The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-27 00:00:00

THE CIVILIZATION OF 1870.

Seldom have our English skies been seen in such a tre-
mendous glow as they presented to the eye of the specta-
tor on Monday evening. For several weeks past the
Northern Lights, as they are commonly termed, have
made themselves visible at intervals with more or less
distinctness. On Tuesday evening they were again
observable ; but on Monday they flamed with
unusual splendour, arresting universal attention
in the metropolis, and the southern Portion
of England. It is one evidence of the general
extension of knowledge in these times that celestial pheno-
mena fail to create alarm among the masses of the people.
Despite the necessity for an Elementary Education Act
in the year 1870, the most illiterate of our metropolitan
population were perfectly at ease, so soon as they learned
that the blazing sky above them had no connection
with any terrestrial conflagration. Comets have ceased
to terrify, and eclipses have been accepted as inevitable for
ages past. Nothing short of an earthquake would
shake the nerves of nineteenth-century civilisation. The
great meteoric shower of a few years back is indeed said
to have frightened certain Scotch poachers back from the
hill sides; but we doubt whether any such effect would
have been produced upon a London burglar. The present
generation of people have learned to believe that things
which are natural are often extremely wonderful. Super-
stition may still linger in individual minds, and it
may be found in drawing-rooms as well as in
the dons and garrets of the city, or the secluded
cottages of the agricultural labouring class. But this
weakness of the human mind is less than ever a charao-
teristic of the mass of English people. Otherwise what
portents what might have been read in the sky on Mon-
day night—as dire as those which were 'recorded bY
Josephus, when at sunset the Jewish capital was lit uP
with the glare of fiery clouds, and armies were
seen fighting in heaven. London saw the blood'
red patches in the firmament the other night,
with many-coloured streamers travelling to and fret
until the river shone with the reflected light. Doubtless
the scene was gazed upon with awe by many intelligent
minds ; but the craven fear of superstition would scarcely
affect any, however ignorant. It is also pretty well known
that the phenomenon, which is so rare and wonderful in
the latitude of London, is not only common hnt
welcome in more northern climes. In the Shot'
land Isles, the " merry dancers" cheer the
long winter nights ; and Norway, Lapland, and
Siberia have their snowy landscapes illumined bY
.the same nocturnal radiance, affording some compensation
for the general rigour and gloom of winter on the tarot°
frontier.
'Despite our knowledge, these fiery streamers and
luminous arcs are but partly understood. Electricity,
traversing the higher regions of the atmosphere, is tile
asual explanation. It lso suggested that there is some
connection between the aurora and those solar dis"
turbances which give rise to what are called spots on the
sun. The aurora borealis is said to affect the earth's
magnetism. Perhaps Mr. Scudamore will tell 11°
whether his wires became untractable during the display
on Monday evening? At all events, scientific observer°
will be able to say something on the subject. The aurora
borealis is also alleged to forbode a reduced temperature,
and consequently a severe winter. Others contend that
the Northern Lights are heralds of destructive gales.
There has been fearful weather in the Atlantic ; there has
been a tornado in one part of England ; the sea has been
driven over its usual boundaries on certain parts of our
coasts,and the United States and Canada have quivered with
earthquake shocks. Are there any connecting /lake
between these phenomena, coupled with the unusual
number of sun-spots and the extraordinary vividness
the aurora-borealis? When the central orb is agitated,
must the remote planet feel the shock, and respond to the
pulsation ? Such are some of the questions suggested 11
a phenomenon which in a past age would have been take,Thi
as an omen of murderous battles and burning cities. v'
these, indeed, we have heard enough already ; but 5
firmament wrapped in a robe of crimson on a wintry
night were no unfit emblem of Europe covered with flamee
and blood.—Standard.

THE LATE MARQUIS OF WESTMINSER.--•A
public meeting is to take place at Shaftesbury on Satin-
day next to consider the propriety of the erection of
middle-class school, instead of a cottage hospital, al
formerly proposed, as a memorial of the late Marquis 0'
Westminster.
TECHNICAL EDUCATION.—Sir John Lubbock,
M.P., the Mayor, and Mr. Buckmaster, addressed a large
public meeting on this subject in the Corn Exchange,
Maidstone, on Monday evening. Classes, under Exchange'
au4aices of the Natural History and Philosopkical Soc,iet3i
will be commenced forthwith. The class in anite
Physiology will be held in connection with the Working
Men's Club and Institute, under a certified scientific
teacher.
BOATING ON THE TYNE.—On Tuesday £5 a Side
was deposited with Mr. Blakey, at the Adelaide Hotel,
Newcastle, to bind a pair-oared match between Thornc.a
Winship and James Taylor on one part, and John Bright
and Robert Chambers on the other, for £5O or £lOO a side'from the High Level Bridge to Scotswood Bridge.
meeting will be held on Monday next, to draw up articles.
Thomas Winship has challenged William Sadler to ro'
sculler's rtce for £lOO a side.

Vv
DEATH vOF A PENINSULAR OFFICER.—Liout.'
General Henry Pester died at 8, Great Quebec-street, 01
the 23rd inst., in his 80th year. He entered the Ro)'„9„'
Regiment of Artillery as second lieutenant May 1, lbv;"
and became first lieutenant June 16, 1812. He was Prtl
sent at the defence of Cadiz and at the battle of Barroe,
where he he was severely wounded. He became capta;
in 1830, major in 1846 lieutenant-colonel in 1847, colon.o
in 1854, major-general in 1863, and lieutenant-general
1864. He had received the silver war medal and 011 e
clasp for Barrosa.
In South Carolina the State Legislature is said t°
be " controlled " by the blacks, and the elections for C°ll'
gress have resulted in the return of two negroes to tiv°
whites. A negro, too, has been nominated for the
mayoralty of New Orleans—a fact indicating a revolution
.
which we in this country are only capable of dimly aPP_,reo
ciating. We further learn that in the South " negtt
juries are generally selected for the trial of negroes, and
is found that they decide with as much justice and 101);
priety as white juries, the fact that the crin.ili r.
P
is a negro having scarcely any effect upon their g
meat.'!
BREAKFAST—EPPS'S COCOA.--GRATEFUL AND I;
FORTING).—The. very agreeable character of this preparation!), „.
rendered it a general favourite. The Civil Service Gazette Tuo
marks :—" By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws w 1,1%
govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and bY..,
careful application of the fine properties of well-selected peel.,
Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a debeto
flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doc._
bills." Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold only..r
tin-lined packets labelled—JAMES EPPS & CO., /Dunn oliat'D
Chomisti3, Loudon.—Advt.

ature,

that

gale&
re lase
3 ilea'
f our

d with
link°
Lusual
ess of
tated,
to the
,ed by
taken
Of

boat
large
ange,
too
cietYaim
rking
nth`'