Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-14

theory we may be permitted TO say that
the method Of induction requires great
caution, and has in more than one instance
led to erroneous conclusions, yet when
such multitudo OF particular facts as In
the case of the ncbular hypothesis have
been collec Ell In corroboration Of he truth
or the theory the very calculus of prob.
abilities would constrain us TO accent it
as an established fact--at least in its
most essential features.
the consultations present n beautiful
picture in any season of the year. but tho
palm of beauty must be conceded to the
winter skies, ms the most brilliant con
stellation in the whole heavens with sev.
cral others of great beauty, send thcii
genial light 10 us during the greater por
ton of the night. One of the constelln
lions that about nine o'clock in the Jan.
uary evenings are on our meridian IL
Perseus. This star group Is easily rccog.
ni1ed by extending tho Andromedac hnndl
at the star Gamma Andromedac in a
straight line by n length rather greater
than the distance from Gamma to Beta
Andromodae The extremity Of that pro-
lonEeG line is Alpha PeTscl, the brightest
in that constellation 1t is sometimes call.
Cd Algcnib, but must not be confoundcd
with the star OF the same name in the
Square of Pegasus A characteristic con.
fguration of Perscus is its segment" a
curved line formed by Delta. Alpha, Gam.
ma and Eta, which is easily traced. Tn
most remarkable star in Pcrseus Is Beta,
or Algol, whose vagnries attracted notice
In early times. III ages when the stars
were worshipped as divnities. it is not
unreasona Die TO suppose that a star whose
light varied In any extraordinary manner
should naturally be viewed with some dc.
gree Of suspicion as contrasted with stars
that dispense their beams with uniformity.
1t was doubtless a feeling of this kind
r., . T.
able import to the ancient students Of tho
heaven. II was accordingly known as
the Demon Star, for his is the meaning
of the name by which We know 1t. IT.
period Of variability Is well known. IT il
. days. 20 hours, Is minutes and - seconds
Considering that these Changes can be- oh.
served without n telescope, it is not sur.
prisine that they have been known fot
centuries. Northeast Of Fcrseus is tho
fine constellation of Aurga. the Char
iotccr, instantly recognized by the houuti-
ful -inagnitud" star capclla th1
Coat of courte tho Alpha OF the constola-
ton. Capelia is III the northwestern cor
ncr of Il large irregular rcntagon, the YER
tees of which are marked by Beta, OF
Monkalnan. east If Capclla, and Theta
Gamma, Iota. South Of Capc'la are the
three stars Epsilon. Eta. Icta. which
form small isnacclcs triangle with Neiy
acute angie a Epsilon. These are "llocdi'
or Kids Directly south OF PerscUs and
Aurlea is the zodiacal constellation
Taurus, or the Bull. distinguished by the
ntet magnitude star Adchal an--sonie lines
called tho Bulls Eye'--and the remark
able star clusters OF the Pleiades and
Hyadcs. the latter having a Nshapod fig
lre. Of which Adcharan forms part.
The Pleiales have attracted 1t special at
t'Et.on from times immortal The name
of this group comes from a Greek word
signfyluG TO sail" because ut this sea-
-'n of the Ynar they were considered tho
stars of tho ocean" to the benightcd
mariners. Tho brightest Of tn" ploiad"s
is AlcYonc. which was assigned. through
crroneously, TO the dignity of the Gem
tral sun ny the German Astronorl -
Nader. Although part Of Orion Is on
the meridian, We shall reserve doscrip'
ton Of this glorious star picture for olu
next article. l.yra. with Vega. AQuila
with Altar, Dclphluus and the star For
ma lhaut lave set in tho west and tygnUs
and Pegasus are closely approaching the
western horizon. In the cast Gcnini the
Twins. ard the two Dogs arc high up
and down in thu cast We src tho Lien and
Hydra rising above the horizon.-Haiti-
more Sun.