The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-04-18

More than a cen-ury ago Sir Will
liam Herschel was able to fix roughly
what we call the apex Of the suns
way In space, or the point among the
stars toward which that way Is d.
rected. Herschel found that a COM
parison of old stellar observations
seemed to indicate that the stars In
a certain part of the sky were open
ing out, as it were, and that the con-
stellations in the opposite part OF the
heavens seemed to be drawing in, or
becoming smaller. There can be but
n reasonable explanation of this.
We must be moving toward that part
Of the sky where the stars are sep
arating. Just so a man watching a
regiment of soldiers approaching will
see ct first only a confused body OF
men. But as they come nearer the
individual soldiers will seem to sep
arate. until at length each one is seon
distinct from all the Others.
Herschel fixed the position Of the
apex at a point in the constellation
Hercules, says a writer in the Popular
Science Monthly. The most recent in
~vestigations of Newcomb. published
only a few months ago, have, on the
whole, verified Herschel's conclusions.
Later investigators have increased
the precision of our knowledge, until
we can now say that the present d.
rection of the solar motion Is known
within very narrow limits. A tiny
circle might be drawn on the sky, to
which an astronomer might point his
hand and say: Yonaer little circle
contains the goal toward which the
sun and planets are fastening TODAY.
Even the speed of this motion has
been subjected to measurement, arc
found to be about ten miles per Sec
ond.
The objective point and the rate of
motion thus stated. exact science
holds her peace. Here Genuine knowl-
edge stops; and we can proceed fur
Their only by the aid Of the imagina-
ton which men of science need to
curb at every moment.
But let no one think that the sun
will ever reach the so-called apex.
To do so would mean cosmic motion
on a straight line. while every con-
sideration of celestial mechanics
points to motion on a curve. When
shall we turn sufficiently upon that
curve to detect it bending? 1t is a
problem which we must leave as q
rich heritage to generations that are
to follow us. The visionary theorists
notion of a great central sun. con-
<r,11;nn -. an, c,.,ssc UNIV In cnapA
must be dismissed as far too daring.
But for such a central sur we may
substitute a central center of gravity,
belonging to a great system of which
our sun Is but an insignificant men,
Der. Then we reach a conception that
has lost nothing in the grandeur OF
its simplicity and is yet in accord
with the probabilities of sober me
chanical science. We cease to be q
lonely world, and stretch cut the bonds
of a common relationship to yonder
stars within the armament.
LOCKS THE SHUTTER HOOK.
Here is a woman's invention which
has both practicability and cheapness
to recommend it, being an arrange
ment for the locking Of the blind
hooks after they rave been inserted
in the notched plates to fasten the
blinds in a closed position. 1t is a
common practice for housebreakers
to open the shutters by reaching
through from the outside with the
fingers and lifting the interior hook,
and 1t goes without saying that a bur-