The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-02-07

TEE MooR's EcLipsE.-An eclipse of the
moon 10 the privation Of light from that Sa-
tellite, occasionsd by the interposition Of the
earth between it and the sun. II has bssn re-
ported about for some time among astronomers
that the earth was 20 have the cold shoulder
Of the moon shown toward il, and that the
time fixed for this insult was last night. Sure
enough the encounter took place as announced
in the court calender, which keeps US posted
in reference to all these affairs Of honor. p
The sun had reached but eighteen degrees
below the horizon, at that precise time,
when
1.-THE tender twilight with erimion cheek
Leans on the breast Of eve."
The silvery moon was proceeding in her
regular srhit at point named Perigse, where
1t intsrsects the eoliptio proceeding northward,
when her nearest neighbor and most confden-
tial friend the Garth reached position where
the terrestial and lunar orbits seem to have be-
come knotted together, which threatened to cut
off the joyous light that has given brillisnce
heretofore to the pleasant face of the man in
the moon, and which with true Christian feel
ing has boon generously reflected back upon
the earth, making night delightful to mortals.
This prssumptuous and impsrtinent, and we
must say ungrateful obtrusion Of Mrs. Earth
In front Of Luna, caused lowering marks Of
displeasure, as at first partial shade Of
penumbra faintness was thrown across the
shoulders Of our planet upon the face of the
moon, which soon blaokened into conical
shadow.
This discourtesy to Luna is said to have been
In return for some misbehavior Of hers In hav-
ing run her pale face between the earth and
sun, on many marked occasions. Although
the moon is four hundred times smaller than
the sun, and might be supposed to DO too insig-
ni6cant for the notice Of the monarch Of the
solar syskm, yet, as 1t is four hundred times
nearer to Us than the sun, the interposition Of
oven this little body puts the earth In the
snlks. Last nights incideEt grew out of this
rivalry among tho celestial bodies--a kind Of
tit for tat. As the earth can not eclipse the
light Of any other planet than tho moon, II
takes particular pains to improve the oppor-
tunity whom II has chance. Whether the
Republicans or the Democrats are in power, II
Is oil the same.
Astronomers, who regulate these Amazo-
nian prize.nghtings Of the skies, arrange the
programme somewhat on system Of period.
ical star engagement or star obscurations. In
their green-room their cast Of characters are
by cycle or saros, or period Of eolipses,
Eciipses occur again very nearly in the same
order, in period of eighteen years and two
hundred and sixteen days, or six thousand
five hundred and eighty Ave days.
On the first Of March 1904, lunar eclipst
occurred, a fore-knowledge Of which enabled
Christopher Columbus, in one Of his voyages
to obtain supplies for his crow, who were in .
suffering condition. He was at that time at
the Island Of Jamsics, and after using all the
means In his power to obtain relief from the
natives without success, he threatened them
with the displeasure Of tho Great Spirit, which
he said would be manifested on that very even
ing by the privation Of tho moonlight. At frs
they disregarded his threat, but when tn,
eclipse commenced, they loaded him with
gifts, beseeching him to withdraw the calam
ity, and promising to befrisnd him ever after
| In similar manner last night, as the Gran,
Commander Of the Sons Of Malta was prepar
ing to initiate candidate from Cynthiana
KY, who had no great idea of asasnting to tn
stiff formalities Of the Order, and who was no
very we'll posted as to Cynthia's doings, th
half.clothed Kentuckian was taken to th
window Of the Hall and shown the indignan
face of the moon, and being returned withi
the veil, received the vow, and declared him
self satisfied, if the Great Spi.it was. His az
sociates say that the only eclipse he saw wa
the obscuration Of his optics caused by to
liberal draughts from bottle Of Bourbon, an
from the amazing sights he saw when he re
osived the degree, making his hair, &c., stan
on end,