The National tribune., 1894-06-14
FDITOR'S CHAT.
What is the Ecliptic?-Thought of Diverse
InfareSt to the G. G..

What is the Ecliptic?-Thoughts of Diverse
Interest TO the G. G.
What is the eclipticP asks a C. c. friend, to
whom the mysteries of the great science of
astronomy are yet sealed book.
The ecliptic is the great circle OF the heavens
around which the sun seems to travel IN the
course of the year. In better words, it is the
circle the earth travels as seen from the sun.
The sun does not travel, the earth does.
The name is derived from the fact that the
light of the sun or moon can only pass away "
when the moon is on or near the eciiptic. Its
obliouily was not discovered until the latter
part of the 18th century, this discovery OPEN
ing the way to the development of astronomy
into an exact science, in conformance with the
teachings Of Copernicus and his contemporaries.
Astronomy has been the fsvorite study of
wise men of all ages; but as long as the earth
was considered stationery and the center OF the
universe, little progress could be made in de-
termining the movements of the heavenly
bodies and their relations TO the earth.
The ecliptic has been divided by astronomers
into u equal portions of 800 each. They COM
mence with the point called Aries, where the
ecliptic crosses the equator from north to south,
and in succession are known as Tauras, Gemini,
Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra. Scorpio, Sagitaris,
Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces. These are
the Latin names for the RAM the bull, the twins,
the lion, the virgin, the crab, the balance, the
archer, the goat the water bearer, the fishes
zodiacal signs with which all are familiar
Purhach, an Austrian astronomer 1423-l46i.
and his pupil. Regiomontane, were the fore
runners of COpernicus, German Pole, who
lived between the years l447 and 1543, and who
enunciated the true principles of astronomical
science developed by Kepler and Newton, and
the more modern scientists, whose powerful
telescopes enable them to scan the ininitudc OF
space and more and more reveal the wonders
OF the aerial deeps.
The theories of Copernicus, now fixed prin-
ciples, were % that the sun and stars are sta
tionery; (2) that the moon revovles around
the earth; 90 that the earth is planet whose
orbit is between Venus and Mars; "a that
planets revolve around the sun; 80 that the
apparent revolution is caused by the rotation
Of the earth on its axis.
The discovery of the obliquity of the ecliptic
afforded the key TO a train of unsolved cues
tions affecting the changes in the seasons and
the variableness of climate and temperature on
the earth's surface.
Is THE EARTH RoUNDf
sand is il true that the earth is roUndS"
This was the question recently propounded
By the Grand Llama of Goose Lake to George
KEENAN,, the great American traveller.
Mr. KEENAN, explained the facts established
by astronomical science, according TO Coperni-
ems and Calico. The Grand Llama, sitting in
state, cross-legged, in his yellow satin robes,
his train of sacred elephants with their gilded
trsppings, all around him. heaved a great sigh,
and looking devoutly toward the earth, said:
as 1t may be so, but it is not SO taught in our
books"
DEvoRcHocK.
What's in name? is a question revived by
the pronunciation of the name of the Bohe
miaR musical composer, now a teacher in the
New York Musical Conservatory, who writes
his name Dyorak, and insists upon its being
pronounced de- vor-chock, with the accent on
the middle syllable OF course, the pronuncia-
tion Of proper names is arbitrary but this is an
example of sn arbitrary rule difficult to match.
THE MASTER MUST RULE
Apropos of the tendency in Young America"
to defy authority and take the bit in his mouth
there is told a good story of the great pianist
Josefy and an over smart pupil. Josefy does
not give instructions on the piano except to
hear advanced pupils play, as a critic Of style
and expression. He is very autocratic and his
pupils are careful not to triee with him or
offend.
One day the over-smart pupil, young man.
played passage in frivolous manner, which
Josefy directed played differently.
well, bet this viii take better with con-
cert audience" said the young man.
There was a solemn pause aud the class ex-
pected q scene. But the master only said /:
We are not betting here, snd you viii play
that as said"
There was something in the masters tone
that gave weight 10 his words and the over
smart pupil did as he was told.
by the way, the masters name is pronounced
Yosefy, accent on the second syllable. 1t is
only IN English that the -" has the harsh,
grating sound.