Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-09-09
MistGllanGOns S.
Thc GRAND scencry OF tho IIeavens.

The Grand Scenery of the Heavens.
The night Of August 2Sth made memorable by one
OF the most remarkable displays of the Auron Boeas
witnessed in this latude 1t OF surprising
tentand beauty, producing the most singular ELECTS and
exciting the admiration and of the thousands all over
the country who gazed upon the woudrous atmospheric
phenomina. The day had been unusually cool for the
season, and the set in uneIouded brancy, and 1t
observed that the twilight appeared Of unusual length
The N Y Post gives the following glowing description Of
the grand and sublime spectacle in the heavens;
Abouts O'Clock Il was perceived that the prolonged
light instead being legacy of the sun, emanated from
singular luminous cloud that swept in long trail Of
white light the western part of the heavens extend
ing about half TO the zenith The stars not Wis
be through the denser part Of this cloud which retained
its appearance and blncy for some time. It then grad
beauty.
al about o'clock the atmosphere display seemed to
reach its cunnatou and its aspect seen from elevated
positions and housetops commanding full view Of the
horizon all srs, such to arouse the most over
powering emotions Az the zenith directly above the
spectator appeared large creet Of white and red dotted
with stars, while from this coronet adated in every di-
rceon spears and currents Of quverng light both white
aud red Most of these shoots Transparent and the
beyond beamed through with unObstructcd beauty
To the and to the west lay huge fields Of luminous
clouds tinted With bright rosy flush, wholly unlike that
produced y the rising sun aud possible even beau
tiful For ten Minutes this climax remained. The
ruby crown remned and nged by stars
ed its prond position in the zenith, and the tremuous
Of light Aoatcd and Iuivered downwaTs like some
imperial train waved by the cool night winds. At times
it suggested mighty hand and an outstretched arm,
bound the wrist with bracelet Of ruby and diamond
with open palm held IL in benedcton the earth
while the fingers light reached almost to the distant
horizon.
Soon ms Everett has beautifully spoken Of some what
similar scene, "the hands Of angels shifted the glorious
scenery OF the heavens The mass ofapparent red clouds
the away southwark gradually fading, while
the corresponding ed clouds the west secmrd 10 sink
into chaos Of dark cloud that with fringe nf blue skirt
ed the western horizon While these changes taking
place the east and west the wOnrous cloud above
ed few degrees and then gradually faded. Flashes OF
light covering many degrees slowly condemned into
mighty luminous cloud, with its top near the zcnth
This cloud gradually altering its shape assumed forms
I hfft ain rlarn nnng
at one time Il striking resemblance to eagle
and then the sgh est almost inpercepibe change trans
formed It into tortoise, Then again. tseemed to sweep
the heavens presenting the appearance Of confus
cd procession of hengs clad in ghosty shrouds, and
minding Of the dim henes of Ossian. For abnu hall
hour these remarkable changes took place, and then
the lights gradually disaGpeaeds In aShorl time, howev'
cloud again illuminated the sv producing about the
amount Of light as the full moon, and the night be-
came almost the day.
The aurora boreas Is to-day the chief topic OF
saon and all agree that they have seldom witnessed SC
extensive and remarkable atmospheric phenomena II
must have heen much like those described by Or. Kane
Bayard Taylor other northern trovclers. and it
observed that last night very cold for the season.
stiG chilly breeze blowing almost all night. OF th'
extent Of the phenomena have some idea from
the fact that the telegraph wires Affected by il In al
stevcry direction All the operators on the easter
they Witnessed Certainly not since the appearances
Of the last comet have the heavens declared the glory
God in a suhmer manner, or the armament shown Hi
handw ork In gorgeous m tnfestation,"
The Times gives the following interesting account o.
similar phennmena in times gone by and the popular tbs
ory Of the origin OF the Aurora lrealisi
'Pny and aristotle reeord phenomena identical viii
those which latter times have witnessed The aneent
ranked this with other celestial phrnonenan protendn
great events In $50 historians state It appeared in Loo
don, in the shape Of "burning speaTs smilitude whtc
would be loss appropriate than II was then Ere
quent displays recorded during the fifteen years onw
Hing that date. During the latter half OF tho seventeenth
century the phenomena were frequently visible often
times with great braney. After 145 the displays sud
denly diminished and were but rarely for the mex
nine years The last century until within the last twen
years, has been favored In remarkable degree Ono
periods o the display Of the Aurora
during the years 1885 80 and 37the last exhibition
Especial interest occurring on Nov IL.
"AsironomeTs tell us that the light centres around tn
magnetic pole when the display is otsucient braney
define the and taking this point as that Of measure
sheets Of light above the earth. Various obser alton
mads b. PFaf. e.-s.eea n conjunction with Prof A,
rwining Of New Haven N its elevation different
sons at 42h, 100, l4l, and 100 miles. Prof OlmHtea
claims that It Is rarely less that 7Omies from the Garth
and never more than 100 above II.
"WhRt Is the origin Of this remarkable phonOmenai-
The ancents asked the question and the moderns epy
repeating the Interrogation. The most popular theory AZ
tributes il to electricity but that agent has been made
sponsibe for everything which men did not know how
account for otherWse The late Prof Olmstead maintain
ed that its origin eosmca or, In other words, tina
through nebnlous body, which evolved this strang
light In or less brilliancy the body larger
smaller Tosupport this theory be attempted TO estabs
that there dxed epochs r t display In the hghes
degree ofhThancy He dScd the length Of these period
from 90 20 90 years, and II remember arght name
1880 the time when might look for another appear
aHce The remarkable display 0 Sunday night gives thos
who heve strongly contested this Idea, strong aTgu
against It. and launches astronomers who have an
ehoredto Il upon the sea Of conjecture agoio.'