as always been revealed as the divine.

The heavens signify much higher power and wisdom to us; we retain the
old pictures and groupings for the convenience of finding individual
stars. It is enough for the astronomer that we speak of a star as
situated right ascension 13' 45", declination 88 deg. 40'. But for
most people, if not all, it is better to call it Polaris. So we
might speak of a lake in latitude 42 deg. 40', longitude 79 deg. 22', but
it would be clearer to most persons to say Chatauqua. For exact
location of a star, right ascension and declination must be given;
but for general indication its name or place in a constellation
is sufficiently exact. The heaven is rather indeterminably laid
out in irregular tracts, and the mythological names are preserved.
The brightest stars are then indicated in order by the letters of
the Greek alphabet--Alpha (a), Beta (b), Gamma (g), etc. After
these are exhausted, the Roman alphabet is used in the same manner,
and then numbers are resorted to; so that the famous star 61 Cygni
is the 111th star in brightness in that one constellation. An
acquaintance with the names, peculiarities, and movements of the
stars visible at different seasons of the year is an unceasing
source of pleasure. It [Page 197] is not vision alone that is
gratified, for one fine enough may hear the morning stars sing
together, and understand the speech that day uttereth unto day, and
the knowledge that night showeth unto night. One never can be alone
if he is familiarly acquainted with the stars. He rises early in the
summer morning, that he may see his winter friends; in winter, that
he may gladden himself with a sight of the summer stars. He hails
their successive rising as he does the coming of his personal
friends from beyond the sea. On the wide ocean he is commercing with
the skies, his rapt soul sitting in his eyes. Under the clear skies
of the East he hears God's voice speaking to him, as to Abraham, and
saying, "Look now toward the heavens, and tell the number of the
stars, if thou be able to number them."

A general acquaintance with the stars will be first attempted;
a more particular knowledge afterward. Fig. 67 (page 201) is a
map of the circumpolar region, which is in full view every clear
night. It revolves daily round Polaris, its central point. Toward
this star, the two end stars of the Great Dipper ever point, and
are in consequence called "the Pointers." The map may be held toward
t