ded, and in about sixteen months had
disappeared.

Amidst all the conjecture concerning this remarkable appearance, some
regarding it as a new world in process of creation, others as a sun on
fire, Tycho Brahe held to the belief, though unable to prove it, that it
was a star with a regular period of light and of darkness, caused
possibly by its nearness to, or distance from, the earth. When the
telescope was invented, forty years later, the accuracy of this theory
was known. At the spot carefully mapped out by Tycho Brahe, a telescopic
star was found, undoubtedly the same one whose brilliant appearance had
so startled the world in 1572. Upon this, astronomers began to study the
annals of their science for similar appearances, and found that a very
brilliant star had appeared and disappeared near the same spot in the
heavens in 1264, and also in 945. The inference was that this star had a
period of about three hundred years, and counting back, imagination
might place one of its periods of brilliancy very near the time of
Christ's birth. For this reason it received the name of the Star of
Bethlehem, and many have fully accepted the theory which makes this
variable luminary identical with the "Star of the East."

This second theory has especial interest just now, for if astronomical
calculations are correct, we may look for the reappearance of this
remarkable star during the coming year. If it does fulfill the
prediction of its return it must be reckoned as one of the most
noteworthy phenomena of the century.

For the benefit of amateur observers, who are as likely as any to be the
first to perceive this remarkable sight, we may say that Cassiopeia, the
constellation in which it will appear, lies very near the North Star.
You all know how to find the Polar Star by the pointers of the Great
Dipper; continue this line beyond about an equal distance, and you will
strike Caph, the largest star in Cassiopeia, or the Chair, so-called
because the stars form the outline of an inverted chair. Near one of
these the wandering luminary will probably flash out, "to amaze a
wondering world."

We may remark, in conclusion, that though there are quite a number of
variable stars, their nature and the cause of their changes are but
imperfectly understood. The Star of Bethlehem has no doubt an orbit,
which brings it much nearer the earth at some times than others. But
astronomers do not believe that the mere fact of distance explains all