Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-05-19
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

lhL bhirh5ONlAk = CONTRADICTIONS TO kNoWL-
IDGs."--The Smithsonian ID about TO issue another
number, or volume, Of the Contributions to
Knowledge. The Ms. has passed the commission
ers and has been printed, and win In q short time
appear and be ready for distribution II Win make
about fifty quarto pages, but with the addition Of
the appendix, becomes respectable volume in
size.
II 10 on the Secular Period of Aurora Bore
aha" by Prof Densou Olmstead, of Yale College.
This paper partakes more largely of hypothetical
character than most Of those which have been ac-
cepted for publication. The facts, however. which
It contains, arc considered so important and 30
well deserving Of permanent record, that they out
weigh the objection. Beside this, the inyestiga-
ton OF the aurora received much attention at the
hands OF Smithson himself and on that account
alone, II no other consideration presented itself,
this memoir might be included a. part of that
knowledge which 1t was the intention Of his bequest
TO diffuse among men,
On the night Of the 27th Of August, 1928, after
long absence OF any striking appearance of the
aurora borealis there commenced series of exhi-
billions which increased in frequency and mAgnif-
cence for the six following years, arrived at max
imum during the years I835-6-'7, and after that
period regularly declined in number and intensity
until November, lS48, when, according to the au-
thor, the series appeared to come to close. The
occurrence, however, Of three remarkable exhibi-
tons OF the aurora during September, 1851, and
u another OF the first class as late as February.
1852, indicate that the change was not as abrupt
as was at first supposed, but still there was imi
mutton IN the brilliant exhibitions after i348 Pro-
lessor Olmstead, In his memoir, gives the history
OF tho foregoing series of auroras, which, in his
opinion, are the most remarkable which have ever
occurred since the first recorded obs rvations.
The author refers the several varieties of the
aurora to six different FORMS viz the auroral light
the arches the streamers the coronas the waves
and the auroral clouds
Though no complete explanation has been given
OF all the facts Of the aurora, yet the most plaus
Ole hypothesis is, that which attributes the phe-
nomena to electricity generated principally In the
torrid zone by evaporation. By this process. the
Garth Is rendered negative, and the vapor which
ascends into the upper atmosphere highly positive
II Is thence transferred toward the poles by the
return trade-winds, and descends to the earth to
restore the equilibrium. A current of electricity
i thus constantly passing from the poles to the
Equator during the appearance of the aurora and
hence, according to this view, the disturbance of
the needle In the mariners compass
As an appendix to this paper, Peter Force, ESQ.
OF this CITY, has presented to the Institution an ex
tended series Of notices Of the aurora, collected
nom all the publications in which they occur, from
ABOUT 1877 to the present year, arranged In order
- eAAS oiiu "a Adtibuuc. Ill3 Will be a valuable
contribution OF facts towards definite determine
ton OF the law and physical cause of these myste
rious meteorological phenomena
RIors.-On Saturday night near 10 O'Clock. two
OF our fire companies engaged in disgraceful
Tight In the course of which, several participant,
were badly hurt, and during which several arrests
were made.
On Sunday night meeting took place between
the Union and Franklin fire companies, on Penn
syivania avenue near Twelfth street, IN which
stones were thrown and pistols fired frequently.
and several persons were arrested One of each
company, who appeared to be leaders In the affair
were sentenced to pay fine and costs. Some cir.
cumstances connected with this affair, show that
the false alarm was given to draw out the members
Tor the purpose Of having fight. But by whom
Toe alarm was given we cannot say. We hope It
can be attributed to no fireman. In regard to this
nsgraceful row, we have received several commu-
nications; that of Justice" contradicts the yer
sion given by Spectator" while observer con-
tradicts both, We think the best plan win be to
publish none of them on that account. Our police
reporter has furnished the names of the arrested
parties, but we refrain from making their disgrace
puoiic IN the hops that they will give no further
trouble on this score.
Our fire companies should be more careful in RI.
gard to allowing the hanging-on of minors and
those who are not recognised as accredited men,
oers The rows which are now becoming too fro
quent for the continuation Of the good reputation
which our Fire Department has borne heretofo q
can, as q general thing, be traced to the,conduct
OF outsiders is the general belief that our fire.
men DO not originate these disgracefu scenes, but
that u is frequently the work Of those who have
no reputation to lose, and who, by exciting a dis
turbance, can crafty mean spirit of revenge
against individual members of the several comma.
mics.
we are pleased to observe that our pelire force
and the Auxiliary Guard are so energetic Ia quiet
ing these disturbances of the peace and that thew
try TO stop the riot by dispensing tho crowd rather
tnan make one or two individuals suffer for the
crime OF all. But it is now time that examples
shoud De made OF those who incite these riots and
we nope that hereafter they win riQidly foov the
rule OF arresting every one they and engaged in
them. We shall hold up their names hereafter for
public scorn. ~
we would also remind Fac police that minors are
seen running with The fire companies in the dav
time, time, Wnen they are easily distinguished from the
,cgai meinns.s OF the companies, and that Il is
tnen uu'J to arrest all such persons.
Tx OrERA.--The Harrison and Pyne ope, a
Troupe, we are happy to announce, is again In our
midst, thanks to Manager Ford. The Bohemian
Girl Is announced for tonight. In this Miss Pyne
appears as airline, which is one of her very best
characters.
MIR. Harrison will sing the Fair Land of Poland
IN this Opera, and various other favorite ballads
that have become popular and which are as well
known as household words. More gems have been
arranged from this Opera for parlor practice than
any other Of which we know.
We hope that certain class of Opera poers have
read the remarks of the Easy Chair in the last Har
per, and that the Dobbses and Belndas of Wash.
ngton viii take to themselves the cutting sarcasm
against The great want of courtesy aud tho actual
rudeness OF keeping up continual buzz, buzz.
buzz, by which those who go for tho purpose Of
listening to the music, and not to their prate, are