Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-17

This phenomenon for Whose annsa,encs so 49,,
preparation has been made In the scientific cir
s OF tne Ola and New Worlds, will take plac,
o-morrow morning. Though total over a lons
ana lar &c tract Of this continent il will not be q
mere, though still an object Of much intellipen
interest, not only with our sarans at the Nationa
anu georgetown Observatories, but with man,
o.ner people From present appearances there /,
nkeIihood that the skv will Sc clear and bbset
vatlons easy. In the did World, saws the Intel
hgencef, the Preparations for the scientific obser
alons VI tnls eclipse have been so considerable
as 10 nave been made the subject of internatiopa
communication. The Spanish Government. a,
early as February last addressed the Directors OF
TIE National Observatories Of the world our own
anohg 'ne number, offering every convenience
ana ald In its power to. astronomers who might
wlsh 10 make spain the place of observation AS
however, the path OF the eclipse travefses our
own continent, II is obvious that, beside economy
OF uHe In travelling, IL would be more ADVANCE
geous TO science for American observers 10 remain
IN America than to betake themselves to Spain
where Spanish. English, French, German &c
astronomers Will be gathered in ample quantities
poses.
1t is understood that the Spanish astronomers
recommend four spots in their country as best
adapted to observation, namely, in the Monies de
Oca, honcayo, the neighborhood of Calatayud
and Castellon de La Plana. The French Erpedi.
ton, directed by NJ Faye, 1t is supposed will be
stationed on the heights Of Moncayo; other French
observers have been placed at Palma, in Msjorca,
OF Eng land, Prof Airy, will observe at Santander
but other British parties will occupy stations at
Portugalete, Bilboa, Pampeluna &c An as
uonomer from Bavaria proposed to place himself
and has no doubt done So
On the northwest coast Of America the phe-
nomenon will be observed by the members OF the
American and British Boundary Survey but the
most important observation will be at Cane Child
ley, the northeast point of Labrador 10 this
spot an expedition has been sent from the United
states, with party Of astronomers, under the
direction Of the head Of the s. Coast Survey
The leading astronomer among them is under
stood TO be Prof. Stephen Alexander the distin-
gnished Professor Of Astronomy in the College of
New Jersey, at Princeton, who will be assisted
by his nephew, son Of Prof. Joseph Henry,
LIZ of the Smithsonian Institute, and num-
Der OF other scientific gentlemen.
The central line Of the moons shadow will
strike the coast Of North America fifteen miles
north OF the mouth Of Columbia river flat 400 25i
j soon after sunrise, and the breadth of the
shadow there will be eighty miles Moving
thence in northeast direction, II will pass near
70 olympia across the southern extremity of
tlathead Lake, and north of Lake Winnepe9 to
ork Factory, in latitude So north, and on the
southwest side of Hudson's Bay. At Fort York
the breadth Of the shadow will be one hundred
and five miles 1t will leave this continent at
Cape Chdley, Tor Chudleigh, J the northeast point
OF Labrador, In latitude 59h north, and bending
nfst eastward and afterwards to the northeast
after traversing the Atlantic ocean, it will reach
BisCaV
The shadow will next pass over the entire surface
drained by the waters of tue river Ebro: nearly
all OF the Balearc Islands, except Minorca strike
Nigeria near Cape Carbon; pass to the south of
Inpolli and, finally, at 10h 46m. a m (mean
Washington time,) 1t will leave the earth al Mas
sOwa, on the Red Sea. The end of the eclinse
Will be about n hour later
To the city Of Washington the eclipse will COM
mence at four minutes of seven to morrow morn
ing; the middle of the eclipse will be at seven
minutes Of eight; the greatest observation at 81
minutes past eight and the end at ten minutes of
nine O'Clock The digIts eclipsed on the suns
one half of the solar disc. The point of first con-
tract of the two discs of the sun and moon will be
49, from the north through the west We amend
IN conclusion, the following interesting remarks
on thls eclipse, FOR which We are indebted 10 one
OF the gentlemen at the National Observatory in
tuis city: "
'EcliPses Of the sun are not now OF the same i'm
Portance to astronomers as formerly-tbeir usss
In determining Differences of longitude having
now Tor some time been superseded by observe
lions OF phenomena more frequent in occurrence
and of more ready adaptation But since 1919 total
ana ahhular eclpses OF the sun have become IN
teIestng on account Of peculiar appearances then
hrst seen about the disc of the moon during he
contact OF the centres OF the two lumnaries or at
the instant OF greatest observation. They were
first observed bv Prof Schumacher at Vienna and
MS account was for some time questioned as an op
teal Illusion, or depending upon physiological
condltons but the reality of the appearances have
received since then such repeated Confirmation as
To refuse explanation on such ground Their ar
pearances consist of red and changeable protuber-
ances seen surrounding the disc of the moon
while projected on that of the sun. Since their
existence has been certainly established or more
particularly since the eclipse Of ISL they have
been the subject of much discussion and have
served Tor the formation Of several theories az vet
not sunicently established. 1t is this UNEXPLAINED
PecuIaflty or solar ecliPses which makes that of
the 18th Of the present month so important. and
bas strung along the centre Of the track OF It's
shadows upon the centre Gordon of astronomers
rarely or never before gathered to look at the
phenomenon, and extending from Oregon, on the
Paclhc, to the sources of the Niger in Africa
We need not add that their appearances are not
visible at places where the phase is only partial
as here Nevertheless, there are many peculiar
tues deserving notice, among which are the
sinister ard CHASTITY hue which follows even a
partial ooscuration-its effect upon animals tn.
change OF temperature, and other effects which
have been treated Of at alrge elsewhere and FOR
which we have no place here"
HIsTORT OF THIS ECLIPSE
The nrtt appearance Of this eclipse since the
creation OF the world according to sscred chro-
nology) was In the year A. ID. 95S, Dec. g, O. = H.,
al lO O'Clock Sum- forenoon. when the moons peO-
umbra just came In contact with the earth at the
south pole II has appeared every nineteenth wear
since, and at each return the moons shadow
passed across the earth from west To east a little
further to the north at each return until the year
1914, March 3, o. s., when the center Of the
moons shadow passed little to the north of the
earth,s center 1.-THE moon being IA min. as sec.
from her descending node, which was its 3Sth pc
riodical return). IL has continued to appear
every nineteenth year since 1861 until this &c pse
which is its 6st periodical return Its next ap-
pearance will be in 1878, July 20, at 3 O'Clock 81
min in the morning, invisible in the United
States IL will also appear again in 1596, August
r. IL VIII continue to appear every nineteenth
year until the year 2274, April IS, when the
moons shadow will just touch the earth at the
North pole, which will be its 10Th periodical and
last appearance, until the expiration of l2492
years, when IL will come again at the South
Pole, and 90 through similar course
The BREcKINRIDGE AND LANE MEETING LAST
NIeHT-ln pursuance of published call, in
viting all democrats favorable to the nomination
OF Breckenridge and Lane to attend an adjourned
meeting Of citizens at the Assembly Rooms on
that evening, for the purpose of organizing an
association Of this character, quite a large and
enthusiastic gathering was had
The MEETING was organized by the election Of
Nj. Daniel Ratclfe as Chairman, and Mr.. w olfe,
Secretary.
The committee appointed at the previous meet
Ing to draft constitution and bylaws made a
reports which was accepted.
After the adoption Of The constitution, the meet
ing proceeded to select persons TO I'LL the various
offices Of the association.
The following officers We're then elected:
President-Dr. Cornelius BOYLE, This opponent
being Mr.. Daniel Radcliffe, who was defeated by
a small majority.)