davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-11-20

sefvatory's history. He found the two
tiny moons of Mars. So small are
they that they can be seen only
through the more powerful glasses.
One of them is only $3.50 miles from
the planet, or less than the distance
from here to Hawaii. - b. g..
1t was not until 1898 that the OBJ.
servatory really came into it's own.
In that year it began to function in it's
present magnificent location. Since
then it has steadily expanded. 1nstru-
ment houses, offices and other struc-
lures have sprung up until now there
is little village of more than SO build
ings, large and small. New instru.
ments have been added to the equip
ment from time to time, and now the
observatory Is well fitted out for it's
special lines of work. It's extensive
library is particularly a point of pride.
1t contains some 10000 books and
pamphlets-the largest collection of
works on astronomy in the world.
For many years the observatory
management has put its 12-inch tele-
scope at the service of the public on
one night each week. On each clear
Thursday night a crowd of perhaps
so or 60 gathers in the main building
and waits patiently for the climb into
the tower. There. in turn, the visitors
gaze through the eyepiece at the
moon. the planets, the nebulae, the
colored stars, etc. For many it is the
experience of a lifetime
Evening star., 1927-11-20

The total number of these visitors
each year runs to 5000 or more. Last
year there was much bad weather and
the total was kept down. BY special
arrangement, delegations of students
from out of town are now and then
afforded the privilege of looking
through the telescope and hearing, at
the same time, a lecture from one of
the astronomers of the staff
Residents Of Washington who want
to look through the telescope are re-
Quired to get admission cards in ad-
vance. They are issued without
charge and in the order in which the
applications are received, but some
times an applicant must wait many
weeks before his turn comes.
WHAT kind of work goes on. day
after day, in the observatory
Offices and workshops? The original
purpose of the Depot of Charts and
Instruments is still served. Tnstru-
ments are corrected, repaired. inspect
ed and developed for the Navy. just
as in the earlier years of the existence
Of the institution. But the chief ac.
tivities now are the sending out of
time signals, the continuous observ-
ing of the heavens and the prepara-
tion and publishing of tables in the
American Ephemeris and Nautical
Almanac
Evening star., 1927-11-20

In all the work the observatory
does, one feature is strongly empha-
sized. 1t was set up originally for
very practical purposes. and the prac-
tical side of astronomical work has
continued to be kept religiously 20
the forefront ever since. The absorb
ingly interesting task of following out
new leads as the science unfolds, of
testing new theories, of directing OBJ
servations toward the solution of fas-
cinating problems, is in large part
left to other institutions. A great
part of the observatory work has Il
direct application to the busy world
of men, and the rest of it is usually
not so far removed from a practical
use.
For most of us, daily contact with
the obServatory's work comes at 10
o'clock at night when the radio time
signals come over. The sending OF
these signals is but one feature of
the observatory's great work of regu-
lating day by day the teeming activi-
ties of American life.
The operation of broadcasting the
exact time starts with the stars them
selves AS a result of the endless
figuring in the observatory offices, the
staff knows the precise split second
when a given star should pass the
line of the meridian. Certain stars
are selected for this timing, and are
called "clOCk" stars. A stationary
telescope catches the stars light just
as it crosses the meridian, and the
time is automatically recorded.
The next step is to correct the
standard clocks. These are three IN
number. They are set on solid piers
that go deep into tho ground so that
no passing tremor will disturb them.
They are enclosed in glass cases. and
the temperature is kept always the
same.
BY these standard clocks two aux
iliary clocks are corrected twice each
day, just before the time signals are
sent flying out over land and sea at
noon and at 10 o'clock at night.
Five minutes before the hour. a
mechanism connected with these
clocks starts sending the announce
ment automatically over the wires.
To Arlington and to the Naval Acad-
emy at Annapolis the signals go by
direct wire. To dozen or so other
stations they are automatically re-
layed. From all these they may be
caught and rebroadcast by many
other telegraph and radio stations.
During the late war these time sig.
nails. darting out over the ocean for
thousands Of miles, were an invalu-
able aid in enabling naval vessels to
arrive at their rendezvoux precisely
Evening star., 1927-11-20
KING GEORGES COACH.

ever made in England was ordered by
the Duke of Rutland in 1855. Sixty
years later they were in general use
and much rivalry existed with regard
to their splendor and the number of
horses drawing them. In 1919 the
celebrated Duke of Buckingham aston.
ished London by appearing in a coach
drawn by six horses, and the Earl Of
Northumberland, not to be outdone.
Immediately showed himself in a
coach drawn by eight horses.
Toward the end of the seventeenth
century the decoration of state
coaches reached it's highest degree of
splendor. The interior was lined with
brocade silk or velvet. The wheels
also were most ornate. The nave was
thickly embossed, the spokes were
shaped and curved and rims carved
or painted.
In the old days the carriages used
in connection with marriage cere-
monies outdld all others in magnfi-
cence. There is a record of one built
in 1929 for the marriage of the reign
ing Duke of Farnese with Princess
Margaret of Tuscany. The entire
woodwork of this equipage was COW
cred with chased and embossed silver
and the interior was lined with Grim
son velvet and gold thread. The roof
was supported by eight silver columns
and upon this roof stood eight vases,
also Of silver, containing lilies (of the
same metaD in full relief. In the CEN
ter of the roof was placed the design
or huge rose with silver leaves, on
the sides and back hung curtains of
crimson velvet embroidered with sill
yer lilies and gold leaves, while at the
top Of the standards. from which the
body of the carriage was hung, were
placed silver vases with festoons of
silver fruit.
The wheels and the poles were also
plated with silver. The harness for
the six horses was covered with GRIM
son velvet and embroidered with gold
and silver thread. 1t is said that this
coach cost $4,000 ounces Of silver and
that 25 of the best Italian workmen
were employed on 1t for two years.
Evening star., 1927-11-20

THE English royal coach of state is
an ancient and honorable institu-
ton. This equipage was built in the
year 1851, being first used at the
coronation of George III. Designed
by Sir William Chambers. it is deemed
a magnificent piece Of state furniture.
1t weighs about four tons, and its cost
was 1915 900.
The body is supported by four tritons
and the coachman's foOtboard is
large shell surrounded by designs of
sea plants. The design of eight palm
trees laden with spoils is emblematic
of the victories won by Great Britain
over her enemies.
On the roof are shown figures of
three boys adorned with flowers.
These represent the United Kingdom
and they support the imperial crown
on their heads. In their hands they
hold the scepter-sword of state-and
other insignia of royalty. The panels
of the upper portion of the coach are
of beveled glass, the four lower of
copper, painted in enamel.
The wheels of this coach are in imi-
tation of those of the triumphal char.
lots of the ancient Romans. The har-
ness is made of red morocco leather.
with ornaments Of silver gilt, the
reins being of crimson silk and the
saddles of crimson velvet embroidered
with gold.
The royal coach is not the only
snowy equipage that figures in British
state ceremonials. There is the speak
er's state coach. said to be the Oldest
carriage in England. 1t is still in
usable condition. This coach was built
in the seventeenth century. and there
is tradition to the effect that Oliver
Cromwell once rode in it. The seat
opposite the speaker is occupied by
the chaplain and train bearer. Each
speaker has his coat-of-arms and crest
inserted among the details OF the side
panels.
State carriages, which came to lie
used in England about the middle of
the sixteenth century. were introduce
ed from Germany. The first coach
Evening star., 1927-11-20
RONOMETERJ
TEMPERATURE ROOM
... Of 90.
u. Naval
Oh

serves also in the instruction of stu.
dents. Its work is directed partieu.
larly toward the investigation of yari.
able stars and the study Of occultation
phenomena.
Within the last half century or so
there has been advancing, by great
strides, the So.cal,ed new astronomy"
that branch of the science which
searches out the secrets of the heav-
emily bodies by analyzing the light that
comes from them. This is "astrophys.
ical astronomy" Its great instrument
Is the spectroscope. that marvellous
invention which splits a ray of light
into it's constituent colors and reveals
within them a cipher message bearing
an almost unbelievable number Of ce-
lestial secrets.
In the forefront of the worlds astro-
physical observatorieS is that at Mount
wilson, Calf, with which Washington
can claim a connection, as ii is under
the general direction of the Carnegie
Institution, which has its headquar-
ters on Sixteenth street. Occasionally
members of it's staff come here for lec-
lures, and once Il year the stations
achievements are portrayed in the in
stitution's annual exhibition, oren TO
the public.
But Washington also has an astro-
physical observatory of its own, oper-
ated by the Smithsonian Institution.
Its funds are meager. it's workers are
few. and it has found it advisable to
concentrate on one line of work, the
study of the sun. and particularly of
solar radiation. But in this field Ii
has gained the attention of the whole
astronomical world.
In the observatory here. the late DIR.
Langley of flying g-machine fame. once
it's director. invented the "bolometer."
an instrument for measuring the heat
of light rays. So delicate is it that 1t
will register temperature changes Of
one-millionth of degree Centigrade.
It's present director, DIR. c. G.. Abbot,
is known everywhere by astronomers
and by large section of the public
as an authority on the sun.
To speak of the study of the sun
is to call to mind one more field Of re-
search into which scientists have very
recently been making short advances
Who can estimate the immense posi-.
bilites for useful discovery that lie in
that elusive phenomenon of magne-
tism. solar and terrestrial? The ati-
rora. the radio. the strange disturb:
ances called magnetic storms" elec.
tricity itself all lie in this field. But
how they are related is yet one of the
intriguing mysteries of science. In
Washington. the Carnegie Institution
maintains its plant for studying
earth magnetism. and from here
sends out the we'll known .non-mag.
netic yacht Carnegie on its long
cruises 10 remote seas.
However far the searchers of the
skies go, alluring problems still beckon
them on. Astronomical discovery is
endless The Washington scientists
here in our midst are doing their
share in seeking the answers to the
questions written across the face of
the skies. and in the meantime turn
ing the knowledge already gained to
the welfare of mankind.
Evening star., 1927-11-20
Time for Clocks and Watches of Coun-
try Regulated Through Results OBJ
tame a Naval Observatory National
Capital Holds Position as One of
Worlds Centers for This Branch of
Science.

of land have been the guides Of ocean
navigation.
Now, as in all times past, the sun,
moon and stars are the sailors beacon
lights. Over thousands of miles of
trackless waste they bring the giant
liners exactly to the one little spot on
earth at which the ships aimed They
do so through the medium of the
charts and tables so laboriously
worked out in the worlds observa-
tories.
Don't you think. in view of these
services, you can revise your idea that
astronomy is not an especially useful
science?"
We readily conceded the point. And
yet. at that, we do not like to think
of astronomy as primarily of practical
value. For many OF us, its discoveries
must always continue to satisfy diff
ferent and doubtless q loftier need.
Its big appeal must always be 10
something more than our convenience.
Its greatest service must continue to
consist in catching us up from the
pinpricks of everyday living into
region where littleness has no place
where, in watching the maJestlc jour-
neyings of the sky's inhabitants. we
feel, now and then, breath OF the
III WHICH, tHry oCSih W
make their endless rounds.
* X X X
WASHINGTON people, particularly,
w have a warrant for appreciating
the astronomers. For Washington,
over a period of more than half CEN
tury, has been one of the leading as
Economical centers of the world.
Out on Massachusetts avenue, the
United States Naval Observatory gives
its constant service to the whole wide
country. 1t is one of the worlds half
dozen great Government obServatorles,
such as those at Greenwich and Paris
On the Georgetown University grounds
stands the observatory of that 1nstl-
tuition, the oldest i'm Washington and
said to be the third Oldest in the
United States. South of the Mall Is
the astrophysica observatory of the
Smithsonian Institution. The Car
negie Institution studies here the re-
! lation between sun spots and the
earth's magnetism, and directs from
! its Sixteenth street headquarters the
! general work of the famous Mount
| Wilson Observatory in California. A
! glance at the work some of these in
! stitutions are carrying on will inter-
! est Washington's amateur stargaZers,
! OF Wnom, 10 Judge from tne feSuidI [
Thursday night crowds at the Naval
! Observatory, there are many thou
sands.
iHWHY is, it, many have asked,
that place for studying the
stars is called a Naval observatory"
Because Of its services to naval
navigation" is of course, the general
answer. But a specific reason is that
it grew out of a naval office which
originally had nothing to do with sky
observations, but was charged simply
with the duty Of correcting and caring
for charts and instruments for naval
vessels.
For many years prior to 1890, II was
just good luck II a naval vessel found
itself fitted with good navigating in.
struments. When old vessels went
out Of commission, their chronometers
Evening star., 1927-11-20
Vanished Mountains.
IT has been observed that in Il

TT has been observed that in the
neighborhood of great ranges of
mountains the force of gravity Is
slighter than elsewhere. and the ex.
planation is that the earth's crust is
1t has been heayed up.
Assuming this to be general law.
one authority points out that it is pos
sible to discover where ancient noun.
tains. now worn away, and leveled by
the action of the elements, once ex-
listed, because the density of the
underlying rocks has not changed
Evening star., 1927-11-20

on time, when it was not healthy for
any vessel due for an appointment
to be kept waiting.
RUT still more important than this
time service, from the observa-
tory'S own standpoint. at least. is the
continuation of the early work of as
sisting navigation. The American
Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac"
showing the position of sun. moon,
and many fundamental stars. is the
bis objective of the observatory s
efforts. Its publication has been off,
cially termed 1.-The most important
astronomical duty of the Govern
ment." Not only is this book filled
with tables of figures, almost the
right hand of the captain of a vessel
at sea, but its data are used by
astronomers in making their ex-
tremely fine calculations. and hence
must be as nearly correct as human
hands and eyes can make them.
That means that the instruments
must be constantly in use in taking
observations for position, etc. when
ever the weather will permit. Often
these run in series. and a single series
may include tens of thousands OF OBJ
seryati0ns and cover many years.
Even this ObServational work. how
ever, may find short cut to practical
uses. For example, one of the daily
tasks is to take a photograph of the
sun. 1t has been found that when the
sun spots are particularly prominent
we can ioo4 Tor electrical disturbances
here on earth to follow shortly. The
observatory is always IN close touch
with the telegraph companies. and no.
titles them when the signs indicate ap-
preaching trouble. They are able to
take precautions in advance and save
their cables from damage or destruc-
ton.
The work of the Naval Observatory
is thus much more routine than spec
tacular, and no doubt e. most of US
would seem laborious and tedious.
THE elaborate plant and equipment
= of the Naval Observatory rather
overshadow another Washington
watch tower of the skies which Is even
older in astronomical work. The OBJ
servatory at Georgetown University
began it's long career in 1S43. preceded
in this country only by observatoriez
at Harvard and Cincinnati.
The Georgetown telescope Is equato-
rally mounted and has an aperture
of ~ inches. Like the Naval Obscrva
tory instruments. it In a refractOr.
The observatory gives much of its at
tention to making observations, and
Evening star., 1927-11-20
BY OTTO WILSON.
. HE Wise Man leaned back in
his chair and looked up from
the book he was reading.
L. 4

the book he was reading.
Suppose. he said, you
were asked to name the class
OF scientists here in Washington
whose work touched the lives of all
of us most intimately day by day and
hour by hour Whom would you
name?"
The medical men," we hazarded.
'NThe chemists? The botanists?"
They all help" said the Wise Man,
"much more than most of us realize.
But there is another little group
whose work is even less appreciated
by the public. How about the
astronomers"
THE astronomers? How do they
help? OF course. culturaily. their dis
coveries are significant almost beyond
. stating But the stars are so very.
very far away. What could be more
useless. practically, than to study
them
Thousands of people have that
same idea. But the fact is that our
modern, high-pressure world could
hardly carry on a week at its present
rate If the labors of the astronomer
were withdrawn.
Look at your watch. 1t gives you
the time by which you meet a multi
tude of appointments. The people you
meet are there because they have
similar watches. But suppose all
these timepieces We've left free TO go
their own gait. What chaos you
would have, Whatfa gamble it would
be to try TO make{a train, or conduct
an office. or keepiany simple engage
ment.
"All that makes this busy inter
nf Gig hpit @
the acceptance fof common system
of time measurement. TO which all
our separatej timepieces are more or
less closely ;attuned.
That system comes direct from the
watchers Of the stars. Nothing but
the daily march Of the heavenly
bodies across the sky can be relied
upon as IAN unfailins time standard.
SO IL is hhe man at the transit instru.
ment who really regulates the actions
of the/wfole hundred odd millions of
us. is that, would you say, of no
practical usefulness?
HRUT that is only a part. What
III did you have for breakfast!
Coffee, no doubt. Where did it come
from Brazil, or Colombia, or Java
OR perhaps you had cocoa from
Africa, sweetened with sugar from
Cuba or Hawaii.
.'The wool in your suit may have
come from Australia, the buttons
from Ecuador. Your shoe leather
may bark back to Argentina, youi
linen collar to Ireland. This fiool
sfellac came from a forest in India
this mahogany from Central Amer
ica this rubber from Ceylon or Ma
Isvsia. We draw on the ends of the
earth for our comfort. And for ever,
article we use we can thank IN
cyerseas article we use we can thanh
the astronomers. Because the as
tronomers from the time when th'
.srst crazy boatman sailed out of sigh
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-30
Chance Against Macks As CS Battle to Hold Second Place
RULES FOR UMPIRING
STATED BY OHM ZEN

How to keep the pop" bottle from
whizZing around your ear and thu
teams happy in the most thankless jol
in the world is told by Bill Dinneen
former big league pitcher and for th'
last Is years an American League UNI
pire, in the July issue of the Ameri
can Boy Magazine.
Here are his rules:
l. Never lose sight of the ball.
Remember that no play can be
made without it.
2. Get ION top" of the play The
closer you are the better you can
see what's happening.
3. I'm calling balls, stand as
nearly on line with the pitcher
and the plate as you can. Avoid
angles
4. Learn to relax every chance
you get. Otherwise the tension may
crack you.
5. Don't pay any attention to
crabbers. That's the easiest way.
6. Be prepared. Try to figure
the play ahead of time. Be on the
lookout for base throw. hit
and-run play or an attempt to
steal.
Z. On interference" or "Out OF
line plays give your decision
quickly.
8. Master the rules. You can't
afford to let the players get the
idea that they know more than
you do.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-30

BY "a Associated Press
Pittsburgh and st. Louis. ringleaders
the National League pennant scram-
BILE, still were graphing for firm
footing on the peak today after one
of the most gruelling series of the
current season. AS honors were di-
vided In the four-game melee, the Cor
sairs left the home town of the world
champions with a threadbare hold of
half a game on first place.
The Cards clustered five runs in an
eight-inning comeback to shade the
Pirates out in the series final by 10 to
}. Manager Bob O'Farrell injected him
self for duty behind the plate to figure
in the triumph after having been on
the hospital list since May IS.
During the series, the Buccaneers
were obliged to call upon four pitchers
in each of the last three games, while
four were used by the Cardinals yes
terday and the day previous.
All told, the Pirates utilized 13 pitch
ers, the Cardinals IL. For the four
games, the Pittsburgh club rolled up
43 hits for 30 runs, while st. Louis
gathered the same number of hits for
% runs.
The Cubs closed a four-session series
in Cincinnati with an even break by
annexing the final from the Reds by
? to l, in 10 innings. Carl Mays, star
hurler, underwent an operation for
hernia that will force him out of the
lineup for the remainder of the sea-
son.
The Phillies emerged in front by
5 to in an opening engagement
with the Robins, Farmer Jack Scott
coming to the relief of Pitcher
Ferguson when a Brooklyn rally
threatened in the ninth. Wilbert
Robinson observed his siXty.third
birthday.
Rain kept the Giants and Braves
idle on a scheduled double program
The American League struggle
began to look more and more like
a runaway affair with the New York
Yankees coasting in front on an IL
game margin. The laundering and
down trodden Red Sox fell victims
to the Rupert rifles to the extent of
TO 2. 1t was the eleventh consecu-
tive reversal for Boston. Lou Gehrig,
who was Columbia's leading batsman
in his college days, embellished the
day by hosting out his twenty
fourth four Dagger to tie Babe Ruth's
total for the present season.
The Bambino was back in the
fray, however. and helped make a
lot of noise with a double and three
singles in five trips to the plate.
Washington cuffed the Athletics
out of second place by triumphing
by to 8. The Mackmen were
shuff1ed back to fourth place. the
White Sox nosing into third place on
a half-game leeway.
At Chicago, Ted Blankenship
BANKED the Indians by to 0 in the
first section of a double header, but
Cleveland came from behind in the
closing innings of the night cap to
win out by s to 6.
Detroit made a clean sweep OF a
series with the Browns by taking the
fourth and final contest by TO 3.
Stoner went the route for the Tigers,
Welding only six hits. Fothergill
drove for the circuit.
A summary of yesterdays games:
AMERICAN LEAGUE.
Boston ......... O20oooooo 90 8 .
New York 00I11 041 Ks Is 2
Wiltse and Hartley; Pepgras and Grabow-
ski.
Detroit , 0000040 5x-9 II
Jones. CASTOR and Schang; Stoner ana
Bassler.