Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-08-09
HERALD OF THE TIMES.

brace them; the edges grow ragged and
divergent, they are carried along by the
wind and stratify in masses.
There never was season with fewer
thunde erstorms; and there have been no
summer evening electric flashes. What
rains we have had, have come after
low rumbling of thunder, as ifthe skies
we're all one sponge of loosened vapour.
The hue OF the sky, which IN summer
is Of deep-blue, sometimes Of the lapis-
lazuIi, sometimes of the slaty tint, has
been latterly uniformly pale; and from the
east to the zenith, even when the sun is
in meridian splendour, there is a silvery
opacity, a pearly reflection, which is
rather fit to be formed neutral tint than
azure.
Let the cause be what it will, whether
it be the prevalence of steady strong winds
at a great height in the air, or prisma-
tic deprivation to us of the yellow and
red rays by vapours held sublimated at a
great distance above the earth, the
change nevertheless, in the appearance
OF the heavens cannot be denied, and
that the properties of the light have been
thus deteriorated for the last six weeks. =.
| We may well presume that vegetable
and animal life are both affected by so
untimely and disastrous an alteration
But we have every reason to hope, from
the variableness OF our climate in a posi-
ton exposed to the sea and land wind,
that this meteoric influence is nearly
spent, and will soon be counteracted.
H We have been wont to see the sunsets
Of Newly ork rivaling those ofthe tropics
in gorge eousness, ,and enkindling the whole
air with crimson and gold. Who has
seen such a sunset-since Whitsunday? |?
A family rosy tinge is the utmost that has
frightened the Occident The sun has
been "shorn of his beams" and we have
been living, as il were, in the first steps
OF the shadow of an eclipse.
H cannot imagine spectacle more sol.
emnly sublime than the present aspect of
this extensive and half-deserted city ,seen
in full day, and under the awe and solic-
ltude OF impending danger which fills the
mind, and lmpresses the air OF the remain
ing inhabitants. The vast lines Of edti-
ces, under the pallor Of the crepuscular
sunshine appearing at once with all the
clearness OF day, and the amplitude and
blending OF moonlight; the skies and the
air blanched in lustre, the streets whiten-
ed, and comparatively lonely, and the
sentiment at vacuity and vastness increas-
ed not alone by the dsserion Of places Of
resort, but mainly by that dim, feeble and
imperfect radiance efluscd over the earth,
and which is, perhaps, the mysterious
cause OF the epidemic mortality which is
walking unseen among us.-We Of the
city are now, think, like etioiated plants;
and deprived of our due stimulus oflight,
our organs waste and suffer, while those
who are the least able to resist this de-
cay of their vital powers, become the
prey ofsuch deleterious agents, as would,
under the regular and accustomed slim
ulus Of light, have proved inert and inno-
cuous.
! should much like to learn whether the
same peculiar absence of yellow in the
sun shine has not already been noticed
where the cholera has prevailed. l am
disposed to believe that it fHs been OBJ
served; and it certainly must be owing to
this state of the light that the air has
become such a conductor Of electricity
that this agent cannot be detained around
us. What are the late discoveries con-
cerning the purple Of light and its affini-
ty for magnetic currents? Is it not said
that the violent ray is so highly conduct
ing that magnets have been made by ap-
plying it with the prism upon steeI'
! In the interim, before | find answers
to these questions, shall, if permitted,
continue to observe the influence OF this
weather upon persons, animals and in-
sects. ! have already had occasion to
see that chronic disorders and weakness
es seem generally aggravated by it. In
sects have not their usual animation An
imals have lost their usual fire and Vi
vacity. Closer observers than /, must
already have given attention to these con-
sideratio a., and l shall be happy if a
wake their interests sufficiently to lead
them to communicate their observations
for public satisfaction and advantage.