davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Mars at Least TUice
as Cold as the Earth

Mars gets half ns much heat ms the
; earth. and 1t Is BE- i"ycd to have not
more than one. quarter n, much at
mospher" per unit Of surface. This
means tho planet must be cvrrcm"ly
cold, MoUIton has found that IT has n
mean annual temperature ~ 30 do.
crPes below zero, ON the suDpusitio,
that tho surfaces of Mars ana tbo
earth radint" heat similarly. MANY
believe II 10 be- even lover. on ec.
count Of the rarity Of tho ntInospbere
of Mars, Lowell has cndcayOrcd to
show higher temperature
The nrcrag" temperature Of tho vhole
earth l. about 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Numerous astronomers who have
made deep study of the physical con-
IItonS on Mars are therefore impa
lent with the pOpu'nr vicwg. which
hey pronounce absurd 4 large num.
lcr OF astronomers are ready 10 rcIe
'atc Mars 10 the category Of words
ong pnst their prime. and already In
he grip OF approaching dentb.
\ thousand moot questions couId ha
iscnSsed after an evening at Swartb.
lore in the big observatory Tba a.
rrlrn"c IL one 10 stimulate thouyht ond
peculntion in the mind of the jovman
\ observatory and it's other
Sfronomical equipment. however 80
ftute workshop aud science fnctorv
10 speak. where the csSenijsIS .,
Ntr"nomy nre drilled into the beods -
10 students. W VI
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Dr. Walter MatOs at his telescope

believes to be ideal for the work 10
Whlch It is devoted. Contrary to pop
Ular opinion. the largest telescopes are
not always best for certain classes Of
work any more than arc the highest
mngnlfcations productive Of best re-
suits.
THE forty inch telescope Of the
l"rkeS observatory. Mr. MatoS OBJ
served. lis probably the limit of size
IN %tracting telescopes. Simon New.
comb, back in 1NN0. commented upon
HcrSchcl'S theory thar telescope of
WOO powers would bring the moon 10
within forty miles. Ncwcomb thought
II doubtful if the moon could ever be
seen with any telescope So we'll rs with
the naked eye at a distance Of 900 miles.
The largest telescopes. Of course. are
ape to take marvellous photographs and
OBTAIN unusual visual results, c>pc"ialIy
The giant reflector telescope, such as the
i2-inrh instrument of the dominion
Observatory at Vancouver and the lOl-
lnch at Mount Wilson, California; "
Mr.. MatoS showed in the main cor
rIdor OF the observatory series of
illuminated Photographic plates of the
moon, Mars, Jupiter. IIullcy's comet,
great Stnr clusters and spiral ncbulac.
III addition TO some startling picturcs
tv" by seven inches in size. and when
illuminated with electric lights behind
them they dlvulgr with amazing clear
ness stellar secrets and pCrlIliariticS
hidden from the naked eye. Prints are
Tcv"r made from such plates ut tn.
observatory, but they are examined
under microscopes and studied by
faculty and students.
Tho geography, or more propcrly
sc'cnography, of the moon" said Mr.
MatoS. aS he pointed out it4 crutcrs
and valleys and various conticurationu
aS though they were ON n relief man
IN Srhoolroom lis now aS accurntclv
known rs is that Of the earth. In fect
II is better known thnn some parts nj
the earth that have not been surveyed
MS for instance the interiors Of Rrnz;i
and parts of Africa" '"''
The age old and ever. recurrin, ,hn;o
of IN" ha abitability and the pou,,ai inn
or other planets was brought M in ,hn
watches of the night quite as naturnIiv liz
nS one mentions the weather NJ
MntoS was questioned as to his bc,efS
-! fecl,' he said slowly. that thn,uo
IN me IN many, many places i'm ths
universe. 1t Is one of the thiny. tns
the eaasironomer cannot say no Eraa' ,ma'
ou! &c does feel IT, There are, m .Ivwsi Spsai
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
One Star Exceeds Our
Solar System in Size

DcSpit" its lnrOmprchcnsibl enor-
nous size. Campus has virtually no
parallaX--thc angle is virtually zero
And yet that great flaming sun. gignn-
tic beyond our understanding, is SO vast
IN its extent that one jocular chap
wrote that it could swallow our entire
solar system and never notice us--and
that would be quite mouthful, too :"
After one plate had been EXPOSED
for about fifteen minutes Mr.. Matos
found photography would have to be
discontinued for that night because of
the haziness of the sky. On II night
of high visibility, when the atmoS-
pheric conditions are just right and
everything depends upon the state of
the fifty mile belt of atmosphere about
the earth from two to seven photo
graphs are obtained at sitting at
Swnrthmorc.
After the plates are developed and
the stars are identified with marks they
are clamned upon measuring engines for
the measuring of the star images shown
on the plates. These measuring engines
are SO exact that they vii measure up
to one millionth of an inch.
Tho astronomical day is followed nj
Tho observatory. In other words. the
'hh'iSt W Nal' uo'S not come Tor the
astronomers ut midnight, but twelve
hours later. AT noon, when the sun is
at meridian. This is to be changed 10
conform with popular custom to jan
uary !. 1929, to obviate confusion.
After that date, by common consent of
all the astronomical societies of the
world. the nautical ulmanacs will
change at midnight.
Mr.. Matos, after many years Of
work with it. holds a genuine affection
for the Sproul telescope. Its size he
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Astronomy Is Foundation
of Modern Science

Mr.. Matos pointed out that all trade
and commerce now depend upon as
tronomy, and mentioned, in indicating
its usefulness. that navigation Is absO-
lutely dependent upon it.
These Rre some of the truths that
must be drummed into the head of the
tyro so that he can understand how
fundamental is the study Of the stars
and their measurements and order In the
universe.
While Mr.. Matos was arranging the
set.up of the great telescope, which has
ns many complicat parts and de-
vices as the interior of n submarine. he
was caught unawarcs.
'Taking it by and large. what Is the
objective of science?' was question
tossed off carelessly.
'The goal of all science came the
reply. ''is the capacity for prediction.
To anticipate the future is the most
important object of all human energy
and intelligence, and nothing can be
done in that direction without science.
So far as science approaches that goal il
approaches perfection, and astronomy
Is essentially a science of prediction. IL
can predict an eclipse thousand years
in advance. 1t can calculate the exact
moment of the turn of the tide twice
each day for century. 1t can deter
mine the position of the moon at any
hour of any night for generations yet
to cone.
ut wasn't so long ago that the
world was frightened at the appearance
of n comet. Astronomy has shown that
the universe il full Of comets and that
they are MS harmless as they are beau
tiful. There need be no apprehension
on account of their appearance"
Mr.. Matos started athe half horse
power motor that movci lthc great tclc-
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23

scope, which is thirty six feet in length
ana weighs many tons. So perfect is
Its balance. however. that i; can be
moved about by hand with ease when
II Is IN conveniem position. Simu-
taneously the roof opening of the big
dome, nearly fifty feet above. began to
slide open q: another larger motor
started to dr0nc. The telescope was
soon pointing upward through the big
slot at the heavens. 1t happened to be
a bad night for observation, as the
visibility was only about two out Of a
possible five.
Busily engaged in orienting the tele-
scope with valves and levers and gauges
and scales of the greatest precision
not by looking through the instrument.
but by consulting rows OF figures on II
sheet of paper-Mr. Mntos made ready
Tor operations. His program for the
night s observations waiting for him in
the observatory-there is nothing hif or
miss about the work - showed Tau
Boots, Arselander. 1914 and II Co.
rome MS some of his stnrs
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Astronomy, Like Golf,
an Engr0ssing Pursuit

Astronomy is Il good deal like golf.
II it ever gets it's hooks into ones ten
der susccplibilitics he is done for; and
then the older lie gets the greater nd-
diet he becomes 1t is n sort of re-
!igon among sciences. just as golf is
among sports.
Out at Swarthmorc College they are
trying to sell" astronomy as an ANA
teur side line to the adjacent COM
munity. and to ropularizc it over the
heads of the students who take the
course from choice or necessity. This
the faculty is glad to do, so that the
greatest benefits may be derived from
the SDroul Observatory. splendid gift OF
m alumnus Of 1891. who Is now the
Governor of Pennsylvania.
The Sproul Observatory is one OF the
most completely equipped of the coun-
!Y. Its wonderful rcfracting telescope
mas twenty four-inch lens thnt alone
cost Sl4,0OO 1t Is the sixth largest
feiractor in the United States.
This telescope is fanked by n half
dozen smaller ones. two of good size
and smaller in We students observa-
tory.
There are &C. .nctc Photographic ia
entities for taking exposures of stars
anu comets, darkrOoms for developing
me precious plates. wonderful astrO-
homlcal library filled with histories,
.,omahces, facts and fancies and sta
tlstics of the heavens. and there are
workrooms, claSsrooms and computatio
sulating engines. super human wiz
dtnS OF figures. that will multiply or
nlvnde .l,,.e great strings Of figures with un-
,,allhg precision in the flick of an eye.
%hsh; thereby eliminating great mental
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23

other worlds after death. They tell a
story at Swarthmore:
Four years ago beautiful child in
the neighborhood, little girl of seven.
was known for her fondncss for the
morning star. and she would awake at
half past 3 or clock in the morning,
go to her bedroom window and look
long and intcntly at it. She called il
her very own star and she never
ceased marvcling at its brilliancy.
Some one told her about the Sproul
Observatory md took her there to SO"
the great telescope. which excited her
childish imagination TO the highest
pitch. The observer showed her Il few
stars through the great tube. but she
was not content. She wanted to see
her ''Own star That meant she
would have to cultivate the morning oh
server. on duty from 1 o'clock to day
light. Her parents could not arrange
to take her in these uncarthly hours.
NO the matter laOsed
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Child Makes Midnight
Trip to See "Her Star"

But one morning the observer un
under the big dome, seated on his giant
"chair." or great rolling step!adder.
heard n noise. Switching on the lights
he saw II demurc little figure in night
dress. slippers and shawl. peering
eagerly at him. She had walked two
miles in the dark over the lonely roads
TO see ''her morning star"
The observer adjusted the telescope,
lifted the little miss up on the chair.
and was rewarded by her rapture. He
allowed her to remain and glory in her
star until she began to trcmble with
chill. Wrapping his coat about her. he
carried her home.
A few days later she was taken i'll
and died. She repeatedly told her
mother before the end: Mamma. I
am going away am going to nv
star
And who Knows? According to Flnm-
marion and Others-perhaps she did.
Spending IL night in that observatory
alone. save for the observer. with the
splendors of the blue back vault above.
is moving and inspiring experience.
The Rev. Walter 4. Matos. fellow
of the Royal Astronomical Society Of
Great Britain and for many years prior
TO the erection of the Sproul telescope.
thirteen years nSO, an observer az the
Philadelphia Observatory. was visited
one evening recently. There seems
something entirely fitting in the iden
Of sky pilot being practical aS-
tronomcr and. questioned on this point.
Mr.. Mntos said with smile that more
than 100 Of rhe 500 members Of the
Royal Astronomical Society are clergy.
men.
MIR. Matos explained that the prlncl-
pal astronomical work done at Swarth-
more is That of taking the paralla of
stars. In plain language this means
measuring their distance from the earth
by means OF comparative angles from
other stars on which the eQuational
computations of higher mathematics can
be based. 1t was the development of
astronomy that resulted in the absolute
necessity for higher mathematics.
Astronomy, therefore. which many
folk dismiss as relatively unimportant.
has been the most important the most
practical and the mosr useful OF all the
sciences. First of all. It makes men
think straight. and. generally speaking,
most Of our thinking is equvoral or In
direct. Astronomy has put order into
our solar system. cleared up mysteries
ana eliminated SuDerstitions
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Is Mars Inhabited?
Fiercely Debated Question

In" world rs now again excited over
possible communication with Mars and
hlcd with spoculations as to whether
II Is inhabited. To date. to sum %
IN" entire matter in word. il is n
matter of belief. There are ps strong
. ana even stronger arguments ngninst
the heorr that ii is inhabited as there
are that 1t Is peorlcd. At Swarthmore
me astronomers are non -committnl.
flammarion has been observing Mars
Tor the last twenty eight years. He be.
!evcS he has demonstrated that there
, is some intelligent form Of life there.
for II Is impossible to explain. he says.
,hr rhhNses that have been taking place
upon any other hypothesis.
The difficulty about even compare
iiv"y isarby Mars. only n short stones
throw IN the known universe which.
Wh"n nearest TO us. is 81, 900. 900 miles
diStant, is in penetrating the atnos-
uher" about the earth to bridge this
Instance with even the bese of telescopes
ana cameras. Even If ono had tele-
scope to bring the planet within 1850
niles. Tor instance. the difficulty in the
mcnse.
with Mars near us this year and
WIN even more Favorable conditions
nhead for next year. especially in the
southern Hemisphere. much has been
neard ana will continue TO be heard
from that school Of astronomy which
believes In the habtabil!ty Of tho
planet
1t is regarded as safe 10 say BY
the conservatives. among whom are
those at Swar'hmOrP. that cannot
at present, and probably never shall,
be able to see Mars in the telescope
as clearly as We should with the naked
eye Mt 81. 600 miles. II is also regarded
ns highly improbable thar NJ distances
Of thousands Of miles We can SEQ plane
tary details with sufficient clCarnrSs 70
judge of their true character.
When Calico looked NJ tho moon
through his first optic G ass h" thought
that tho dark areas on III" surface we're
seas. But the world has gained more
knowledge about planets than that
learned through Telescopes. The amount
of heat n planet receives depends upon
its distance from the sun The size and
gravi'ational pull Of planet determine
the density and constitution Of its at
uosDhpre.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Astronomy Brings Belief
in God Supreme OUer All

studying what is visible of the uni :.
verse one cannot help believing,
never YET ran across an astronomer
could class as an atheist
VIZ; Mat"S was asked his opinion O,
'he ElnStcin theories of relatiyitv md
81 DEFINITE concept for the universe
re nad looked into them, he said, br,
"' ana not wish to be drawn into a dis.
"rhc great cluster of Hercules" he
,cmIarNG'l ,o.'n' thoughhtfully," is 10000 light
IiarIow Shapiey. OF Harvard, Tho elder
HerNchcl called that, or susnoct"J II 70
p'' an island universe There have |
,oi's peen divergent ideas ON these
,',' matters; out personally have rcach@l
no conclusion with respect to the Elm
stem hypothesis. -
Shnpley, Mr., Matos said. takes into
notTI'ucration stars which he dCssnate'
nS lhe most distant from the Garth 'Nt :
nnn n.mn,,rn"ning non g space being estimate" a.
--u,uoo light years.
Nn'hrr astronomers. however nav.
nHd that there are stars rs remote III n
oOO. 900 light years i
VAS discussing with laymah Oh. n
night said Mr.. Matos. certain Eta"S Il Il
mat are 10000 light years di'l"nt .aIi' b.
.ne earth: | told him soou ol,,,i"men, ,n"i",e &,
!hat despite all our modern ,anf,,T GaminTtf". ta !"
m o1bServatories and the woho'''n' io, tndnr Il
rillti's that astronomers rn'ol 'V,,T' m"m,'
We are really far behind on 'he News di
What do 'HS Hcu %eanI' he dcmn"a%I ,'. "> n, M
what's the use OF n'',ms 'a" cou,ut keen sI
pensive equipment II YOU ''"'''' ' s,
up to date?' ,ho, +, the case ms
~ .hem on esp iirht years from us, for sti
~. QUITS 1y,UW "m'crc 10 be eXtinguished so
tSS,ance, Al Insh not have any indca. as
,i"m ,D"ay' ye ~ an1 Yer 10000 years, Tie tn
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Telescope Put in Place
by Higher Mathematics

Beneath the name of each star was an
array Of figures to govern the adjust
ment. The telescope was brought to n
certain tilt by one figure. then clampcd
to stay there; another number adjusted
another position. followed by clamping,
and still othcs preparn tory movements
having been made, the lights were
switched on and a Photographic plate
was placed in position.
All being in readiness. the observer
asked that the visitor climb up OF, the
chair. or rolling stepladdcr OF Nrob-
dignngian proportions, sit down I'm the
adjustable seat and peer into tho small
eye. piece looking In at right angles TO
the axis OF the telescope, " ~ "
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23

| Young 1Olk III canoes, III NAM
mccks and en- beaches and front
porches during these summer
months, who look at the heavens
while murmuring soft nothings to
each other, are not likely to ponder
much on these things, but after they
are safely married.
Does vegetation or life Of any
kind exist on Mars or the moon?
What makes you think so?
Do you know that, astronomers
get the time at night from the stars
without the slightest difficulty to
within a fiftieth part of a second,
as q matter of course, and that they
probably could get it down to one
hundredth part Of a second were it
Of practical benefit to do so?
There are probably between four
and five thousand catalogued stars
visible to the naked eye in the lat
itude of Philadelphia. Did you know
that there was telescope adjust
ment formula for the finding of each
Of these stars, and many others not
visible to the naked eye, by setting
the instrument even before the OBJ
server looks into it?
That when it is adjusted and you
peer through the eye piece, there
lies your star in the field before the
eye, winking at you pleasantly with
purest ray serene and defying you
to read its riddle?
There are so many questions like
these to puzzle or startle the un-
initiated, But the professional as
tronomers would only smile at
them-they know SO many more!
The whole universe. come to think
of it. is II great question mark.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23

| me naked eye Canopus is enormous in
SIZE and 1t looks on Il bright tropic
Iight Ike some great flaming lantern in
tile sky. The ancicntS used to think
| tanopus must be comparatively near
the earth, because 1t appeared 50 large.
Seventy years b"forc Columbus dis
| covered America. said Mr.. MatoS, tine
| llght that now streams from canopus
over the path Of the southern seas
traverscd by the raravclS of the cx-
plorcr started on its way toward the
| earth
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Sproul Observatory, Swarthmore
College

light coming from them now. showed
him. had started about 24.OOO years
before the dawn of history in Egypt. 20
after all we were rather slow.
The man was vexed with me- Sure
w. he said. you don I believe in that
kind OF nonsense. do you?' ="
In the year that the Sproul ObServa.
tory was opened Flammarion suggested
that there might yet be found to exist
another planet beyond Neptune. outside
the known limits Of the solar system.
Flammarion at that time had an idea
that the wandercr was hundreds of mil
hons Of miles away and that It's distance
from the sun and the time of it's rcvo-
luton could one day be stated with Ger.
tainty.
ut has never been found" said Mr..
Mntos. but who can tellt 1t may be
Yet. some dny ~
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Men Who "Live in Stars" Watch
for First Flash of Light That Starred
H7ovara This Planet 80, 900 Years Ago
10 Disclose Undiscovered WorlH
PHOTOGRAPHS OF Mars MAY
|pROVE EXISTENCE'OF LIFE
'DESPITECLAIIIS OFSCOFFERS
Dr.. Walter NatoS Sits Under Huge
TELESCOPE at SsVa,thmore Observatory
saud Urges Rank and File to Take Ub
His Fav0,Ite Study

D YOU spend most of night
tory up stargazing in way-for
least?
Probably not.
The registers visitors more important
that not hundred
been inside observatory nothing of spending night
to have greeted for the first by light
filtered down through giant telescope after travelling
centuries of 10000 miles second from
100000 miles away.
stopped consider that
confuse which
own solar about g. 10 light distant?
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-10-23
SEEK DAMAGES FROM
MEXICAN GOVERNMENT I
IN RAILROAD MATTER
CBy The Associated Press.) }

\I.W YORK. Oct :..--Secking "a re-
cover about ~ 25n.UuC from the MeXi-
con National railways during the rcvoln-
tionary period Of the Carrar Va regime.
writ of attachment designed Ia tie up
funds of the Mexican government IN New
York City banks has been served on J.
H. Mon gan aud company, il was revealed
Saturday i'm suit instituted hy the
Oliver Trading company uf New York.
The action has been brought Jointly
against the Mexican government and the
Mexican government and the Mexican
National railways.
Denial. however. that j. H. Morgan
and company was the repository for
any funds of the Mexican government
was made Nv Thomas W. Lamont. one
of the Morgan partners. after the writ
had been served.
No complaint has ~ yet been filed
by the Oliver Trading company but
n summons in The action n served On
Carlos Felix. financial agent .of the
Mexican government. and copies of the
writ of attachment were served upon
:. f. MuZuuiz. Mexican consul general
and ior be ll"yoS. representative of
the Mrxiran National railway.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-10-23
FAMOUS BAPTIST
MINISTER COMING
TUVALEY IN nov.

A big event in the religious history Of
the Valley will take place in November
when DR.. George W. Truett. considered
by many the greatest living minister in
America, comes to Mercedes TO deliver
an address 70 the people of the Valley.
DR.. Truett was one Of the ministers who
went to France curing the war at the
invitation of General Pershing.
Or. Tructt IL one Of the most force
fuI speakers IN this country, and has IA
message which is Of interest to all pco-
pie. He is & Baptist minister, but X j.
to the entire population Of the Valley
that his talks in Mercedes will be made.
The pastorate Of the Baptist church at
Mercedes Is sending out invitations to
all Baptist church members IN the Val
ley asking that they be present 10 hear
DR. Tructt. The letter which is being
sent 10 church clerks points out that the
meeting in Mercedes Is Nalley-wide and
the cooperation Of all churches Is asked.
Dr. Tructt has promised to come in re-
sponsc to an invitation sent him by the
Baptist church board Of all Baptist
churches IN the Valley.
J. NJ. Jones. church clerl. Of the Bap-
tist church here. has received a letter
from j. G. Boyd. pastor of the Mercedes
church, explaining the plans which will
be followed and asks for list az mem
bcrship Of the church in order that in
vitations may be sent out. Similar let
tcrs are being sent TO other church
clerks