Year: 1874

Secretary is theoretically supposed to manage
are practically beyond his control.





The Transit OF Venus.


The multitudes that crowd our thorough
fares, the mechanics, speculators and mer-
chant princes.who meet in the arena of COM
mercial conflict are not more absorbed to-day
in schemes by which to climb to extended
influence and wealth than are the apostles Of
astronomical science in the study and solution
Of o problem momentous in its importance to
the entire civilized world. If we cast forward
prophetic glance of the minds eye to the
fourth day of July, 1876. we can realize how
the booming of o thousand cannon and the
mellow chimes of thousand bells, inter-
mingled with cries of gladness from every
town and hilltop and homestead in the giant
Republic OF the West, will usher in day Of
festival and joy commemorative Of eventful
battles fought and won and of one of the
most glorious triumphs Of modern times in
the cause Of human freedom. What that
centennial celebration will be to us
this eighth day of December Is to the
astronomical and the whole scientific
world. Its dawn has not been heralded with
the same pomp or regalia of war. for it is
centennial Of one Of sciences peaceful strug-
giles, and an epoch in the era Of increased
enlightenment and happiness for men. Never
theless, the busy throngs Of men upon the
highways seem to be little mindful of it, for
the scenes Of its practical celebration are laid
in other clmes than ours Before another
sun shall rise from the Atlantic waves the
planet Venus, in its journey round the grand
luminary, will have passed between it and
the earth--an event which has not occurred
for the past hundred years. This long looked
for phenomenon will be scanned and scruti-
nized to-day by detachments Of scientific
observers in every portion of the illuminated
hemisphere Of the earth. No region has been
lett unexplored wherein it was thought that
positions favorable for successful observances
could be obtained. Accordingly the footsteps
of the scientific army may be traced in every
quarter Of the globe save our own. Far in
the heart Of the Asatic Continent
on the desert plains of Africa, among the
AoACc Va VAAO JV0SAVAA oCocy Va IAAO OuAAAA6
sands Of Hindostan and from the frozen cliffs
of Siberia, astronomers of every country and
race are at this moment manipulating their
scientific apparatus and pointing their tele-
scopes at the sun in anxious expectation of
the wonderful event. United in spirit in pur-
pose and in heart as they are, the more ma
terial bond of the electric telegraph chains
them together, and interchanges their thoughts
and sympathies with lightning speed from
end to end of the earth It is needless to recapit-
ulate here the nature Of the observations and
their importance to navigation, commerce and
science, as well as their influence on the spec
ulations regarding the myriads Of celestial
worlds that wander through the vault OF
heaven; those have already been fully set
forth in the HERALD. In the universities, col
leges and schools of the nations, in the scientific
institutions and homes of learned men, many
mind is this day rejoiced, and awaits with
quickening pulse the momentous intelligence
which will soon be flashing over the seas and
continents the results of the labors Of the
scientists in observing the transit Of the
morning star. While we mentally contem-
plate this glorious spectacle Of learned men, in
the interest of science and humanity cleaving
their way to the limits of the world and bat
tering down with colossal force the barriers
which hitherto half concealed the wondrous
works of the universe, it is impossible not to
admire the majestic stride that science has
made within recent centuries, and the admira-
BILE part it plays in binding more closely
together the nations of the earth. The con-
quests of old were mainly those of arms and
physical force; but, like every material work,
they perish and crumble beneath the wand Of
Time whereas triumphs like those which it
is hoped to achieve to-day will endure to the
latest ages, and the names connected there
with will be linked with the Keplers and the
Newtons, to share their fame and immor-
tality, evoking the gratitude and admiration
of posterity forever