Alexander] ORION, THE MIGHTY HUNTER 383 



bottom is really the great nebula that is commonly called the 

 "fish-mouth." It has a fancied resemblance to some monster 

 head. The nebula is hazy even to the naksd eye. Six very 

 fine stars that without the aid of a telescope appear as one, lie 

 directly within the nebula; this gives some indication of the 

 vastness of this incandescent mass. It is further interesting owing 

 to the fact that these stars are known as Orion's trapezium from 

 the position they take when seen through a powerful glass. Sir 

 John Herschel in writing of the nebula, says that it appears as a 

 mass of curdling liquid, and compares it "to the breaking up of a 

 mackeral sky." In 1807 the wise men at Leipzig thought to spoil 

 the great heroic figure of the heavens by taking the belt and sword 

 stars and making them into a new constellation, Napoleon: we 

 are glad that nothing came of this. 



In closing it should be stated that the Greeks held Orion to be 

 threatening and often hurled bitter invective at him. Many a 

 classic ship or fleet of war galleys that came to grief in those olden 

 days, met their fate because Orion frowned upon them; at least 

 so thought the Ancients, hence the ugly language they used in 

 speaking of him from time to time. But in spite of this Orion 

 is today as he has ever been the glory of the winter's night, when 

 stars are plain to see, and though we do not fear him today, we at 

 least stand in awe of his supreme beauty and towering, gleaming 

 majesty. 



Starlight 

 Liberty Hyde Bailev 



I slept night long in the starlight 



Under the calm great sky 

 The cool of the depths was about me 



As the silent hours went by. 



The day had been one of dejection 



It followed me on to my rest 

 And I took me out to the starlights 



When the day went down in the west. 



Often I woke from my slumber 



And the silent stars were there 

 In passionless steadfast legions 



On guard in the welkin bare. 



Under the gleam of the starshine 



Motionless long I lay 

 Knowing at last I had mastered,— 



As calm and as silent as they. 



— From Wind and Weather. 



