Nashville Patriot

The Comet.

It has been announced in the papers of this city that persons visiting the Capitol for the purpose of examining the great collection of the arts now on exhibition in the Hall of Representatives, can have an opportunity at the same time of viewing, through a telescope of considerable power, the comet that at present is attracting such universal attention. This, to most persons may seem well enough, for of course every one has a desire to see all that may be seen of this wonder of the skies. Yet, a very little knowledge in regard to the motions of those unsubstantial bodies will show at once that this is rather a dangerous sort of amusement. From the light nature of the matter of which comets are composed, it is known that they are prone to attract, or be attracted by, any of the heavenly bodies. There are instances on record of their having been drawn from their paths by the motion of a single planet, so much as to shorten the time of their revolution several months. I shall not attempt to prove that the brightness of bodies has anything to do with attraction; yet lest it should, would it not be well for the ladies now visiting the Capitol of evenings for the purpose of getting a peep at the comet, to wear veils? If they do not, there is no telling the influence their sparkling eyes may have on his long-tailed majesty. The first thing we know he may be winding his elongated appendage about us like a huge serpent, making a general smash-up of crinoline and other unsubstantial things.

In calculating his future movements, would advise those who have any desire to approximate to accuracy, to take into account the disturbing influence here alluded to; if they do not, I will venture to predict that no one can tell, within the space of time required to harmonize democracy in the State of Tennessee, what he will do with the gallon of currency, as he will a he will

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