We wish now to direct the tube towards the sun, and this “without dazzling the eyes as by the ordinary method.”  This may be done in two ways.  We may either, before commencing work—­that is, before fastening our elastic cord so as to exclude all light—­direct the tube so that its shadow shall be a perfect circle (when of course it is truly directed), then fasten the cord and afterwards we can easily keep the sun in the field by slightly shifting the tube as occasion requires.  Or (if the elastic cord has already been fastened) we may remove the eye-tube and shift the telescope-tube about—­the direction in which the sun lies being roughly known—­until we see the spot of light received down the telescope’s axis grow brighter and brighter and finally become a spot of sun-light.  If a card be held near the focus of the telescope there will be seen in fact an image of the sun.  The telescope being now properly directed, the eye-tube may be slipped in again, and the sun may be kept in the field as before.

There will now be seen upon the screen a picture of the sun very brilliant and pleasing, but perhaps a little out of focus.  The focusing should therefore next be attended to, the increase of clearness in the image being the test of approach to the true focus.  And again, it will be well to try the effect of slight changes of distance between the screen and the telescope’s eye-piece.  Mr. Howlett considers one yard as a convenient distance for producing an excellent effect with almost any eye-piece that the state of the atmosphere will admit of.  Of course, the image becomes more sharply defined if we bring the screen nearer to the telescope, while all the details are enlarged when we move the screen away.  The enlargement has no limits save those depending on the amount of light in the image.  But, of course, the observer must not expect enlargement to bring with it a view of new details, after a certain magnitude of image has been attained.  Still there is something instructive, I think, in occasionally getting a very magnified view of some remarkable spot.  I have often looked with enhanced feelings of awe and wonder on the gigantic image of a solar spot thrown by means of the diagonal eye-piece upon the ceiling of the observing-room.  Blurred and indistinct through over-magnifying, yet with a new meaning to me, there the vast abysm lies pictured; vague imaginings of the vast and incomprehensible agencies at work in the great centre of our system crowd unbidden into my mind; and I seem to feel—­not merely think about—­the stupendous grandeur of that life-emitting orb.

To return, however, to observation:—­By slightly shifting the tube, different parts of the solar disc can be brought successively upon the screen and scrutinized as readily as if they were drawn upon a chart.  “With a power of—­say about 60 or 80 linear—­the most minute solar spot, properly so called, that is capable of formation” (Mr. Howlett believes “they are never less than