Last Year's Nest [pp. 44]

OVERLAND MONTHLY
installed at the summit of Mont-Blanc, on
the other hand,is in one of the worst possible situations. A large proportion of the
nights will be cloudy and stormy, even in
the summer. When the sky is clear the air
will undoubtly be wonderfully transparent.
But there is every likelihood that the lack of
steadiness of the stars their twinkling
will prevent delicate measurements on the
vast majority of the few clear nights. Such
a station is suitable for those comparative
observations at high and low levels which
require a transparent air; and not by any
means suitable for a permanent astronomical station, where the continuity of observation is so important. If we add to these
purely scientific disadvantages the discomforts and the perils of a residence on the
summit, and of journeys to and fro, it becomes
a serious question whether the establishment
of a permanent station on such a site as
this is to be praised or blamed. In all
probability no scientific result will be
reached on Mont-Blanc which could not be
attained on dozens of other peaks accessible
by railways or by entirely safe trails. We
must remember, too, that astronomical
observatories on high mountains, as at MontBlanc or Etna, must either be abandoned
altogether during the winter season, or,
if occupied, that the observers must be
subjected to extremely trying conditions
and to some danger from terrific storms
of wind, snow, hail, and from lightning.
The discomfort and monotony of such
a life, subjected to very low temperatures and surrounded by clouds and snow
for long periods, will unfit an ordinary individual for making the best use of the few
clear days which an Alpine winter presents.
Meteorological stations on mountains will
always be of some use. The mountain railways now building in great numbers will
afford excellent stations of this sort. And
as time goes on the use of balloons, etc., will
render even these of less importance.
The practical lessons to be learned from
the foregoing brief review are very simple,
though very important. It is certain that
in the future, no one will be justified in
establishing an astronomical observatory on
a site which has not previously been shown
to be suitable. While some mountain stations present great advantages for astronomical and astrophysical research this is by
no means the case for all. In establishing a
new observatory the conditions of great
transparency of the air and of great steadiness should both be insisted upon. Devoted
men can always be found to undergo necessary hardships in the pursuit of scientific
truth. If the scientific results do not
justify the exposure and the danger, we no
longer admire the effort as devotion, but
blame it as foolhardiness.
LAST YEAR'S NEST
' There are no birds in last year's nest."-Lo/?egl/7low.
THE dove that has found a happier rest
Recks little enough of last year's nest;
The sadder thought of birdlings dead,
The withered bough and the silver thread
Of phantom songs that haunt the heart,
And all the piteous, desolate part,
Remain to the mate who lingers near
That last year's nest, now brown and sere.
ILf. R. Jdilec!/.
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