The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-04
BY Allyn Tunis.


When Captain John Smith and his
band of brave SETTLERS sailed up the
James river and landed at the little
island not many miles below Rich
mond marking one of the most i'm
portant epochs in the history OF
America, Halley's Comet blazed forth
in the heavens When William, of
Normandy. conquered England in 1865
this fiery celestial monster was ter
rifying all mankind. The comet also
appeared when the Turks were at war
with Christendom, during the height
Of tAA-gssat- Reformation of -Lnrope
In 1881, when Louis XIV. was night
ing his enemies In 1852 and when the
Seven Years war of English history
was In full blast the comet cast its
lurid blue light upon the world.
What win Happen?
What will happen on May IS, 1907
what great history-making event
which may mark the destiny OF ma
tons will take place? Not only are
superstituous persons asking these
questions. but mon and women of
sound mind are viewing with more or
less awe the fast approach of the
comet, the head of which is hurting
through space at an inconceivable
pace and will pass within about Ia
0o0, 900 miies--a handsbreadth in as
Economical reckoning--of the earth on
May IS. On that date this planet Will
be plunged in the tail of the comet.
The possibility of knowing what
will occur viii then be very real
Scientists who have written upon the
subject say that there will be an
auroral glare and shower or meteors
How correct this prophecy Is will be
known then.
But many people are inclined to
fear this periodic visit Three times
In the last century has the world
been whisked by the tails of comets
In 1919, 1861 and 1910. The last visit
was but a few months ago and this
cagabond of the sky has gone down
in history as "A, 1910"
In none OF these instances was man.
kind the wiser until the high browf
made known the fact. For ages have
comets terrified the human race. and
their approach Is always a signal for
members OF fanatieal religious sects
especially In practically unciviiixed
sections. to begin preparation for the
end of the world. 1t is believed BY
some that Haiieys comet was the Stai
of Bethlehem.
Plotted Comets Orbit
Edmund HALEY was an intimat,
friend and co-worker with Sir Isaac
Newton and he was the first to pho
q comets orbit He brought into
mathematical harmony with the rest
OF the universe class of bodies &c
which scientists have devoted untold
study, and which, to the average mind
have always been shrouded in mys-
terry.
Comets, which move In parabolas
and hyperbolas. visit the earth once
and disappear forever in the depths
of. space But those which trave
along ellipses may reappear again
HALEY concluded that the comets Of
1891. 1907 and 1852. separated by
an interval of about seventy-five years
was probably the same body. and M
ventured the prediction that In tbs
year 1853 1t would reappear. He die
not live to see the fulffliment OF his
prophecy. On Christmas Gay, 1858
1t hlazed forth, and since that time
has been known as Halley's comet Ii
1885 1t again scared in the skies.
First Seen In September.
The first glimpse of the comet, the
present visit, was obtained by DR.. MAJ
Wolf, of Heidelberg. Germany. who II
a specialist In celestial photography