Evening journal., 1910-05-17
SHORT VACATION
FOR THE COMET
Not Much Use Looking for
Sky Visitor Until Friday
Night
EARTH WILL PASS
THROUGH TAIL TOMORROW


Halley's comet. harbinger Of mis-
fortune since 2616 Bl c. win cross the
suns disc tomorrow night. Experts
disagree as 10 whether it's tail at that
time will be long enough for the earth
10 pass through It. Calculations made
at Semmring Austria. are that the tail
is more than 2O,0OO,OOO miles IN length
Our distance from the comet will be
some l5,QO0,00O. so If this figure is COR
rect there VIII bo ample margin u
spare.
The tail is supposed To be composed
of extremely tenuous gas. and most of
the scientist agree that It does not con-
tain meteors. There is no probability
that any sensible effect will be pro-
duced on the earth's atmosphere, even
though the earth does pass through
the tail, but there is every likelihood
that AN aurora will be produced.
Experts say there will be no odor
in the air that can be attributed to
the comets tail. Sodium, a common
constituent in comets. IS present in
the tail of Halleys and the sky sharps
declare this is sign of internal ac-
tivity that should result In a striking
display in the sky.
Unusual happenings everywhere are
being attributed to the comet.
There was snow in Tennessee Sunday
night and the comet is blamed. The
st. Louis ball club trimmed New York
three times in succession-again the
comet. Again man arrested for beat
ing his wife blamed the comet, and the
MAGISTRATE DISCHARGED him
The real benehciaries bg the celestial
visit are the manufacturers Of tele-
scopes and field glasses. According to
dealers the sale throughout the coun-
try has been so large that the factories
viii have to work overtime for weeks
TO bring the supply on hand up to the
normal
Though the comet is rapidly ap-
preaching the point where IL and the
earth will be nearest together. yet the
big wandorer will not be visible to resi-
dents of Wilmington and vicinity until
Friday.
On Wednesday evening the sun and
the comet viii set tsgether, and the sun
viii be too bright for "a look at the
latter on Thursday evening the moon
"a
good glimpse but on Friday night,
granted clear weather and a little luck,
the comet should be plainly visible in
the western sky between 7.SO ana .
o'clock.
From Friday night until June 3 the
comet will be on exhibit nightly in the
western sky but then will begin to fade
f.Ia
able 10 locate the celestial Visitant.
Though the comet was supposed TO
/ show up about an hour before sun rise
to-day Il was not visible even with a
powerful telescope, the SUMS advance
rays being too bright
Telegraph Men Not Worried.
Though not aprehensive of any dis
turbance Of their business from the
proximity of the comet, telegraph and
telephone companies arc prepared for
| any emergency. The wireless tele-
graph companies. however. are looking
/ forward with interest to the close APP
] pearance OF the phenomenon. as atmos-
/ pherlc disturbances usually increase
/ rather than diminish their scope of
operation.
Electrical experts We're rather inclined
TO be skeptical OF any possible effect
upon conditions owing to the comet
All agreed, however, that they had nc
precendent TO judge by and so are COM
PEELED torawait the event.
Both the Postal and Western Union
telegraph companies are prepared foi
emergencies.
Both use the earth itself as a con-
ductor on some lines in preference tc
overhead loops. In the event of at
mospheric or electrical disturbances
such as the comet may bring, these
lines are arranged in such way that
overhead loops can be used In preference
TO the earth currents. Any foreign elec.
trical factor striking across a loopec
wire to and from any given point il
neutralized by the wire currents.