Year: 1876

occupy according to the theory OF its
revolving in a circular orbit, and soon
found the place it really occupied in
the sky differed materially from that
assignd to it. This theory was thus
at once shown to be incorrect, and he
had therefore TO form fresh one by
the combination of several circular
movements; and again he diligently
calculated its position, till, just as he
seemed to be on the verge of success,
the planet wandered away from the
path which he had assigned it to; and
once more he had to commence his
observations from the beginning. In
this way he continued to try one hy-
pothesis after another, submitting
each to the test OF most careful OBJ
servalion, till at length no fewer than
nineteen different theories had been
proposed, and the movements Of the
planets compared with those which
were calculated by these theories;
and yet the true solution of the prob
lem was still unbound. His perse-
verance, however, never failed, and
he toiled on, though eight long
years had been occupied in the task.
One important negative result he
had, however arrived at, and this was
that, whatever was the nature OF the
curve of the planets described, it was
not a circle nor a combination Of
circles. This was one great step to-
ward the solution of the task From
the very earliest ages it had beer as
sumed that as the circle seemed the
perfection Of form, all the heavenly
bodies must move in circles; but
Kepler now cast off this trammel, aud
then applied himself afresh to his
task. In looking at the greatness OF
his work We must remember that the
difficulty is much Increased by the
ia: that our station of observation
is itself in rapid motion. Could We
view the planets from the sun, we
should easily see their courses; but
as we cannot do this, allowance has
to be made in every calculation for
the movement of our standpoint, and
this motion was not then clearly un-
derstood. Having discarded the
theory of motion in circles, Kepler
now proceeded TO try other forms,
testing them as before, and the first
that occurred to him was the ellipse
The same series or calculations was
accordingly gone through again, and
this time the motion Of the planet
was found to agree with that assign
ed to it by the theory. The great
solved, and the JOY with which Kepler
enunciated the firrt of the laws which
bear his name can scarcely be i'm
agined. This law may be stated as
follows: The planets revolve around
the sun in elliptical orbits, the sun
being situated in one of the coci.
And what's life? Gro ask the maid.
The l0ve-light kindling in her eye;


Ask ere the beauty dim and fade


From blushing cheeks to wilt and die.
Life? Tis season here OF love.


Aforetaste of the Heaven above


And what is life? Go ask the saint


VINO tolls alog the narrow road.


Weary and travel-worn and faint.


Yetkeeps his eye on Faith-on God:


Ask and you hear the quick reply.


The preface to eternity


USE OF SILENCE.


A pity that so few people under
stand the full effect of well timed
silencel How eloquent it is in real
ityl Acquiescence, contradiction,
Difference, disdain. embarrassment,
and awe, may be expressed by saying
nothing. 1t may be necessary to illus
trate the paradox by few examples.
Do you seek an assurance OF your
lady-love's Affection? The fair one
confirms her lovers fondest hopes
by compliant and asserting silence.
Should you hear an assertion which
you may deem false, made by some
one of whose veracity politeness may
withhold you from openly declaring
your doubt, you denote difference
of opinion by remaining silent. Are
you receiving Ieprimand from su
perior? You mark your respect by
an attentive silence. Are you COM
PEELED to listen to the frivolous con-
versation OF fop? You signify your
opinion OF him by treating his Ioquac-
ity by contemptuous silence. Again
how much domestic strife might have
been prevented, how often might the
quarrel which by mutual aggrava-
ton has perhaps, terminated in
commencement by judicious ST.
lencel Those persons only who have
experienced them are aware of the
beneficial effects OF that forbearance,
which to the exasperating threat. the
malicious sneer, or the unjustly i'm
puted culpability, shall never answer
a word. A soft answer turns away
wrath; but sometimes erring human
ity cannot give this soft answer in

moments of irritation; in such cases
there stands the fortress OF silence,
with doors Wide open, as a refuge for
the tired spirit until calmer moments
come. Think OF this seriously, you
who glory in having "the last word"


ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.


Commodore John Barry, who has
been called "the father of the Amer
lean navy" was an Irishman by
birth, being born in the county of
Wexford, in 1745. He settled i'm
Philadelphia at the age of fifteen, and
made little fortune as master OF a
sailing vessel. At the commence
ment of the Revolution ne offered his
services to Congress and i'm February
1776, was appointed to the command
OF the Lexington, fourteen guns, and
after sharp skirmish, he took the