The herald., 1896-12-13

rapidly, too. Therefore. to make theory
and observation tally, we must suppose
that we are so far distant that the motion
becomes too minute for detection.
There are nine lunar conjunctiOns for
the month of December, one of which
the meeting between Venus and the
moon, will be a beautiful picture that
will be well worth watching. as the
planet is occulted by the moon. Mars
also comes fairly close to Luna on the
10th, and, while not as charming sight
as the one above referred to, WILL never
theless, be quite an interesting specta-
cl. These conjunctions for the last
month of the year contain Implications
in the cases of Saturn and Uranus, the
former beginning and ending the series
with the latter an excellent second. We
nus once more commands our attention
and calls for applause as she steps on
the scene as soon as the light of day
fades sufficiently to admit of her pres
ence being known. Serene and beauti-
full she shines in the western sky, her
disk enlarging and her brilliancy Still
on the increase as the old year dies away.
She is almost three hours behind the
time of the sun in her setting, so we all
have a fine chance to admire her, and
few there are can see that dazzling beau
ty without pronouncing her queen OF the
evening sky.
Jupiter, now an early morning star.
as large ana DFlSNI as we ldu ulIIl III
the earlier months of the year, is making
his way toward opposition, or the 1SO
degree point from the sun,where we shall
find him the coming winter, and at
| which time he will be a ma gnificent OBJ
| ject to gaze upon, as he will then rise
| as the sun sets and De with us the rest OF
| the evening.
| Saturn is now one of the morning stars,
| but is still too much engulfed in the
SUMS rays to be of any great interest
| to the amateur astronomer We shall
| hear more from him during the coming
year, when he will prove greater at
| traction than at present.
| Uranus starts little behind Saturn
| in the matter of meeting the moon. but
before the month is over the two planets
| will be in conjunction themselves, and
| the last day of the month will still find
them so near each other that If we can
succeed in finding the ringed planet, we
| shall not be far off in our guess as to
the locality of his near neighbor whose
face we are seldom permitted to distin-
guish from his surroundings without
artificial aid.
Mercury now ranks under Venus
banner as an evening star, and this
most elusive of twinklers, having lately
| been in superior conjunction with Old
Sol, is now speeding on toward the
eastern limit of the territory covered
by it during that part Of it's time passed
as an evening star.
Mars comes to tine point of opposi-
tion with the sun on the 10Th about mid
night, at which time his bright ruddy
face will be at it's fullest for the year
and we shall have a chance to admire
him through the crisp winter atmos-
phere.
Neptune, too. comes to his opposition
on the same day. only some hours earlier,
but, alas! he is far, far from our natural
view, but the chance to look at him at
this time through powerful glass
should not be neglected.-New York
Times.
IN CHOOSING LOBSTERS OR CRABS.
In selecting crustaceans the inexperienc-
ed housekeeper may be guided by few
easily remembered points. Lobsters that
have not been long taken will respond to
a pressure of the finger on their eyes, with
a strong motion of thee laws. The heaviest
are the best. The cod lobster. though gem
orally smaller. has the higher flavor, the
flesh is firmere. and its color when boiled
! Is of a deeper red than that of similar char
acteristics in the hen.
The heaviest crabs are the best and those
of q medium size sweetest If light they
are watery. When in perfect condition the
Joints of the legs are stiff. and the body
has .an agreeable smell. The eyes, too,
should look bright and firmly set; when,
i -