Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1859-09-24
THE DEMOCRAT.
Special Correspondence Of the Democrat
New ORLEANS, Sept. IA, 1859.

New ORLEANS, Sept IA, 1859.
EDITOR DEMocRAr:-For the first time
within the memory of the present gene
ration, Suutherners, in this latitude,
have been treated with the magnificent
spectacle of genuine aurora boreakis, or
polar light. Such phenomena are com
mon in more Northern climates, and at.
tract but little attention generally
among the masses Of the people. The
present season, however, they have ap-
peared with more than usual splendor
in all parts of North America, owing to
the unusual heat of the summer and fall,
and, as consequence, the superabund-
ance of electricity with which the at
mosphere is charged. 1t is probable
that the present autumnal equinox will
present very interesting meteorological
phenomena, accompanied in some places
with unusually destructive storms-a
, legitimate result of the thcrmo-electrical
condition Of the atmosphere, and not as
one whilome, politico-military parson,
Col. Dick Stewart, would have us be-
lieve, Goods silent messengers, warm
ing men that the great day of His wrath
will come" It is evident from the COM
munieation of the Col. in Sundays Delta,
that his attention has Of late years been
directed more to earthly than to heaven
ly objects =; hence his attempt to- ex-
plain celestial phenomena, shows that
he is surrounded by terrestrial fogs,
which have to him the appearance of
luminous atmosphere. The Col. denies
that the spectacle witnessed on the night
of the 1st inst. was real aurora boyealis
for the reasons, lst: 1t made its appear
ance at too late an hour of the night!
That was done on purpose to CRAFTY the
more fashionable portion of the commu-
nifty who keep late hours. End and 3rd:
The aurora of the LIST presented lurid
red colors, and features of terror repul-
sive to the mind; whereas, the true
aurora is always beautiful, soft and
inviting to the intellectual mind" These
objections onl y go to show that the con-
dition of the mind of the observer was
out Of order, and not in unison with the
spectacle.
The n. Y Journal Of Commerce Of the
29th ult., contains the following de-
scription Of a similar phenomenon wit
messed in that city the previous even
ing. Strange that it should excite no
feelings of repulsion and terror in the
minds of the wicked Gothamites:
Shortly after sunset last evening, the
Northern Heavens were illuminated by
a display of the Aurora Borealis which /
in brilliancy and magnifccnce has sell
dom been surpassed in this latitude. At
about eight o'clock, persons up town
looking from the street Northwards
over the tops Of the buildings thought
that an extensive fire was raging in
that quarter. Between nine and ten,
when our attention was called to the
spectacle, rose-red corona had formed
at the zenith, which seemed to distri-
butte its arched streamers of light in all
towards the East and West.
Red tinges like great clots Of blood,
overspread at times large portion Of
the sky. The Pickering streamers or |
brushes Of light diverged from the Au-
rora towards the zenith; their active
and beautiful motions dazzeled the eye,
while the brilliancy and rapidity with
which the corruscations appeared in va
rious parts of the armament filled the
spectator with feelings Of admiration
and wonder. We hope to see some ac-
count Of this interesting phenomenon
scientifically reported.
At midnight the main arch was still
visible. We never saw more gene
rally diffused Aurora; certainly not at
this season of the year, The. thermome-
ter fell rapidly during the evening, and
later in the night the weather was al
most cold. >#- ~.-
It will be interesting to peruse the
Of the author of "Ar,na-
gedden' upon these appearances, as
they are portion Of the paraphernalia
which go to make out his lucid exposi-
hon of the prophecies Of Daniel, Ezekiel,