The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-28

How feW men ever would achieve
The victories that are so sweet
IF each should let the world perceive
Whenever he had met defeatl
By those whose hearts are moved to
II each sat grumbling every time
His heart ached or his plans went
wrong.
How little there would be to praise
How much to keep US plunged in gloom
To hear the dreadful crack Of doom.
lis well that men conceal despair
WIN not If %ou have n Woes u 10 bear III
Assist by seeming hopeful still?
5: E. Kiser. in the Chicago Record
AS to the Menace of the Comet.
The return to the field of human vision
OF the famous comet known as HALEY
is attracting great attention. 1t is al
ready in the reach of the great telescopes,
but it will be visible to the unassisted
vision in May.
This comet, named for Sir Edmund Hal
ley, astronomer royal of England, has had
more to do with the affairs of our earth
than any or all of the others of these
periodic visitors to our part of the uni
verse together. HALEY discovered its
period of return to be about seventy-five
years, and determined that it had visited
US many times previously, and predicted
tnat II would continue its visits. Its last
again in 1910.
The appearance of a comet in the sky
has always attracted a large share of the
attention of mankind, so that where any
records exist mention is always made of
the fiery swords" as they have been
frequently called. and they We're general
calamity to some country or people.
The astronomers have figured that Hal
leys comet has visited our field of view
In the years here mentioned: IL B. c.,
zso d ss7 &C. oi a. S1s Ss $7s 45l $780, eos So
i95s SI I5 III 1fS soS sS9 VO, 175d 49, - 1901 1saS
cases the date is somewhat doubtful. but
from as far back as Il B. G. to the pres
comet are given with considerable GER
the return Of this comet has generally
been associated with some historical event
of particular countries. 1t has been sup
posed by some that it was Halley's comet
announced the birth of Christ and showed
the place where he lay. But the appear
ance of the comet in II B. c., as recorded
makes the date too early and the world
is justified in believing that the Star of
As to this comets reputation as a
warning or portent of great events to oc-
in 45i the visit Of the Comet conceded
with the Saxon in vasion of Great Britain,
and also with the battle of Chalons, in
which the Huns were defeated and Rome
saved. In 1865 it was present when VIII
Channel from France and conquered
England from the Anglo-Saxons, who had
c neno me county, LOT SIX centuries Inc
estry, a famous work of embroidery made
by Matilda, queen of William, which
of the conquest of England. Having APP
peared at the time of the Saxon invasion
in 1906, its appearance in 1910 may portend
a popular revolution in England by its
own people, or an invasion by the Ger
mans.
The comet was present in 1856 when the
comet is also credited with shining upon
they landed in 1907 on the shores of Vir-
gtnia to found jamestown. 1t Also during
its last visitation in 1885, took part in the
of Texas from Mexico.
Thus it is easy to ransack history and
with the comet. From time to time the
scientific theories have delighted to
prophesy frightful catastrophes that are
to be inflicted upon our planet and its
people by these strange visitors. First.
they were to set fire to. our globe and
ed that comets are not the hite-hot
Contrary. they have f neither heat at nor light
of their own, but get their light and
warmth from the sun, as do our earth
The danger of being set on fire having
been disposed of, the chemists tell US of
posed to be in the flimsy, gauzy tail of
the comet. Cyanogen is mixture of
ularly dangerous, although not desirable |
to inhale. unless combined with hydro
gen, when it become hydrocyanic, or prus- |
sic acid, the most poisonous substance in
the world. The combination can only oc |
it is most unlikely can be realized in an
encounter between our earth and the |
comets tail; Moreover, astronomers tell
period our globe has been slapped or tap |
ped by the tails of comets without any
disastrous consequences, so that there is |
little to fear from the chemical catas- |
trophe.
1t has been supposed that the head of |
comet may be composed of solid masses |
of earth and rock that would give our
has written to the Picayune c concerning
the possibilities of a collision between the |
Since this comet and all the comets |
from the beginning Of time have been |
able to thread their way through the |
without butting into them, it is likely that |
they will continue to do SO. 1t is well
diverted from their courses by the planets |
Of our system, showing that the comets
ty.
Our moon, which was once. a part of !
hole into which the waters flowed, max
same material as our earth, and is some |
1000 miles in diameter, or one-fourth |
a pretty good jolt from a comet, but if |
the wanderer should be big and solid and /
o,5i ~ ny os+ erio iosa
Those fine moonlight nights to which we
are accustomed would be lost to us for
ever, or for seventy-five years at least |
when Halley's comet, REINFORCED by our
former moon, would shine on again for
few weeks.
But why should the comet rob US of
our only moon when there are planets
that have from four to six, while Saturn
has eight? They could well afford to lose
one. while we cannot. But there is no
need of being afraid of losing our moon. |
1t will doubtless continue to shine on low |
ers and others who need it for ages to /
come. There are thousands Of comets, /