MD3PAD 97-99

[Toby G Levy]

        It's finally the 5th of June. Mason and Dixon, along with
astronomers around the world are observing the Transit of Venus. They
are required to record the time of four instants, two at the beginning
and two at the end. There is another Transit due in eight years and that
will be the last of their lifetime.

        The sky was cloudy right up to the day of the transit but
cleared up enough on the 5th to allow the astronomers a clear view of
the transit.  Everybody was nervous on that day, with the Vrooms
bustling about, causing Mason to pun "Dutch ado about nothing."

        Dixon is ecstatic, thinking of the glory of God's creations and
the greatness of Newton and Kepler to forecast the transit so
accurately.  He remembers his teacher William Emerson telling of
Galileo, after recanting his astronomical pronouncements, muttering
under his breath "Nevertheless, it moves."

        Mason and Dixon are a few seconds off in their observations.
Mason says that Dixon was over impatient, referring to his being born
under the sign of Leo and therefore suffering from "Leonation." Dixon
retorts that Mason was overly inflexible, due to being born under the
sign of Taurus, and therefore suffering from "Tauracity."

        The Zeemans acquire more slaves and so Mason and Dixon return to
eating at their house, relieving the intrigues among the astronomers and
the Vrooms.

        The rainy months following the Transit fly by, and in early
October Captain Harold of the Mercury tells Mason and Dixon that there
is enough good weather ahead for him to take them to the island of St.
Helena.

Tob y