Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-05-25
WHOLE NO 1896

occurred tins year, and several more
are 10 transpire befoe its close. We
have had the beautiful Mars in opposi-
ton 10 The Sun, and displaying It's luH
disk TO our eyes. While this planet was
near its zenith, the swift comet scaled
morning sky with signal briIllnncy,
about the same time. In August, the
spread ol Saturn's rings will attain lis
/ apparent maximum 10 us. But none OF
! them will or can surpass the interest
attached TO the grand solar eclipse 10
occur on Friday, The 26th OF this month.
I IL will take place in the afternoon be-
ginning about l2 o'clock, becoming
central about ten mIn!es before six, and,
ending about a quarter briore seven
Sun sets 7h. 25m. As the apparent
size Of the moon will be fr.he smaller
than the suns, 1t cannot cause a total
eclipse but an annular one, moving M
the rate of one hundred miles minute,
anG visible as such at Whitehall, Pitts
burg, Portland, aud within Il dozen
miles northcasterly from Boston. The
ring OF light around the suns edge will
be slender, but brilliant. Il pleasant, it
will be an imposing ail,ir.
The first appearance of this eclipse
was IN July, 1913, over five centuries
ago. II has been since repeated thirty
times. During the present century II
has occurred thrice, in A'ril of $50 in
May, 1919, in May Of 1896 again 1t is
to transpre in May, 1854, and once
more, in June, 1872 THUS will il pro-
ceed, ill August Of 2593 will bound the
limits OF its existence. An inierva' Of
wo hundred and tweniy-ihree lunalIons,
or eighteen years and eleven days,
separated these eclipses frofn each olIi
or Observation taught the ancients
this fact. II was understood by he
Chaldeans, Chinese, Hindoos, aud
Egyptians, anl was c ,led the Zaros--
Very remote antiquity was the first
observer Of this routine OF tn; moons
nodes on the ecIiptic.
The suns disk nppeaF5 now TO be
nearly free from spcrs.' a small one is
visible near lis centre. II is OF quite
deep shade, and rather circular IN
shape. Near il are two OF ligh' er tint,
oil penumbral depth, and more dItiused~
in appearance, considerably Larger.
A PERrEcr WIFE Edmund Burke,
the distinguished orator.. presented To
his wife on the anniversary oil their mar
riage, his idea oi perfect wife which
is suppos sed to be true portrait Of Mrs
Burke. It is certainly lovely picture
worthy OF the pen Of the author OF The
Essays on the Sublime and Beautiful.
The following are extracts:
The character Of
She is handsome but il is beauty not
arising from the features, from COM
plexion, or from shape. She has ali
three ia a high degree, bot il is not by
these that she touches the heart il is
all that sweetness OF temper, benevo
lence, innocence, and senslhility which
face can 'xpress, that forms her beau
ty. She has "a face that. just arises
your attention al first sight II grows OH
you every moment, an you wonder it
dld not more than raise your attention
at first.
Her eyes have n mild light. bat they
awe when che p erses; they command
like good man out OF office, not by au
shortly, hut by virtue.
Her stature is no, tall she is rot
made Tn be the admiration oi every oar
bat The happiness OF one.
She has all the lirnness that docs not
exclude delicacy.
She has all the softness that does not
imply weakness.
lIcr voice is soft low music, not
formed TO rule in public assemblies hut
10 charm those who can distinguish
company IRON IA crowd |; il has It's adj
v,n,nge. YOU must come close 10 her TO
hear II.
70 describe her body, drsrrlbs her
mind !; one is the Transcript ol the o,heri'
her understanding is not shown IN the
variety oi matter il exetts l'se,. or but
the unotnrss oi the choice she maSCs.
She does not display II ~ much m
sn, ihp or doing. strikinI rhi1sS, ~ ~
avoiding such as SHE ought no. to
say or do.
No person OF So lew years can know
the world better ~ person was ever
less corrupted by the knowledge.
Her pollcness flows rather from
natural disposition to oolige, Than any
rules on that subject ana, therefore,
never fails to strike those who under
stand good breeding, aud Illose who do
not.
She has steady and firm mind,
which ,akes no more from the solidiiy
or,he female character than the soliiiiy
ol marble does from fs polish and lus-
ire. She has such virtues n make
us value the truly grea, Of ouf own ssS.
She has all The winning graccs that
make US love even the laulls we see
IA The weak and beautiful in her.