davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

was rewarded in the next year by the dis
covery of two more satellites of Uranus.
but. strangest observation of all, in 1877
Hall discovered at Washington two satel-
lites of Mars some six or seven miles only
in diameter. one of them revolving round
the planet In seven and one-half hours
at distance of less than 1900 miles As
the day on Mars is not far different in
duration from our own, this tiny satel-
lite must rise in the west and south three
times a day.
Wonderful as this discovery was, it
, is certainly. not less wonderful when we
consider it in connection with a passage
in "Gulliver's Travels" so true is it that
truth is stranger than fiction. Swift in
his satirical reference to the inhabitants
of Laputa writes: They have likewise
discovered two lesser stars. or satellites,
which revolve round Mars. whereof the in
nermost is distant from the centre of the
primary planet exactly three of his dame
tiers. and the outermost five; the former
revolves in the space of ten hours; and
the latter in twenty-one and a half"
The last discovery of this kind has been
that of an inner satellite of Jupiter by
Barnard in 1892.
The planets from Mercury to Saturn
We're known to the ancients. l have al
ready referred to the discovery of Uranus
by Herschers giant telescope. not long
before the century was born, and of Nep-
tune, by analysis, toward the end of the
first half of the century With regard to
what modern observations have done in
regard to their physical appearance the
first place in general interest must be
given to Saturn and Mars.
Saturn has always been regarded as the
most interesting of the planetary family
on account of its unique rings. Many sub
divisions of the rings, and a dusky ring
first seen by Dawes and Bond, have been
discovered during the last sixty years.
The meteoridc nature of the rings was
suggested by Clerk Maxwell in 1857, and
Keeler's demonstration of the truth OF this
view by means of the spectroscope. a few
years ago, was brilliant in conception and
execution.
But during the last half of the century
the interest centred in Mars has been
gradually increasing. The drawings made
during the opposition of 1862. when COM
pared with those made by Beer and Mad
Ter GS30-i0), made it perfectly clear that
in this planet We had to deal with one
strangely like our own in many respects.
There were obviously land and water sur
faces; the snow at the poles melted in
the summer time, clouds were seen form
ing from time to time, and the changing
tones of the water surfaces suggested fine
and rough weather.
Afterward came the revelation of the
hawk-eyed Schiapareln. beginning in the
year 1877, and his wonderful map OF the
planets surface. The land surfaces, in
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13
a story with n Moral.


While the late Frederic Carroll Brew
ster. an eminent Philadelphia lawyer.
was studying law in his fathers office
he was requested to present a petition
for signature 20 various men connected
with the Philadelphia bar. A list of the
signatures wanted was given to him and
he started to fulfill his mission. The first
name was that of the great lawyer, Hor-
ace Binney, and feeling OF awe came
over the young student as he opened the
Office door and told genial faced gentle
man that he wanted to see Mr.. Binney.
That is my name.'' came in cheerful
tones from the gentlemen. What can
do for your"
The pleasant surprise at finding a
great man so aifable to stranger youth
having passed away. young Brewster told
the object Of his visit.
1T is a Wy wise petition, and one
which every member Of the bar should
sign, but my dear young sir, before 1
sign the same / must ascertain whether CT
not the date of the act IS correctly 81:
forth in the petition, AMI whether or not
the title as the petition states i, is yer
batim with the statute books"
But" exclaimed young Brewster, some
what embroidered by his kinl reception,
my father drew up the petition. ana
there is his signature appended t. IT. Is
not that sufficient"
No doubt. my dear sir. but in such
matters l do not like to accept even POS
sible responsibilities of inadrerten. mis-
takes, and therefore depend entirely upoE
myself
Then. consulting his Office library. Mr.
Binney verified the citation, appended his
signature and babe hearty good-by to his
young acquaintance.
Brewster's next call was upon Mr. Ser
geant. who received him with great kind
ness; but notwithstanding the signatures
of the elder Brewster and Horace Binney.
he, too. looked up the citation before sign
Ing his name. saying that he never trusted
such thing to another.
After narrating this incident Judge
Brewster used to say that it taught him
always to be kind to those beginning their
study Of law. and in legal matters never
to depend upon his own memory nor an
others word, but always to investigate for
himself
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13
The Monument to Ruskin


The headstOne to mark the grave of
Ruskin in Coniston churchyard is a tall
cross of the type lately revived from an
cient models of the age before the Norman
conquest. Mr.. Ruskin left no directions
on the subject, but it was felt by his
friends that as he wished to be buried in
Coniston churchyard he would have wish
ed for some headsone of quiet and IN
pretentious and yet of an artistic and
decorative kind
The cross is OF the hard green stone of
Coniston. supplied from the quarries of
Tilberthwaite. and is not liable to chip
or lose its pleasant gray green color. On
the side facing the grave, and looking
east, at the bottom. Is a figure with Tyre.
representing his earliest works. poems.
and the Poetry of Architecture" Above
this, in a panel of the interlaced work SO
often seen on such crosses. is Ruskin S
name and the dates 1s19-19OO. the only let
tering thought necessary. for all the rest
is told in pictures.
The south side is filed with a scroll
of his favorite wild rose. and on the
boughs are three of the creatures he wrote
about with affection-the squirrel, the
robin and the kinghsher. This Is meant
to symbolic his interest in natural his
tory. The west side. looking toward the
mountains, represents his ethical and so
cial teaching. At the bottom is the para
Bile OF the workmen in the vineyard. re-
ceiving each his penny from his Master.
Unto This Last" then design or Sc
same and Lilies and in the middle Fors
Clayigera, the angel of faith holding the
club, key and nail, which every reader OF
his work will readily recognize. over that
is the Grown of Wild olive" and at the
top 'St. George and the Dragon The
north side is a simple interlaced pattern
The crosshead on each side bears the
Globe, symbolizing In those old sculptures
the Sun OF Righteousness; and the otner
side has a disk with the Fylfot. or reVoiV-
the emblem OF eternal life.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

! stead of being unbroken. were cut I'D, as
an English farm is cut UP by hedges
| straight lines Of different breadths and
| tints crossed the land surfaces in all di-
rections and at times some of them ap.
| peared double. Schiaparelli naturally con-
| cluded that they were rivers-vater chan
neis-and being an Italian he used the ap-
! propriate word canal. This, unfortunate
| ly as It turned out, was translated canals.
Now canals are dug, ergo, there were dig
| gers. From this the demonstration, not of
, the habitability. but OF the actual habita-
| ton. of Mars was a small step, and the
| best way of signaling to newIy-found kins-
men across some thirty millions of miles
of space was discussed
The world of science owes a debt of
gratitude to Mr.. Percival Lowell for hav-
ing taken out to the pure air and low
latitude of Arizona an 1S-inch telescope
for the sole purposes of accommodating
facts tending to throw light upon this
newly raised question. This he did in
1891. Schiapareli has continued his mag
nficent observations through each oppo-
sitlon when the planet is most favorably
situated for observation and since 1896
Signor Cerulli, armed with a 15-inch
Cooke. in the fine climate of Italy has
Joined in the enquiry, so that facts are
now being rapidly accumulated. 1t has
been stated that markings similar TO the
strange so-called canals on Mars are
to be seen on Mercury, Venus. and even
the satellites of Jupiter. Mr.. Percival
Lowell does not hesitate to proclaim him
self in favor of their being due, in Mars.
to an intelligent system of irrigation. Sig
nor Cerulli claims that wherever seen
they are mere optical effects. We may be
well content TO leave to the next century
a general agreement on this interesting
subject.
Finally, In our survey of our own system
come comets and meteor swarms. One of
the most fruitful discoveries of the CEN
tury that comets are meteor swarms, we
owe to the genius of SchiaDarelli, A II.
Newton. and other workers on those tiny
celestial messengers which give rise to the
phenomena of falling or Shooting"
stars.
The magnificent displays of 1893, 1893,
1866, and. alas, that which failed to come
In 1883. We now know must be associated
with Tempels comet. This is by no means
the only case so far established; the con-
nection will in the future be closer still
when the orbits of the various swarms
observed throughout the year shall be bet
ter known.
Comets which attract public attention
by their brightness and grandeur of form
are rather rare. and In fact only twenty
five of such have been seen since 1900
We have, however. with the great adj
vance in instrumental equipment. been
able to discover many which are scarcely
visible to the naked eye, and this has
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

-. 49,. i. .,,,.o,, .h.
'"e VI 'i'e
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at hork from LONDON II Is recorueu tna'
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. men w nc
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IN az mas 'eeH 'a'Seu Vi" ''i''e
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-, va '-'S gu i''1 VI me ear III
- ''o" Hsiu " many tidt
-. .-, Stll' an ''''osp "efe 'noush OIL
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-. Gu I'e,l'oi aoie from 'he lunar
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events ro,rasa,,,,5 ~. A. I'll -.
and ro11od ,Iair. ~ -, -.
and so,s TIT 81, =. -.;I, 80 49,
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

swollen the number of comets very con-
siderably. In the seventeenth century we
| find that only thirty-two were observed,
while in the eighteenth this number was
more than doubled (seventy-two). This
century more than three hundred have
been placed ON record, which is practically
more than four times the number seen
last century.
The last great comet visible any con-
siderable time was that discovered by
Donati in 1858 and so carefully observed
by Bond. 1t is unfortunate that since the
importance. in so many directions, of spec
troscopic observations of comets has been
recognized they nave been conspicuous by
thelr absence.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SOLAR AND
TERRESTRIAL WEATHER.
Everybody agrees that all the energy
utilized on this planet of ours with the
single exception of that supplied by the
tides, comes from the sun. We are all
familiar with the changes due to the
earth's daily, rotation bringing us now on
the side of our planet Illuminated by the
sun, then plunging us into darkness; that
from the earth's yearly journey round the
sun is universally recognized.
On the other hand 1t is a modern idea
that those solar phenomena which prove
to us considerable changes of temperature
in the sun ITSELF may, and indeed should.
be echoed by changes on our planet Civ
ing us thereby an eleven-year period to
be considered, as well as a year and a
day.
This response of the earth to solar
changes was first observed in the con-
tinuous records of those instruments
which register for us the earths mag
netism at any one place. The magnetic
effects were strongest when there were
most spots, taking them as indicators of
solar changes. Lamont first without know
ing 1t made this out. at the beginning of
the latter half of the century QS5D, from
the Gottingen observations of the daily
range of the declination needle. Sabine
the next year not only announced the
same cycle in the violence of the mag
netic storms" observed at Toronto, but at
once attributed them to solar influence,
the two cycles running concurrently. 1t is
now universally recognized that terrestrial
magnetic effects, including aurorae, mi
nutely echo the solar changes.
The eleven-year period is not one to be
neglected.
Next comes the enquiry in relation to
meteorology. Sir William Herschel, in the
first year of the century, when there were
practically neither sunspot nor rainfall OBJ
servations available. did not hesitate to
attack the question whether the price of
wheat was affected by the many-or-few-
spot-solar condition. He found the price
to be high when the sun was spotless and
vice versa.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

the study of the near has by no means
been neglected, and for the reason that in
astronomy especially we must content our
selves in the case of the more distant
bodies by surmising what happens in them
from the facts gathered in the region
where alone detailed observations are pos
sible.
Thus what we can learn about the sun
helps to explain what we discern much
more dimly in the case of stars; a study
of the moons face we are compelled to
take as showing us the possibilities re-
Iating to the surface condition of other
satellites so far removed from us that
they only appear as points of light.
To begin then with the sun; where a
volume might be written 2 few words must
suffice l have already stated that at the
beginning of the century the prevailing
opinion was that it was habitable globe.
1t was limited to the fiery ball We see. At
the end Of the century it is a body of the
fiercest heat. and the bah We see is only
central portion of a huge and terribly
interesting mechanism. the outer portions
of which heave and throb every eleven
years. Spots, prominences corona, every
thing. feel this throbbing.
Although the discovery of spots on the
sun was among Galileo's first achieve
ments it was reserved for the last half
of the present century to demonstrate
their almost perfect periodicity
Thanks to the labors of Schwabe, Wolf
Darlington. and De La Rue, Stewart. and
Loewy we now know that every eleven
years the spots wax and wane; Tacchini
and Ricco during the last thirty years have
proved that the proulinences follow suit;
and the fact that the corona also obeys
the same law was established during the
American eclipse of 1873.
The study of solar physics consists in
watching and recording the thermal,
chemical, and other changes which ac-
company this period. Some of these eff
fects can be best studied during those
times when the ball itself is covered by
the moon in an eclipse Then the other
portions of the sun are revealed in all
their beauty and majesty, and all the
world goes to see.
But it is the quiet daily work in the
laboratory which has enabled US to study
the suns place in relation to the other
stars. and so to found a chemical CLASH
fication of all the stars that shine.
From the sun, we may pass to his sys-
TEN, and first consider the nearest body
10 us-the moon.
While some astronomers have been dis
cussing the movements and evolution OF
our satellite others have been engaged
upon maps of its surface; upon questions
dealing with a lunar atmosphere. or a
Of - %
formations and of possible changes. The
science of selenology may be said to have
been founded by Schroter at the begin
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

tesuue creatures that children love so
dearly. even more than the wonderful me-
ehanical toys that have some resemblance
TO life. which often gives more pleasure
@, their elders than to themselves
Ire figures finished in plain wood are
arerally stored till orders come LOT
.em. the largest patrons being English
.ad American dealers. When the orders
are booked the toys are decorated and
painted. After they have dried thorough
ly they are packed with great care and
sent to the railroad station at Waidbruck-
In summer the earting is done on long,
narrow wagons; in winter. when the SNOW
is deep in the valley, rough sleds are
used. and the tinkle of the bells among
the silent hills is no infrequent sound.
mingled with the singing OF the drivers OF
the sleds. These drivers are mostly
young and jolly fellows.-Chicago Chron-
irie
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13
Bignmy I'm Italy.
lrrom the Pail Mall Gazette. }

For many years the conflict between
church and state has rendered bigamy in
Italy not only possible, but also easy and
not punishable by law. AS the marriage
laws now stand only the civil ceremony IS
legal. but as the church up 10 the present
has refused to recognize this law the
priest has daily performed the marriage
service and given the blessing of the
church without the civil ceremony. The
consequence is that man so inclined
marries one wife at the city hall and en-
other before the priest.
Such a state of affairs Is so gross
scandal that many projects have been
brought before the House to make the
civil service before the religious compul-
sorry. with a heavy punishment to any
priest breaking this law. However, the
effort has always been useless, as either
from personal religious sentiment or for
fear Of offending their devout supporters
the deputies have even refused to sup
port the bill. This has produced the pres
ent absurd situation. 1t is announced
that the Holy See, to prevent man from
having two wives. has recommended the
parish priests to inquire well into the
circumstances. and in ordinary cases
strongly to advise the couple first to go
through the civil marriage. to be followed
on the same day. IL possible. by the re-
ligious one.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

BY 1877 however. we had both rainfall
and sunspot observations. and the cycle
of the latter had been made out. Mel
drum. the most distinguished meteorolo-
sist living at the time. and others an
nounced that the rainfall was greatest at
sunspot maximum. and further. that the
greatest number or cyclones occurred in
the East and West Indies at such times.
This result with regard to rainfall was
not generally accepted, but Chambers
showed shortly afterward an undoub,ed
connection between the cycles of solar
spots and barometric pressure in the In
dian area a.s
By means of study of the .widened
lines observed in sun spots an attempt has
been recently made to study the tempera-
ture-history Of the sun since about 1877.
and the years of mean temperature and
when the heat was in excess ~ and de-
feet - made out have been as fol-
lows:
Heat
condition mean fmean- meant mean-mean
Years 1853 1876 1881 1ss6-S7 1872
1905 1S77-s0 1886 1Ssl-91 1892
Having these solar data the next thing
to do was to study the Indian rainfall dur
ing the S. W. monsoon for the years 1871
1856, the object being to endeavor to ascer-
tain If the + and - temperature pulses in
tine sun were echoed by + and - pulses
of rainfall The Indian rainfall was taken
first because in the tropics the phenomena
are known TO be the simplest. 1t was found
that in many parts of India the 7 and
conditions OF solar temperature were
accompanied by + and pulses, pro-
ducing pressure changes and heavy rains
in the Indian Ocean and the surrounding
land. These occurred generally in the
first year following the mean condition.
that is in 1878 and 1sS2-s.
The rainfalls at the Mauritius Cape
Town and Batavia. were next collated to
see If the pulses felt in India were trace
able in other regions surrounding the In
dian Ocean to the south and east. This
was found to be the case.
A wider enquiry was followed, we are
told. with equal success, so that we are
justified in hoping that the question Of
the dependence of terrestrial upon solar
weather has made a step in advance.
But Just as the general public and prac-
teal men took little heed of the connection
between sun spots and magnetism until
experience taught them that Geographic
messages often could not get through
when there were many sun spots, SO the
same public will not consider the conncc-
ton in regard to meteorology unless the
forecasting of droughts and famiaes be
possible.
The recent work suggests that IL the
recent advances in solar physics be con-
sIdereG, the enquiries regarding rainfall
may be placed OH a firner basis than they
could possibly have had In si2 and tnat
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13
such forecastings may become possi-

such forecastings may become possis
Bile.
What was looked for in 1872 was .
change in the quantity OF rain at maxi
mum sun spots only. the idea being that
there might be an effective change OF solar
temperature, either in excess or defect. at
such times; and that there would be a
gradual. and continuous variation from
maximum to maximum.
We see that the ralnfaIls referred to
above Justify the conclusions derived from
the recent work that two effects ought to
be expected in sun spot cycle instead
of one. There was excess OF rainfall. not
only near the sun spot maximum, but near
the minimum. 9.
II the authors of this communication to
which refer are right. then droughts and
famines occur in India because the rain
pulses. which are associated with the
soiar-heat pulses, are of short duration.
When they cease the quantity OF rain
which falls in the Indian area is not suffi-
cient. without water storage. for the pur-
poses of agriculture; they are followed.
therefore. by droughts and at times sub
sequently by famines. They divide the
period 1SS7-S9 as under:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

the pretty town, wrapped in restful twi-
light haze. Not content with this, turn
about and revel in the setting sun. than
which Turner's widest dreams created
none more gorgeous. But from poetry to
prose Is quick descent. My caddie waits
with visible impotence for the we'll
earned dime.
l sit under the pines that even
Ing at home. resting my weary mus
cles and lacerated feelings after the con-
hict, chilling sense of failure and dis
enlargement creeps over me. Later
pick up paper and read that white shirt
waists and pique stocks are the correct
golf attire. After all the thought that
one Is properly CARRIED Is sustaining and
cheering, and | make an engagement with
passing friend to play golf the follow
ing evening GRACE PIERCE
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

Their statement Is based on the fact that
all the famines which have devastated In
Ola for the last seventy years have occur
red at intervals of eleven years or there
abouts, working backwards and forwards
from the central years 1880 and 1885 In
the above table. the middle years. that is,
between the pulses.
Mr.. Willcocks, in a paper read at tho
Meteorological Congress at Chicago re-
marked that ''famines in India are gen.
orally years of low food in Egypt
1t is now pointed out that the highest
Niles follow the years of the + and =
pulses. as does the highest rainfall In the
Indian area.
Even II these results. which were COM
municated to the Royal Society of London
five weeks before the end of the century.
be confirmed. 1t may be pointed out that
Sir william Hersehers suggestion of 1901
will have required a whole century for its
fulfilment so slowly do those branches OF
science move which have not already led
to some practical development.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

1871.
Rain from pulse. 1873
t1s79 (part)-
1879 (part). =
No rain pulse. 1880 Central year,
1881 (parD.
1881 part).
Rain from pulse. i iss3
1884 CparD.
ISL (parp.
No rain pulse........ i issS central year,.
l1SSf (parO.
1857 (parD.
Rain from pulse 1855.
1889.