The San Francisco call., 1909-11-28

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ys 1oasa .ss 40 9sa Pta Fftr1sto6 "
~ nard exactly month from the time he
obtained his first glimpse of the celestial
wanderer after its absence of "A years His observa
tons made October Il and 19 but apparently
the comet is gaining in brilliancy. for it also
observed the morning of October II by Professor
Wendell of the Harvard observatory with the Is
inch equatorial and by l. Campbell with the "a inch
reflector OF the observatory. 1t will doubtless
soon come within range of smaller telescopes and
be visible to the unaided eye in the spring
AS the comet draws the earth vague
feeling OF alarm may be felt by those who regard
these celestial vistants with superstitious awe For
them mystery still clings around
The blazing star,
Threatning the world with famine, plague and war;
To princes death; kingdoms many curses
To all estates inevitable losses:
To herdsmen rot; to ploughmen hapless seasons;
To sailors storms; cities civil treasons."
The comet OF 1000, one OF the earlier returns of
Halleys comet. was regarded as presage of the
downfall of Harold of England al the battle OF
Hastings In the Bayeux tapestry, on which Matilda
OF Flanders had drawn all the most memorable
episodes in the evenfu of her husband, Viii
liam the Conqueror, the comet appears in of the
corners with the inscription, "Isti Mirantur Steam
which proves that it was considered a veritable
marvel It is said to be tradtonay reported
that Of the jewels Of the British crown was taken
from the tail of this
Although comets are no longer regarded with
supersttious awe as in olden times vet they are apt
10 cause unnecessary alarm For instance, even in
present enlightened day letter was recently
inserted in the Observatory addressed to the editor
by alarmed Britsher. who feared the present
appearance OF Halley's comet might be an i'll omen
IN connection with the possible invasion of England
by the Germans. Some alarm has also been arous ed
by the statement that in all probability the earth will
pass through the OF the comet on the morning
OF May l9. 1910, and that that occasion the head
Of the comet will be about only 100000 or l3OoO-
600 miles distant.
Swept by Star Dust
According to the calculations of Frank E seagrave
an astronomer of Providence R. l., he finds by COM
putations delicate rigonometry and the mcrom-
eter make them that May lo the comet will
the plane OF the earths path 1t is likely that
the earth will be enveoped in the train OF the
and for short period our planet may be swept by
star dust
There need be no scare over the approaching
event. however" Mr.. Seagrave treasures US Moth
ing will happen The end of the worlA will come
Il will be nothing than passed through
June 3, 1861, when the earth cut through the
Of that year The nearest it could ever come to the
earth would be 6,235O00 miles"
Regarding the actual experience concerning the
comet OF 1901 Robert Ball recOuntS 1t fO
lows in his usual entertaining way:
In. the year 1861 fine comet appeared 1t is not
well remembered its merits deserve, because it
happened unfortunately for its own renown, to
appear just three years after the celebrated of
1853, which of the most gorgeous of its
kind in modern times. But in 1861 we had novel
experience.
"On Sunday evening in midsummer of that year
dashed into the comet, rather it dashed into
We were not, it is true, in collision with its
densest part; it only the end of the tail which
we encountered. There were, fortunately, no very
disastrous consequences. Indeed, most of US never
knew that anything had happened at ALL and the
only learned of the accident long after it was all
For couple of hours that night it would seem
that we actually in the tail of the comet but
far as know no one injured experienced any
alarming inconvenience. Indeed, have heard of only
disaster arising from the collision. clergyman
tells that in midsummer he always able in
ordinary years read his without artificial