Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-17
ROMANCE OF ASTRONOMY
keV. Walter Laidlaw's Enter
tanning Lecture at Thistle's
Opera House
Entertainment for the Benefit
OF the Children's Home
League
A Visit to the Brobdingnags of
OF Ceres and Lilliputs of
Jupiter

Rev Walter Laidlaw, of Troy, NY,
the brilliant young Presbyterian ciergy-
man, arrived in Fairhaven Sunday
afternoon via the Canadian Pacific
railroad. Mr.. Laidlaw is on his way
10 Portland to attend the general as-
sembly Of the Presbyterian church.
which convenes Thursday, and stop-
ped Off in this citya II few days to visit
his mother, Mrs. j. =. Smith. He ex-
poets to start for Portland tomorrow.
AT the close of the session of the general
assembly, which will occupy about two
weeks, he will return to this city and
remain several DAYS.
On Sunday evening he occupied the
pulpit of the First Presbyterian church.
preaching an able sermon 10 large
ana attentive audience. Last evening
he delivered his lecture on the Romance
OF Astronomy To good audience at
Ihistle's opera house for the benefit of
the Children's Home League. The
lecture was preceded by musicale.
opened by two well-rendered solos by
Mr. laidlaw, accompanied by Mr..
Hoehig at the piano. A mi xed quar-
tette composed Of Mira. j. X. Wylie.
Mrs. clifford, Mr.. John Black and Mr..
Hoenlg sung Sweet and Low" and
Mrs Clifford closed this portion Of the
entertainment with the rendition OF
the solo Happy Birds"
KeV. lIaidlaw was then introduced
by Mr.. ii. Y. Thompson. He prefaeed
his lecture with talk outlining the
growth Of charities aud institutions for
the protection of children. He is presi-
dent Of society for the prevention OF
10 children In Troy, and told
oi the work that IL being done by that
ana kiddred humane organizations for
the defense Of children throughout the
East. His subject, "The Romance of
Astronomy" faithfully epit0mized his
lecture. His romantic speculations,
based upon n fancifui application of
astronomical facts, were extremely in
terestlng and Instructive lie quoted,
IN opening, The sentimental speech Of
Lorenzo while star-gazing with Jes-
sica. "But this" added the lecturer.
'ls Held of the romance OF astronomy
to which you need no Introduction.
Judging from the announcement OF the
fairhaven HERALD of the engages
hents OF the school ma'ams." He then
proceeded To take his hearers through
The Infinite realms Of universal space,
ana making the first stop at the little
planet Ceres, only 300 miles in diame-
yer, 3W,G1,OO0 miles away. The in
hablmnts OF this planet are giants be-
cause they have 80 little to stand upon.
man upon the earths surface is upoa
foundation 1000 miles deep, and il
pulled down 10y gravitation fifty times
stronger Than the force operating upon
ienizens of Ceres. Consequently mus
'ular effort ~ retarded only 0ne-fftieth
" much on the little planet. As
'esult the inhabitants are fifty times AZ
all and live fifty times ~ long. Sweet
lxteen Of the terrestrial maiden cor
esponds with the sweet 800 OF the
Jerean damsel. Instead Of becoming
ia maids at 25, the girls OF Ceres are
'oung ladies until the ,2j0th birthday
passed, Methusaleh, had he lived
w years on Ceres, would scarcely be
ld enough To wear long pants. The
.Verage stature Of men would be fifty
lines ieet >. Chong would be- an in-
ant and Jumbo baby elephant.
iirafIes transported from Ceres to Fair.
aven could lick the SHOWS of MI.
'aker. Il. 4. Barnum would have
old the truth in spite Of himself had
e lived on Ceres. There the ladies'
arrySaratOga trunks for hand satchels,
he babies rattles are filed with can.
.on balls, and the boys play with alleys
nat could not be rolled through an
LEY In Fairhaven. He then touched
I Jupiter. Here were found pygmies
boxing up 10 the terrestrial Intruder.
his planet being $1,000 miles I'm diam
ter or 44,50O from It's center TO its cir
the tug downward was
greater The contrast
ere was In the opposite direction
and was followed out at
ength by the lecturer In the same
humorous and fanciful vein. He gave
11me Illustrations Of appalling distances
{ suns and planets. His lecture
was listened 20 with the
eepest interest by his hearers. He
videnced a thorough knowledge OF
stronomy, and blended a poetic and
humorous conception Of its truths.