davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29
A GREAT AJrTRONOMER'J
WONDERFUL PREDICTION
How HALEY Foretold the Return of the Comet
That Bears His Name
BY SIR ROBERT BALL
From aTbe story of the Heavens"

that his, earthly course would have run
long before the comet had completed
its revolutions; and in language. al
most touching. the great astronomer
writes:
wherefore, if it should return. ac-
cording to our prediction about the
year 175S. impartial posterity will not
refuse to acknowledge that this was
first discovered by an Englishman.
As the time drew near when this
great event was expected, it awsk-
ened the Iiveliest interest among as
tronomers. The mathematician Clair
ant undertook to compute anew, by the
aid of improved methods. the effect
which would be wrought on the comet
by the attraction of the planets. His
analysis was sufficient to show that the
object would be kept back for 100 days
by Saturn and for SIS days by Jupiter.
He therefore gave some additional ex-
actness to the prediction of HALEY
and. concluded that this comet would
reach perihelion about the middle of
April, 1859. The sagacious astronomer
(who. we must remember. lived long
before the discovery of Uranus and Of
Neptune) further adds that as this
body retreats so far 1t may possibly
be subject to influences of which we
do not know. or TO the disturbance
even of some planet too remote to be
even perceived. He accordingly quail
fed his prediction with the statement
that. owing to these possibilities. his
calculations might be a month wrong
one way or the other.
CIairant made this memorable COM
munication TO the Academy of Sciences
November IA. 1858. The attention of
astronomers was Immediately quick
ened to see whether the visitor, which
last appeared 70 years previously, was
about to return Night after night
the heavens were scanned On Christ
mas day, in 1858. the comet was first
about midnight on March II, just
month earlier than the time announced
by Clairant. but still within the liirlIs
of error which he had assigned as
being possible.
The verification of this prediction
was a further confirmation of the the
ory of gravitation-- Since then Halley's
comet has returned once again. in 1885.
Further historical research has also
succeeded in identifying Halley's comet
with numerous memorable apparitions
of comets in former times. 1t has
even been shown that a sDlendid comet
which appeared IL years before the
commencement of the Christian era
was merely Halley's comet in one of
its former returns. Among the most
celebrated visits of this body was that
of 1866. when the apparition attracted
universal attention. The next return
of Halleys comet (BalI published ''Thej
Story of the Heavens in 1900 is ex-
pected about the year 1910.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29
THE SMART SET

~ HERE were at least a score of de-
lightfuI affairs of an informal sort
that occupied society yesterday and
the mex few days promise to be as
crowded with these impromptu dinners
and teas Mr. and Mrs. James Flood en-
tertained last evening at the second in
a series of small dinner parties-small
in the matter of numbers-that they
are giving at their home in Broadway,
and the third party viii be given Fri
day evening, when the older married
set are TO be the guests.
Mr. and Mrs. VIII Tubbs will enter-
tain at an informal dinner Tuesday
evening and on the same evening Mrs.
Joseph d. Grant will entertain at
dinner party. Mrs. Dixwell Hewitt en-
tertained yesterday at an informal tea
given for Mrs. Spencer Eddy and among
other informal parties of the day was
the tea given at the Fatrmont by Mrs
J.. Parker Whitney and two or three
teas given at the Palace, where Mrs.
Joseph Sadoc Tobin and Mrs. Wihiam
Cluff entertained each score of
friends.
Miss Maud Wilson viii entertain next
Monday at a luncheon to be given at
her home in Baker street and about 20
of the younger girls will enjoy the re-
union.
The first days of February will be
monopolized by the girls of the younger
set who have any number OF pleasant
dates already planned, and among those
that are of moment just now to the
debutantes and some of the older girls
as well is the luncheon that Miss Tia
Sonntag will give Tuesday, February I,
and Miss Lillian Van Worst, who will
entertain in the same way Wednesday.
February 3 when the complimented
guest will be Miss Lurline Matson, who
has been entertained so frequently dur
ing the month.
The news that Mr.. and Mrs. Peter
Martin are coming here for a visit
with Mrs Eleanor Martin will be
bit of gossip that will be highly ap-
preciated by the friends of the couple
and there will be many entertainments
for them after Lent should their plans
materialize 1t is probability that
they will be accompanied by Mr.. and
Mrs. Leonard Thomas, who was Miss
Blanche Oelrichs, and in that event the
girls of the younger set will have an
opportunity of entertaining for the
pretty bride of the prominent Phila-
delphian.
The wedding of DIR. Edward SewaIl
and Miss Amy Heitshu that took place
last Wednesday evening in Portland is
of concern not only to society in the
northern city, but to the local elite as
well, for the bride is a member Of one
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

of the best known families in the west.
while the young physician makes his
home here. The wedding took place
in st. Marks chapel in Portland. The
bride was attended by Miss Inez Bar
rett and Miss Hazel WeidIer. while DR..
Shadworth Beasley of this city filed
the Office of best man. The bride is a
sister of Mrs. John c. Ainswortb of
Portland and Mrs. John Shepard. Doe
tor Sewall has two brothers Clarence
and Russell Sewall, in the northern
city. Doctor Sewall is a graduate of
STANFORD university and a member of
the Aeta Psi fraternity. The young
city.
Mrs. Clement TObin has been serious
ly III for several days in her apartments
at the Fairmont. but she is GONZALES
cent and is hoping to be out again
within week.
Mile Soulas announces a series of 10
causeries in French on the historical
ebateaux of France and other subjects
illustrated with stereopticon views. at
the home of Mrs. Henry Crocker. in
La La suna street, corner of Washington
The talks will be given Mondays at
1890 o'clock. beginning January 81
Miss Ellen O'SulliVan and Miss The
rese Thompson. who left here a few
weeks ago, have arrived in London and
Will enjoy an extended visit with Mrs
Denis OSullfvan at her home in the
metropolis, where they viii be enter
tained- The travellers will leave be-
fore Easter for Rome, intending to pass
the festival time in that CITY an =
leaving there, will travel leisureIy foy
year or more before their return.
One of the most delightful dinners
of the week was given. by Mr.. and Mrs
l. Lowenberg. who entertained at the
Palace IN compliment TO Congressman
Julius Kahn and Mrs. Kahn. The table
decorations were crimson carnations
ana among those who enjoyed the af-
falr were Judge and Mrs. Charles W
Slack, Mr. and Mrs. John p Young. Mr.
and Mrs Irving MoultOn, Abraham Lin
coin Brown, Mrs. Florence Porter
Pnngst, Martin Merle, A. J. Lowenberg.
There will be several bridge parties
that will be Of interest to the Younger
girls next week. and in fact most Of
these affairs have been relegated to
the later season, since the earlier mart
OF the winter has been devoted almost
exclusively 70 teas and dancing par
ties Among the girls who will enter
tain at bridge next Thursday are Miss
Helen and Miss Bessie Ashton, while a
bridge party and tea of the following
day Will be given by Miss Mildred
whitney at her home in Presidio ter
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29
Mayor McCar-
thy Is the
Whole Thing

appointing office take their places the distinct and
understanding that they will obey the orders OF the chief
and fulfill his behests In fact they do take this submissive
Office the political guione that handy
insubodnaton In fine the mayor has wiped any minority
representation in the administration will opposition
He is the whole thing
This simple and plain of the situation created
by the mayor The Call offers this except
10 that Mr. Mccarthy charged by his
and undivided responsibility for the government
1t will not be open him indulge game
described passing the buck 1t will be Mr.
Mccarthy say that Commissioner Tom Policeman
carrying needed promised works public Improvement
Under the regime all these will officials OF mayors
creation appointed under pledge obedience
holding office pleasure OF their If they permit
municipal e/aws be broken ignored
bear the blame If they hamper delay the progress city,
Mccarthy is responsible
This is Mayor McCarys opportunity. He has
absolute ruler OF San Francisco and he has vowed that he will
be benevolent despot depotism may
say realize the fact that the government
absolute despos for man. one man
only, IS responsible 1t is up him make good
The mayor will no doubt begin make the dirt fly
in Geary street He has promised the the best railway
IN the world and the eagerly awaits the beginning of work
that highly desirable end The Hetch project
10 the hearts OF the people OF San Francisco and they would rejoice
the mayor in that direction. In the
that he has himself created other help He
obstinate corporation the condition OF subjection
has imposed the municipal departments
hdeny him do all these things and The
people all ready applaud wish him power
his elbow If he the sole responsibility for him likewise
shall be all the credit all the blame
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

THE name of the astronomer HALEY
is, perhaps, best known from its
association with the great comet
whose periodicity was discovered by
his calculations. When Halley learned
from the Newtonian theory the possi-
bility that a comet might move in an
elliptic orbit, he undertook a most
from various records of observed
comets all the reliable particulars that
could be obtained. and thus he was
enabled to ascertain. with tolerable ac-
curacy. the nature of the paths pur-
sued by about "a large comets. One
of these was the great body of 1882.
which HALEY himself observed. and
whose path he computed in accord
ance with the principles of Newton
HALEY then proceeded to investigate
whether this comet of 1852 could have
visited our system at any previous
epoch. To answer this question he
turned to the list of recorded comets
which he had so carefully complied.
and he found that his comet very
closely resembled, both in appearance
and in orbit, comet observed in 1907
and also another observed in 1881
Could these three bodies be identical?
1t was only necessary to suppose
that comet, instead of revolving in a
parabolic orbit, really revolved in an
extremely elongated eIlipse. and that
it completed each revolution in a Pc
riod of about IS or 76 years. He sub
mitted this hypothesis to every test
that he could devise; he found that
the orbits, determined on each of the
three occasions. were so nearly iden-
tical that it would be contrary to all
probability that the coincidence should
be accidental. Accordingly he de-
cided to submit his theory to the most
supreme test known to astronomy. He
ventured to make a prediction which
posterity would have the opportunity
of verifying. If the period of the
comet were rs or 76 years, as the
former observations seemed to show,
then HALEY estimated that. if un-
molested, it ought to return in 1857 or
1lOO. were, nOhcNSTs- Certain
sources of disturbance which he pointed
out, and which would be quite powerful
enough to affect materially thu time
of return. The comet in its journey
passes near the path of Jupiter and
experiences great perturbations from
that mighty planet. HALEY concluded
that the expected return might be ac-
cordingly delayed till the end of 1853
or the beginning of 1859.
This prediction was a memorable
event in the history of astronomy in
asmuch as it was the first attempt to
foretelI the apparition of one of those
mysterious bodies whose. visits seemed
guided by no fixed law, and which
were usually regarded as omens of aw
full import HALEY felt the impor-
tance of the announcement. He knew
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29
ANSWERS TO QUERIES

MUSHRO0MS-Con Reader, Sacramento
Is there any money in the cultivation OF nush-
rooms? Where can ! obtain directions for the
culture of suchs
If there was not money in the culture
so many persons would not engage in it,
You can obtain books on mushroom
seller.
MARRIAGE-C. c., City If man and a
woman live together as man and wife without
any ceremony having been performed. could the
property:
In California contract marriages are
no longer recognized by the courts. As
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

to what rights a woman in such case
would have on the mans death, you are
referred TO lawyer. as this Depart
ment does not give legal advice.
OLD papers, E.. City What Is the
value Of several issues OF the New York Times
OF 1863 and 1882
needing them to complete a file might
be willing to pay good price for thenN
ST. LOUIS STORM-C. C. C.. jamestown
What the date Of the great storm thar
1898 and 1912
May %. 1896.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

California the the Golden
Eagle hotel told of
Bandy manifested
his the 10
government which him on guardo over
hocked scarcely
said: have any facts to present why these
should land when the
be made forward and be heard
The department fine took interest OF any the
detection prevention of land frauds until
Hitchcock took the matter that effort made bring
the thieves justice but before that time the major of the
public domain had been successfully stolen The land office
fully advised OF what going but took stop
notorious indeed that officials OF the department
league with the who punderng the public domain
Then when Roosevelt Hitchcock Pnchot undertook
check these schemes of plunder and bring the offenders
subsidized the associated vnes raised
that they acting of their duties
by law The doctrine declared that it of official
take ognzance of fraud unless proceedings
instituted by third without interest the affair This
official OF neglect would be ineligible if the cusodans
of the public domain themselves sharing in the plumber
its proceeds.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

things that might have been expected In
new town or new country such disasters
are always possible and must be accounted
within the range of probability, but in city
that has stood for nearly a thousand years
il might be thought that the potentiaities
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

VISITING Seattle, Portland and San FRANCISCO
found, as he says, gangs of idle and hungry
men walking the streets" and he holds III
the east as the land of golden opportunity.
Another correspondent writes to the same
paper and saws
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

himself the whole responsibility for the
municipal government and its administration.
He is engaged in the process OF making "a
clean sweep OF the heads of departments
and replacing them with men in sympathy
with his policies and purposes. The men he
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

He whole world will feel sympathy for the sufefings
mortunes OF Paris ravaged by floods that appear
got wholly beyond control The calamity is one of the
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29
BENDING
criminals |
To Sea

the people who thus compelled association with
the vicious
Representations in this sort having been addressed
international to the navigation
that official has issued order the
ports the United directing them to refuse tc
ship convicted of and
OF this order and its probable the Coast
Seamans Journal of this city
practice ctcrediu
establish
honorable calling In
the
nothing could to oproduce
to
livelihood do
their that of their fellows
The of ships eformaories gross injustice the
who compelled to associate with the vicious.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

AYOR MCCARTHY promises Francisco besta and
V the progressive the city has had and
\ the welcome The further
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29
SanFrancisco' S
Sympathy
For Paris

catastrophe from natural would have been provided
accord with the lessons of But apparently
OF nature still an uncertain factor everywhere.
The Paris calamity appears have been aggravated
siderable degree by the elaborate of
admirably designed by aumann carry and
pipes there disturb pavements making
connections 1t admirable plan for its purpose and
OF the great show features of Paris but the
system proved unable withstand the pressure OF the
by wholesale.
San Francisco has had its catastrophe of magnitude
viii know how send ready and sympathy the
afflicted Pasans The sufferers by quake and fire
than anybody else this country what hardshps the people
Paris facing. And San Francisco is ready
sympathy If outside relief
goes hand
somely down the top of the list
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29
AS to
California
Land Frauds

in ders number of
dummy for valuable land
presented from dope hend and Others who
the land
upon although they had filed fidayts with the
that they did
Richards of the United States land Office at Washing
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29
Labor
Conditions in
Coast Cities


small unnteigently There
plenty o. o they did know how find If
hads he
practically
work., he wake the
The patience with their occupation
picked
imagination enough what he best do
out of intelligence, to
and live off the land
backwoods settlement began with
place, cleared himself a down
need denied that always certain amount
during the attains
proportions the of our charitable
organizations The of profitable
here than the because of open winters But com
parativey country not good place for who lack
initiative They would much better stay where
jobs with small pay plenty.
practice of bad repute ncorrigibe
the criminal the preens discipline
of ship will reform them but really get rid of them
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

light on the policy OF the general Ian
office in making the way easy for fraud
Mr. Devlin writes
One time in the performance of his work as
a newspapernan, the present writer described
how attorney practicng at the bar of the land
office at Sacramento had gone about the places
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

practice is akin to that of certain com
munities which find it convenient to shunt
their undesirable citizens on their neighbors
giving them 'twenty-four. hours TO leave
town. It is an easy plan to sidetrack
responsibility. but it does grave ini1stice tc
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

TWO correspondents of New York differ fatty with
regard conditions Francisco and the other
important cities the Pacific One of these, after
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-29

DITOR DEVIIN of the Santa Cruz News relates inter
esng personal experience relation the operation
- OF the federal land laws and useful
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-08-18

be added one or two others as posi-
bilities. They include the gray gelding
Locust Jack C2:061a), reported as
switched to the pace. at which gait he
is to be raced in the future. but whose
temperance at the trot will be not
unlikely. Early Alice (2:06AJ is also
named.
Uhlan is the property of Mr.. Billings.
who never races his horses in regular
professional races for money prizes. so
that the champion gelding may be de-
scribed as hors coucours except in
some special event in which he may be
allowed to race. 1t is also unlikely
that General Watts may be seer in
any races. as it has been reported that
the plan is to prepare him solely for
an attempt to lower the worlds stall
lion record. the 2:O2A of Cresceus.
But in any event there are a sutti-
cient number of eligibles to insure
series of races which should be in the
highest degree notable and in which
more than one record will be in dan
ger of being broken.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-08-18
Notice for Publication.

Department of the Interior.
U. s. Land Office at Boise, Ida
no. July 6, 1910.
Notice is hereby given that
Hiram w. Shropshire, of Emmett.
Idaho, who, on September 20, 1908
made homestead entry, No. 01262,
for lots 2 and 8, NWA SCI NEA
SWA, Section %, Township 9 N,
Range wv, Boise Meridian, has filed
notice of intention to make final
Communication proof, to establish
claim to the land above described,
before U. S. Commissioner w. T.
Crouch, at Emmett, Idaho, on the
18th day of September, 1910.
Claimant names as witnesses:
Lee Mosman, James Knee, James
Jillette and Lowell Low, all of En-
nett, Idaho.
VIM. BALDERTSON, Register
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-08-18

with the sacks occupied. The pitcher
Is worried. the infielders are guessing.
and when you do hit the ball the fly
ing base runners rattle and discon-
cert the men who are trying to handle
the ball.
When men are on bases | generally
lay for the first ball the twirler hands
over It's dollars to doughnuts that If
he can lay that first one straight over
the pan he'll do'it and | soak quite a
few of them The majority of batters
will pass up the first ball. no matter if
1t cuts the plate in half. But you'll
never get Tyrus overlooking any OF
that kind Nine times out of ten ! go
to the plate prepared TO hit the first
ball if the pitcher lays it over.
never take long swing at the
sphere any more | like to do it. but
you can't get anything in the major
leagues swinging the willow. If you
do the spitball pitchers would make
a Ounce of you in short order, 70 SAL
nothing of the slabbists who have mas
tered good change of pace. They'll
shoot one over that looks like pea.
then feed you slow one that comes
floating up AS big as a balloon. But
you are set for the fast one and nearly
break you back reaching for the slow
ball.
In the old days the great batters
were Pete Browning. Ed Delehanty.
Dan Brouth hers and Pop Arson, who
swung ON To ball with the force of a
hammer Were any of them in the big
leagues today the modern twiriers
would make 'em look like jokes.
You cannot grab wagon tongue
down at the handle. reach back and
swing halfway around for curve
pitcher He'd make you look foolish.
and you wouldn't have enough batting
average AT the end of the month to get
your name in the percentage column.
The star batters of today grab their
batting sticks foot or more from the
handle and. instead of swinging. aim
- meet the ball iush. Nothing suits
me better than to take n good crack
AT the leather. but | cant afford to
get out of my stride. so | stick to the
sure system Of just meeting the ball
with halfway grip on my warclub.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-08-18
TAKES BRAINS TO FUN.
Sheppard Says Fellow Can't Break
Record With Feet and Legs.

Sheppard Says Fellow Can't Break
Record With Feet and Legs.
When fellow learns how 10 run
when he breaks records-you can be
sure that he does not do all with his
feet and legs" remarked Melvin Shep-
pard recently.
There is only one way TO run in
record time. and that is for the fellow
who is attempting the feat to use his
brain" continued peerless Mel. Some
acquire the necessary trait. but | have
always found that calculating out just
how and when TO run came natural TO
me; that's the reason why | lowered
Lon Meyers figures for the ego yard
run and beat the worlds mark estab-
lished by Lunghi for the 700 yard run.
There's nothing TO 1t! I've trained
more faithfully within the past few
weeks than ever before, but | could
never run rs well as | did the other
day just on the strength ! have gath
cred since starting conscientious work.
1t was just hat | have the natural gift
of knowing when to do the running
that counts in race that gave me the
two new records" said Sheppard
Sheppard. running against cold,
damp. penetrating wind. created two
new worlds records recently that will
stand for years to come. At
the 660 yard mark he broke the tape
In minsta 81 o. SocapdS inst three
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-08-18
The TRoTTING OUTLOOK.
Fast Work Promised by Countrys
Leading Track Horses.

Leading Track Horses.
,r, 49,,
ihe SEASON Oh lolo PROMISES 10 De
graced by some or the most shifting
free or-all trots and others in the ex-
,rema POO, c,ao,as rho, .ny ,,bnsi,s
'feine iaS' c'aSseS 'na' auy "'n'isihS'
coulu ueslre. Al lehsl thdt IL Wndt
survey of the material for series OF
sucb races. wanId spnear RI ,iva ruIi
warrant for. The following is n list