“Unless it become wholly disintegrated by the pulling and hauling of the sun and planets, it will be seen again in 1910, and yet again in 1917,” wrote Dr. Poor in 1908, but as a matter of fact it was not observed on either occasion. Dr. Poor also predicted that early in 1921 it would again come into close approach with Jupiter, “and beyond that point its history cannot be predicted. This collision will probably end its story as far as the earth is concerned, for it will undoubtedly be still further broken up, and its orbit may be so changed that it will never afterwards be seen.” And we must leave it with this unsatisfactory conclusion, as it did not reappear in 1921, and nothing more has been seen or heard of this comet. By now (1925) it may be merely a derelict in space, at the mercy of any disturbing planet it may happen to pass on the way. These instances give some idea of the dangers to which comets are subjected as they drift like frail barks on the ocean of space. Whence they have come and whither they vanish, no one knows, but it has been suggested that there is a home of comets. This has been described as a shell of nebulous matter accompanying the sun and planets, though at a distance some thousands of times greater than that of the earth from the sun, yet much closer than the nearest star. “However, we have no direct evidence of any such comet-dropping envelope,” according to Professor C. A. Young. Yet supposing it does exist, we see in imagination baby comets cradled therein in nebulous mist until they are able to take care of themselves. Then they are presumably launched forth on their perilous career, as they make their way towards their ruler, the sun, to pay their respects. Woe betide them should they cross the path of one of the giant planets at an inauspicious moment, or approach too near the sun, which would prove equally disastrous. CHAPTER FIVE PHOTOGRAPHY AS APPLIED TO COMETS “With its three eyes—the eye of keenness, the eye of patient watchfulness, and the eye of artistic truth, photography promises to be a Cerberus to the science of the future, whose watchfulness will prevent the admission of error and detect truths which would otherwise escape us.” —R. A. PROCTOR. These words written by my father, in his book entitled _The Universe of Suns_, shortly after the appearance of the comet of 1882, have since been amply confirmed, not only in connection with the sun, moon, and stars, but still more so regarding the hitherto unknown peculiarities of comets. So far we have gained some idea of the appearance of a comet as seen with the naked eye, or with the aid of a telescope, but it now remains to be shown what can be accomplished by means of photography.