The north pole is not a fixed point on the earth's
surface, but moves around in rather an irregular way. True, the
motion is small; a circle of sixty feet in diameter will include
the pole in its widest range. This is a very small matter so far
as the interests of daily life are concerned; but it is very
important to the astronomer. It is not simply a motion of the pole
of the earth, but a wobbling of the solid earth itself. No one
knows what conclusions of importance to our race may yet follow
from a study of the stupendous forces necessary to produce even
this slight motion.
The director of this new observatory has already distinguished
himself in the delicate and difficult work of investigating this
motion, and I am glad to know that he is continuing the work here
with one of the finest instruments ever used for the purpose, a
splendid product of American mechanical genius. I can assure you
that astronomers the world over will look with the greatest
interest for Professor Doolittle's success in the arduous task he
has undertaken.
There is one question connected with these studies of the universe
on which I have not touched, and which is, nevertheless, of
transcendent interest.
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