The sun., 1910-05-22

N9"A LlAtNt AeaW " a4uN4Ns
Halley's comet was visible here toe a
while last night. with a modicum Of hll
attached, and the people who had bsguE
to think that there wasn't anything /,
this astronomy took Il all back and Eazsd.
For IL first evening appearances here .hs
sky meanderer didn't hand the publ,
quite all II expected. for Il was simply .
dull glow above the western horizon
in a break Of the clouds. with a family
discenible spread upward and 10 ths
left not much longer than across the face
OF full moon. But /, was really thsrs
where il ough, to he. and that seemed N
the watchers a good deal better than
cancelled engagement
For just about half an hour the ernst
permitted itself To be looked at and then
Il dipped down into the mist above ths
storm molouds that tringed the Jersey shore.
Il was sighted at sos. and ten minutes
later Prof Jacoby Of Columbia WIN vas
on the lookout from Riverside Drive
defined its position as almost directly
under the two bright stars Castor and
PolmN in the constellation Gsmini Il
was about half way between the two stars
and the horizon. he aid, and its distance
from the horizon was some thing hk8
eighteen degrees or One-fifth Of the way
70 the zenith. Tonight il may be said
for the benefit Of those folks who took
look Al the cloudy sky Las, evening ard
decided Ia remain indoors, the comet
ought TO he seen at about o'clock.
The dark clump Of clouds above ths
jersey shore line didn't give much prom.
lee to comet hunters a. the sun cast a
furnace glow upon them in ia dip over
the edge Of the earth. You couldn't tell
just how far up the heavy shield en-
tended. for IL blended into the blue over
head very gradually As IL grew darker
things looked worse and the stars seemed
20 be taking mighty long time 70 come
out even high up in the sky. Jupiter and
tho moon had an easier time Of IL over
on the other side Of the heavenly map.
They were on hand with plenty Of brill
lance and Il seemed that the moon was
bound 10 Justify her ser BY being con-
tnry enough 20 ousshins any lesser die.
play
The first encouragement WA Whsn
Capelh popped out about midway up and
10 the right Of where the sun had sst.
That Is a star Of the first maEnitude.
and those ST. Louis observers had told
NJ that the comet was a. bright az that.
80 betting On Mr.. Halleys sky wonder
grew snappier Pretty soon Castor and
Polux bored their way out Of the dark.
They are tho two very sprightly ones
that ara Just now almost half way up the
vault above the spot where the sun dis
appears
BY the time this happened az littls
before : O'Clock the comet fans were
answering the roll call Prof Jacoby
walked down 70 the fountain ~ the foot
Of Seventy street and told thoss
who were close 70 him where % look.
The gallery was bigger than ever and IN
II there were no fewer evening clothes and
light dresses Glasses of all dimensions
were on hand and they were pointed at
everything that appeared In the sky.
Prof Jacoby didn't have even a pocket
telescope. for he has said repeatedly that
the man with a good pair II eyes could
do Just ~ much ~ anybody.
II WAS fairly dark and few oG tls
watchers were giving Il up and going
away to more certain forms ~ entertain
ment when the word started around that
something queer WAS appearing up there
above the zone of factory smoke A glow
like frosted inoandesoent light seemed
n be hanging IN the blur. A. that tune
IL was below those twin CLEANERS and it
was like bright light shining through =
gauzy shield Every one thought At fret
that II was nothing but a star trying its
best to poke around the edge of a rift.
There was 80 much soepticism In the minds
Of the faithful fans and they had been
wouldn't believe they weren't being Inn
posed upon.
Not until Prof Jaooby had gone home
after his chart to verify his remembranoa
Of the position in which she observers
had told us 10 expect HAlley's miarAtor
was it settled that the erratio comet had
really kept ia appointment The astron-
..r,,.- ..tN tk.ra s.saav,tt .v., N-..Ls - IN
A. the Watching went ON the glowing
body grew a little brighter. AZ arst
Il seemed that tho rumors Of q mislald
tail were accurate. But with its inereas.
ing brightness came the visw Of q stubby
little fringe Ike a short set Of Whisksrs
blown in the wind. You had 70 imagine
the wearer Of those Whiskors turned
almost upside down With hia head point
ing at the sun. but that was a. II Ghould be.
Il was like a curved fan. Was this tail.
With the edge spread up and 70 tho lsft.
The edge vas not abrupt; Il iust loss
itself IN the hare. Here Il the description
Of the whole thing from Prof. Jacoby:
1T Was.' ssid be. a haEy object. watch
might be described a. round. With an
slongation. or tail. dlrootsd away frOm he
sun. This elonGatiOn Was undoubtedly
the beginning Of the tail, which on ac-
count of the hAEy condition Of the sky
could not bs traced further than ons
degree.
This observation Of ths tall 10 ln ae.
cord with what has been predicted and
sEpeotsd from the beginning. The tall
Il nnw In tha uruumr and noPrrtnl 1.oaf.