Connecticut western news., 1910-02-10
PREVIOUS VISIT OF
 HALLEYS COMET
DESCRIBED IN ALMANAC OF 1883
Accurate Prediction Of the Comets Last Visit-In those Days it Cost a Dollar to Mail a 0ne-ounce Letter 400 Miles.

A copy of The New England Almanac for the year of our Lord 1885," was laid on our desk one day last week, anl the fact that it contains the following account of the expected return of HalleY's comet. which is at the present time attracting much attention on it's reappearance, makes this old book of particular interest just now.
 IN. B. The wonderful Comet, which appeared in the years A. D. 1456-153l- appear this year or next, and form a visible trajectory either in our northern or southern hemispheres, and every 75th or 76th year afterwards, although it may appear in this year or next and possibly one year later, viz. in 1885. Let this be as it may-likely the time Is not far distant of it's next reappearance. " The above prediction is evidently not ,, far from correct as it is now 75 years from 1885 and the comet is tolescopically visible and will soon be visible to the naked eye.
 A table is also published which "shews the precise time of it's preceding appear ances, with some interesting particulars concerning it's notion" The first two columns of this table gave the years of the comets appearance, and the time of it's passing it's porihelion, as follows: 1456-June 9; 153l-Aug. 25; 1607-Oct. 26; 1682-Sept. If; 1759- M ,rch 13; 1834-Nov. 13. The third column gave the direction of the comets motion; the fourth, the place of it's perihelion; the fifth, the inclination of it's orbit with the ecliptic; the sixth, the longitude of it's ascending node; the seventh, it's peri helion distance from the sun. Following the table is this note: "Now I leave the reader here to judge for himself whether the above written observations and future calculations have the appear ance of accuracy or not. So I add no more and am with due respect the pub lies most Obedient servant.
 THE AUTHOR" :"
 This almanac was compiled by "AusOn Allen, Philo." and was published by Andrus and Judd of Hartford It con- talns other interesting matter such as the rates of postage, from which may be learned that letter "of four or more pieces Cor sheets) weighing an ounce'' mailed at distance of more than 400 miles would cost one dollar. Compare this with the "high cost of hving'' prices of to. day, when we can mail a letter to Manila, more than ten thousand miles, for two cents. We copy. exactly as printed in the almanac. the following
 RATES OF POSTAGE
 Single Letters-Consisting of one sheet Or piece of paper, for any distance not exceeding 30 miles, 6 cents-over SC and not exceeding 80, 10 cents-oyer SC and not exceeding 150, 1219 cents-over 150 and not exceeding 400, 18M cents 400 and over 25 cents. Double Letters consisting of two pieces or sheets, double those rates. Triple Letters-of three or more pieces, weighing less than an ounce, triple those rates. Quadruple Letters-of four or more pieces, weigh ing one ounce, quadruple these rates and at the rate of single letters for each oz. letter shall weigh.
 The old book contains, as stated on the title page, "besides the astronomical calculations, variety of useful and en- tertaining natter including good advice of various kinds from a whole some moral to Eight Signs of Hard Drinker," occupying page of the book, to the short but pointed phrase: "Mind your business.