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Editorial 



How The Stars Help Us 



Perhaps most of us find that the beauty of the stars is their 

 most important use; this is well, for there is a sure uplift to the 

 spirit in contemplating the starry heavens. When we consider 

 that each star is a glowing sun, and that many of them undoubtedly 

 have planets circling about them as does our sun and probably 

 inhabited by thinking beings like those on our own earth, the 

 thought is overwhelming and serves two purposes: it makes us 

 realize our own modest place in the great scheme of things, and it 

 brings to us anew a realization of the greatness of the underlying, 

 all-permeating power and wisdom of God. 



However, from the earliest times the study of the stars has been 

 of practical use to the people of this earth ; and at the present time 

 we owe to the science of astronomy many practical helps. The 

 study of the stars gives the nations of the world the accurate time. 

 The stars are used by sailors in voyages around the world in 

 finding their position in mid-ocean as well as in helping them to 

 direct their courses. The tides are scheduled by astronomy, and 

 to know surely when low or high tides are due at certain ports is 

 of the greatest use to the captains of ships. Astronomers de- 

 termine the exact latitude and longitude on the Earth's surface, 

 and this enables us to make accurate maps of islands and con- 

 tinents, and also helps to settle boundary lines between nations. 

 It may not be generally known that the boundary line between 

 Canada and the United States from Minnesota almost to the 

 Pacific is the imaginary line called the 49th parallel of latitude, 

 and the astronomers determine where this line falls with an ac- 

 curacy that does not vary more than 10 or 15 feet. It is one of 

 the most encouraging facts in History and must make the "stars 



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