Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-06-01
The Eclipse Of 1854.

The Eclipse Of 1854.
The great annular Eclipse of 1884, which took
place yesterday, was favorably witnessed on ac-
count of the clearness of the atmosphere, which
allowed the fullest observation. In Phadel-
phia, the eclipse was not entirely annular the
Uis l. e'part of the at the period of its great
est observation resembling the new moon in
shape. The eclipse commenced at ten minutes
past four o'clock, p. NJ, was at its height about
twenty minutes past five o'clock, and ended,at
thirty y-two minutes past six o'clock, tho dura-
ton beingtw hours and twenty-thrce minutes
The eclipse. was visible in an annular form in
the northern part of New England and New
York. During the. period of observation the
streets and all other objects presented most
singular appearance. pale twilight had spread
over the whole face of nature which was both
impressive and curious to the bchodcr. Eclipses
oil this character are called annuar on account
of the ring of light which is formed by the outer
edge of he sun being visible when the penum-
bra or shadow of the moon is passing over it
They ar ofvery rare occurrence and it is this
fact which rendered this particular one so pecu-
lieriy Interesting In Paris.only one. takes place
betwvei lT67 and 1900 while here we shall be
favored with no less than four between 1775 and
1901. The first and second of these have al
readytakcn place, having been seen on the I'd
of Ap.il, 1871, ard on June l6, 1906. The third
come off yesterday, and the fourth occurs Sep
tember %, 1875.
Eclipscs yiewedghistorically arc possessed of
much interest. The first solar eclipse of which
we have any account, says the New York Her
adj occurred 5S5 years before Christ, and
was predicted by Thales. Singuarly enough,
and as if in accordance with and corroborating
the popular idea concerning eclipses that they
only appear in time of trouble we find them gen.
orally speaking, either preceding or contempo-
Tancous with wars, pestilence-or famine. In
585, B. c. Nebuchadnezzar was King of Baby
lon, and his reign was = continued series of ag-
gressivc wars. In 424, B. c.. an eclipse was OBJ
served a Athens, and in the following year there
was a terrific earthquake, which separated the
peninsula of Eubea with the main land. \ few
years later the same occurrence SO alarmed the
philosophical Athcnians, drawn up in Battle
ray before Syracuse, that they were easily de-
ftated. lS8 Z. c., there total eclipse at
Rome, and prayers were offered up for three
consecutive days, to avert the evil but these
prayers only postponed, for IA brief period, the
evil day, for fearful plague, soon after swept off
two thousand persons every day from the Greek
Islands, Egypt and Syria.
In Il4O, total eclipse preceded the bloody
and ruthless wars Of the Guclphs and the Ghibe-
Gncs. In l70I, the stars were visible at 10 in
Inc morning, The third crusade took place in
his year. In the same year most singular
2henomnnon was obserycd-the true sun and the
appearance ofanothcr, so that astronomers alone
could distinguish the difference with their glass
es There was total darkness in 1881, caused
by an eclipse of the sun This preceded terri
bic plague in Paris London and Ireland. April
%, I7I5, total eclipse, and the darkness so
great that the stars shone and the birds went TO
roost at noon. Russia at war with Sweden
Venice at war with Turkey. War Of the young
Pretender of Scotland. The orientals, generally,
looked upon eclipses as occurrences Of super
natural character, and attributed them to magi-
cal science, or to evil demons, who were endeav
oring to destroy the lumnary. In fact thcy con-
sidercd it a struggle between the powers ef good
and evil, and awaited the issue with breathless
anxiety, trembling with apprehension as the
shadow passed over the disc of the sun, and ra-
ulallL Win Joy AIlu TRUMP pm aS II rSCeteu ana VI
timately disappeared. Some more jealous or
more courageous than the frightened multitude,
formed themselves into volunteer auxiliary corps
to assist the sore-pressed god of day, and armed
with gongs and kettle drums endeavored to drive
away his terrible enemy. In some parts of the
world eclipses are still regarded with super
stitious awe, as portending some terrible evil,
but these fears are rapidly disappearing before
the march of science and ciyiization.-EreniRg
Argus.