_Friendly Indulgences._—Every man whose astronomical predilections are known, and who has a telescope of any size, is pestered with applications from friends and others who wish to view some of the wonders of the heavens. Of course it is the duty of all of us to encourage a laudable interest in the science, especially when evinced by neighbours or acquaintances; but the utility of an observer constituting himself a showman, and sacrificing many valuable hours which might be spent in useful observations, may be seriously questioned. The weather is so bad in this country that we can ill spare an hour from our scanty store. Is it therefore desirable to satisfy the idle curiosity of people who have no deep-seated regard for astronomy, and will certainly never exhibit their professed interest in a substantial manner? Assuredly not. The time of our observers is altogether too valuable to be employed in this fashion. Yet it is an undisputed fact that some self-denying amateurs are unwearying in their efforts to accommodate their friends in the respect alluded to. My own impression is that, except in special cases, the observer will best consult the interests of astronomy, as well as his own convenience and pleasure, by declining the character of showman; for depend upon it a person who appreciates the science in the right fashion will find ways and means to procure a telescope and gratify his tastes to the fullest capacity. Some years ago I took considerable trouble on several evenings in showing a variety of objects to a clerical friend, who expressed an intention to buy a telescope and devote his leisure to the science. I spent many hours in explanations &c.; but some weeks later my pupil informed me his expenses were so heavy that he really could not afford to purchase instruments. Yet I found soon after that he afforded £30 in a useless embellishment of the front of his residence, and it so disgusted me that I resolved to waste no more precious time in a similar way.
_Open-Air Observing._—Night air is generally thought to be pernicious to health; but the longevity of astronomers is certainly opposed to this idea. Those observers who are unusually susceptible to affections of the respiratory organs must of course exercise extreme care, and will hardly be wise in pursuing astronomical work out of doors on keen, wintry nights. But others, less liable to climatic influences, may conduct operations with impunity and safety during the most severe weather. Precautions should always be taken to maintain a convenient degree of warmth; and, for the rest, the observer’s enthusiasm must sustain him. A “wadded dressing-gown” has been mentioned as an effective protection from cold. I have found that a long, thick overcoat, substantially lined with flannel, and under this a stout cardigan jacket, will resist the inroads of cold for a long time. On very trying nights a rug may also be thrown over the shoulders and strapped round the body. During intense frosts, however, the cold will penetrate (as I have found while engaged in prolonged watches for shooting-stars) through almost any covering. As soon as the observer becomes uncomfortably chilly he should go indoors and thoroughly warm his things before a fire. He may then return fortified to his work and pursue it for another period before the frost again makes its presence disagreeably felt. On windy nights a knitted woollen helmet to cover the head, and reaching to the shoulders, is an excellent protection; but an observer had better not wear it more often than is imperative, or it becomes a necessity on ordinary nights. It is a great mistake to suppose that “a glass of something hot” before going into the night air is a good preventive to catching cold. It acts rather in the contrary way. The reaction after the system has been unduly heated only renders the observer more sensitive, and the inhalation of cold air is then very liable to induce affections of the throat.