The hydraulic press., 1859-09-03
Che Audraulie gress.
AURORA BOREALIS.
3. p. AVERY. EDITOR.

AO1IOIth DOIS1AhI0.
On last Sunday night, the 2Sth ult, few
fortunate people in this place witnessed a
most magnificent natural spectacle. From
about half past eight o'clock until after
eleven, the northern heavens were iilumin-
ated by an extraordinary display of the phe-
nomenon known by the name of the Aurora
Borealis, or Northern Lights. The first in
dication Of it was light like that which
precedes the moons rising or the dawh of
day, palid rays or beams occasionally shoot
ing from the horison towards the zenith
with the rapidity of lightning g-fashes, and
mountain ridges were palpably visible, as
though moonlight were streaming over them,
and banks of white vapor just rising from
canon and gorge were distinct and slvery
Gradually the sky flushed up with faint
crimson hue, perceptible only to the right
or left or just above the point where the lu-
nar-like illumination was first observed and
still continued to beam. Through this deli
cately tinted mist rays of white light shot
up at intervals and instantly subsidized Now
the eastern horizon would blush and now
the western. Finally there was a complete
arch of crimson stretching nearly from east
to west and extending about halfway to the
zenith. The stars bedmed through it ruddy
as Mars. 1t seemed like the reflection of
burning praries. Streamers flushed through
it, piercing it's circumference-now broad
and fan-shaped, now narrow and spear-like,
and like the slant rays OF sunshine in a dark
wood, only quite paiiid. At this instant
the scene was gloriops, yet somewhat awful,
hushing all expression of delighted wonder
An aerohte darsed across the arch, and the
beholder was reminded of that line in Ham,
let which speaks of " stars, aith trains of fire
and deus Of blood" 1t is not strange that the
ancients regarded displays of polar light as
ominous of i'll. Little aid was needed from
the Imagination to make an ignorant and su-
perstitious people believe that in each mex
plicable phenomenon they witnessed the evo-
lutions and flashing swords of opposing
squadrons mixed in sanguinary fray. 1t is
one of the benefeent results of scientific re-
search that cur modern wonder at sight of
such phenomena is untouched with fear.
While we gaze with most exalted imagina-
tion and feelings Of delight, we also specu-
late as to causes, inteligently, if not cor
recuy. We see in the Aurora Borealis no
prophecy of Ill to man, but simply beautiful
manifestations of electro magnetism, re-
sultng from peculiar condition of the at
mosphere. In this view we are confirmed
by the violent agitation of the magnetic nee
die under the influence Of the polar light.
AS it flies from point to point, obedient to
the unseen power that compels its fealty, the
mind is confounded by the vain attempt to
fathom an effect as mysterious as life itself.
But the broad crimson arch is fading, like
the hues from sunset clouds. Now it melts
in the center, yet family fingers still. Again
it deepens, and the silver clouds lying on the
breast of the mountains seem to reflect its
color. 1t melts again--breaks-is scarcely
perceptible to strainipg eyes-is gone entire
ly. There beams the dawn, however, and
there it beamed for hours, arrowy fashings
going up from its focus as though God
walked the earth and the glory of his brow
filed the heavens.
Thus briefly and ilnperfectly we have de-
scribed a rare spectacle, projected by the
Great Artist on the canvas of the northern
sky. The few who saw it with us can never
forget its resplendent beauty. In their mem-
ories that crimson arch will stand forever.
They viewed it frona the edge Of mountain,
looking through tall pine across deep misty
canons to long line Of mountains piled
against the strangely illuminated frmament; /;
and they turned their backs upon it at last
as upon friend whom they might see no
more.