The evening times., 1902-05-31

self. in consequence of which the motion
in deelination at the eqUinOxes is very
quick
The Planet Mercury.
The planet Mercury viii be in Gemini
during the greater portion of the
month, but viii enter Taurus toward
the end Venus viii at first be in Pisces.
but enter Aries soon and stay within its
boundary during the remainder Of the
month She rises between , and 3 O'Clock
and acts IN the capacity Of morning
star, presenting a beautiful object in
the morning skies. Toward the east of
Venus, at the distance OF about 10 de-
gTees from II, the planet Mars pre-
sents itself TO the view Of the observer.
II is at first II the constellation Aries
but viii soon enter Taurus. Mars viii
rise between , and O'Clock. Since
Jupiter rises between 10 and II O'Clock
in the evening, he viii 70 sCme extent
adorE the evening skies. He is still in
CapricoTnus. Saturn, being still in Sag
ltJarius. rises about an hour sooner than
his brother planet and is about as far
from It as Mars from Venus Anyone
who has an occasion to rise between 3
and O'Clock in the morning may see
Mars just N the act Of rising and Venus
about Is degrees above the eastern
horizon, while Jupiter viii be close to
the meridian and Saturn bending toward
the western horizon Provided with
small telescope he may see Uranus in
Sasittarius somewhat west OF Saturn.
The planet Neptune is il Gemini and
viii have set when the stars begin to
shine in the evening skies.
The Volcanic Activity.
The recent disastrous catastrophe
arising from the eruption OF Mount PeIee
II the Island OF Martinique suggests the
interesting subject Of the forces which
can produce such violent commotion:
and as these forces. like any other en-
e-gv that 1anifests itself on and within
the earth, must be traced back . the
sun. a b-ief discussion OF this subject
cannot be regarded as out Of place here.
We mUs- not become obIivious o. the
fact that the earth is one of those
ceIs-tiai bodies called planets and that
its origin IS the same as that of all the
other members OF the vast solar svs-
tenn.
There is no question upon which mod
eTu science has wrought out a more
complete revolution IN our ideas than
that Of the relation of orr earth n the
is one Of great family Of celestial
bodies that move through space in sim
liar paths and obedient to the same
laws. While in ancient times the con
ception Of eosmical bodies vas extreme
ly crude and their number confined 10
but a few. modern science has enabled
Us to recognize the important fact that
such cosmicaI bodies exist IN countless
millions, presenting every variety of
bulk, from masses many hundred times
larger than our earth 10 the mirutest
particles While " TO the nineteenth
century no planetary bodies between the
orbits OF Mars and Jupiter were known
or even suspected, We recognize now
many hundreds in fact every wear ad-
dftionS are made 10 the number Of minor
planets or asteroids
Comets have now been identified with
streams of such planetary bodies Of min
ute size and moving IL regular ORBITS
through our system The magnificent
showers OF shooting stars have. been
f,roYed To be caused ~ the passsga Of
the earth through such hands OF travel
ing bodies, and the zodiac! light. -5e
explanation OF which pss for so many
years wrapped mp IN seemingly iL~ene-
trable mystery, finds its most probable
explanation in the sUppositi0a that the
sun Is surrounded b. q vast mass Of
such minute planetary bodies. The mar
YeIous system OF the Saturaian rings is
now explained b. the established exist
errr Of great streams Of plane+a-v
bodies circling around it. The solar
system was formerly conceived Of as =
vast solitude through which few
gigantic bodies moved at tremendous
distances from each other: but now we
know that the supposed empty void is
traversed bv countless myriadz OF
bodies cf the most varied dimensions. all
moving IN certain definite paths. IL
obedience TO the same laws. ever acting
and reac-inE upon each other. and oc-
casfcnaI1y coming into collision. Bv
means Of that powerful lever OF astrono-
uv-spectrum- m-auaiysis-it has fncon-
trovrrtibIy been proved that the sun and
IL IL rr.n-r-t ters Of The enIar sr-s..-., .-o