Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-09-25


r some cases greatly
ooAiet oouSeo disturbed by the
Apprehension. phenomenon ponaf ne Tonas Of ia
so near the earth as to be brilliantly
visible. The Star OF September Is,
1882. SAYS:
some Superstftious people, who are
already making themselves unhappy
over the apprehension that the end OF
the world Is to come through the cur
rent comet, attribute the late tremen-
dous rainStorm to the influence of this
erratic visitor in our skies 1t is quite
evident. however, that the storm Of last
week was nothing more than the old
fashioned 'equinoxial,' which came this
year just on time. or about the twenty
second OF September. The present
comet is likely to be as harmless as its
numerous predecessors which have
famed across the heavens and caused
popular terror Their immense velocity
and the eccentric courses they take,
whereby there is always a possibility
that they may collide with the earth or
some OF the other planetary bodies. NAV
naturally make them objects of appre-
hension; but the Investigations of the
scientists have supplied the data to
show that the matter composing both
the nucleus and the tail of comets is
SO extremely thin that in the improb-
able event OF one striking our planet no
harm would be done to the earth or its
inhabitants, though it might be bad for
the comet. In fact, it is believed that
portions of very many comets have been
absorbed IN the atmosphere of the earth
without anybody being the wiser. The
extreme attenuation CT the matter COM
DC hnyr Evyr Co.
stars of a very low order of magnitude
have been seen through even the nuclei
OF the comets and by the further fact
that comets millions of miles in thick
ness and millions upon millions in length
have never been known to cause any
perturbation of the planetary motions,
though themselves so much Influenced
by the planets they have approached as
to entirely change their orbit. This was
notably the case with what was called
LexelPs lost comet which in 1867 came
so near Jupiter that the attraction of
that planet completely changed its
orbit, and in l779 it again encountered
Jupiter, receiving another orbital twist
from that big planet that sent it off
into remote space and so entirely
changed its orbit that If it has ever ap-
peared since nobody has recognized it
as Lexell'S comet
The following news item in The Star
OF September %, 1882, presents close
Closeup View of one Of the most
Herhert Snenoer interesting for
eign sitors
ever entertained in Washington;
Mr.. Herbert Spencer the great Eng
lish philosopher. is evidently bent on
seeing for himself everything that is
worth seeing in this city He wanders
about during the day accompanied by
his friend, Mr. Lown. peering into the
store windows and dropping into the
public buildings as the fancy suits.
They are both very deliberate in their
movements and Mr. Lown is evidently
the leader on all voyages Of discovery
into unknown and uncertain places.
The great philosopher requires consid-
cradle persuasion to induce him to fol-
low his more ventureSOme companion.
1t is an interesting spectacle to watch
the distinguished author of Principal
balancing himself on the edge of
curEstone while his companion points
out some object on the other side to be
investigated. The spectator sees a man
VI IuculuIl IclBHJ, SpdIcly Dullt,
with long face devoid of whiskers ex-
cept a pair of slight mutton chops, a
complexion full and rudy and an i'm
mense pair of spectacles concealing his
eyes. A soft felt hat of grayish color
and remarkable shape and size Is pulled
down on the back of his head. making
a sort of nimbus. and the masses of
grayish hair escaping from under it
rather strengthen the impression. AS
he stands there with the tails Of his
cut-away blue coat Tapping in the
breeze and displaying a white vest I'M
derneath, and his eyes rowing up and
down the street, he looks like an inno-
cent abroad and not like an English
philosopher. But presently he and his
friend agree upon line Of action and
cross. AS he comes nearer the impress
sion received at a distance that his
clothes do not fit him Is confirmed. but
a steady, firm tread and a pair Of
broad-soled English walking shoes show
that the distinguished foreigner is &C
customed to walking and knows how
to do it. Mr.. Spencer announced when
he came to this country that he came
for rest and did not wish to be troubled
with receptions and other attentions
Since he has been here he has received
no visitors and has made no visits"