The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-08-23
MANY EAK|RS
N ASTRONOMY
SAY SCIENTISTS
Many Things They Discussed
are Nothing More Than
Yellow Journalism.
The INAAB|TlB|l|TY Of
THE PLANETS NOT KNOWN
Many Other Fakes Denounced by the
Meeting of the Astronomical and
Astrophysical Society of America
Lure Of Gold the Motive.

Astrophysical Society of America
Lure of Gold the Motive.
Chicago, Aug. 23.-Astronomers of
International repute, long suffering,
according to their story, from the
Misrepresentation Of tho yellow
press" their science slandered by SEN
sational writings OF INSCRIPTIONS as
:ronomers, rose in their wrath today
Resolutions condemning recent talk
ii the possibility OF communicating
With the planet Mars were considered
and were warmly approved. The oc-
casion was tho tenth annual meeting
Of the Astronomical and Astrophysi-
,al society of America, which opened
today at the Yerkes observatory, Will
liama Bay. Wis.
incidentally the character of the
true as opposed to tho yellow" as
tronomer was eXpounded and list
Of problems which tho true astrono.
mer will never consider was given
Prof. E.. G. Pickering, president Of
the society, spoke OF tho future OF
the science, explaining the means by
which ho believes 1t car best bo de-
veloped within tho next few years.
Gather on Tree Covered Hill.
Tho gathering was unique in sever
al ways; tall astronomers and short
astronomers; grave faced fellows,
who never lose their preoccupied air;
men who have passed e lifetime in
minute observations and measure.
ments of tho heavenly bodies were
all brought together in a spacious
building on hill top surrounded by
| woods
| From the windows sthe~bright blue
i.wateru. OF Lake Geneva wero visible.
1t was hero that they met, compared
notes In their various chosen fields,
discussed lenses and sta; photograph
and exchanged condolences on "yel-
low" stories which have appeared re-
Gently in the Sunday press and tho
cheaper grade o. magazines.
Move Not Worthy o; Support,
Tho resolution which was brough:
before the scientists, about forty OF
whom assembled at tho morning ses-
sion. was drawn up by Pro-: Pick
erins, 1: read:
Gas the public through misrepre-
sentation o: tho views o. certain as.
tronomers have formed tho impress
sion tina: communication with other
planets is at present possible, the As
Economical and Astrophysica! society
of America desires to express its De-
lief that in the present state o, sci.
ence any expenditure o. money with
that direct object in view in highly
undesirable"
"Stunts" Barred by Real Workers.
Some were opposed to the resolu-
tion because. they declared. they be.
lieved the less said about these al
legged Misrepresentation tho better.
Others doubted t. newspapers would
print the resolution l: passed because
"the newspapers desire nothing but
sensation" The majority. however.
favored the passage OF the slap a:
the takers" Prof. Pickering and
Prof. E. &. Frost. who has charge at
tho Yerkes observatory, together drew
! up list OF the problems and stunts
constantly discussed in some news
papers which they say q genuine SCI
enlist will never bother his head
about.
List Of Ridiculous Problems.
Following ia thia list:
Goine up in G balloon with tele.
scopes in order to make observations.
This tho true astronomers declare 10
b4 ridiculous.
Question Of the inhabitability O; the
planets. This is described as purely
biological problem. while tho true
astronomer concerns himself: merely
with matters Of mass. length and time
Probability Of the destruction of the
earth by comets. This is character
lied as ''pure idiocy."
Talk OF comets plunging into tho
sun and thus generating heat su1n-
cieht to burn up the earth. More
"idiocJ'
Talk OF satellites OF tho moon. Lu-
dicroue.
Rumors Of the temperance Of th.
biblical star o. Bethlehem. This star,
which is reported every SO often from
some part OF the country, according to
Prof. Frost, is nothing more or less
than the planet Venus.
Lure oi Gold is Strong.
"Why do men protesting to be sci
enttsts write of these things II they
are not countenanced by truo astron.
omy?" Prof. Pickering was asked.
II don't know" was the reply. II
can give no other explanation char
the lure Of gold. Astronomers a.
professional scientists are not we:,
paid. you know. An old story Is told
OF an astronomer who visited a doc
tor for treatment When the time
came to make out the bill the doctor
asked his patients profession.
I'm an astronomer replied tho
other. meekly. An expression Of SYM
pathy crossed the Doctors face.
"R,attiq8 his hand In his nockat ha