use in the valleys.-Pcarson's Weekly.