The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-09
THE AURORA BOREALIS.

OUR PHILADELPHIA CORRESPONDENTS.
PHLApxipslA, August I, 1860.
The aurora B0reoiis Of Last Ye1r-As HstoV-Oae Seen
in FhRrdclhia ne Night Of the Sirthl4 Magnidcsa,
1ppear ssce-A Luner Rainbow-The STATE of the Wea.
Tier al The Tine dc, dc.
Tic phcnomeps OF the heavens of late to be quite
contrary to former experience. o. the evening Of the
2Stb Of Angus, last year. boreas overspread
the armament and showed its glorious light from, proba
bly, the north poecerianly far north the Shetland
Isles and the Orkneys Of scotland and as FAR south Mt
least the island of Janacato the wonder OF the in
habiauts OF tic last named island who had probably nj
witnessed such pheno in their attitudes since
Columbus vas wrecked their forest covered coasts
nor in all likelihood by their Carib predecessors Those
who lived the side of the island thought there
terrible fire on the north, and as WAS af
ter troobts in The town Of Falmouth, IL
was generally thought that iuccndiarics were Al.
work. and that the dreadful Scenes OF 1912
we're to re enacted Those in the north believed it
10 be a nre in Cuba. The aerial light might have been
still further southpcrhaps to Carthagens, If to
the equator itself The pranks played by The ilusrious
visitnt slencng the Geographic wires ia this
try, will be fresh ia the memory Of readers will
they easily forget the wonderful story told by the Sage
OF Brooklyn about bis having picked up piece of
an boreas which he carefully preserved
Yesterday morning boreaiis, quite as brill
liant that of last August v3be for upwards OF
hour The writer was at the time passenger board
the boat from Baltimore Philadelphia, and was stand
ing the deck shortly after three O'clock waiting for
her be alongside the wharf foot Of Chestnut
street when his attention arrested by bright light
over the city In about north northwest direction 1t
seemed at first to be the reflection of large fire. but
soon the nature of the phenomenon was re-
yealed in all its majestic beauty. Gradually the
light increased in briancy, II it had assumed
a deep ruby color. Swiftly IL spread the heavens
til II passed the zenith, taking a direction nearly
west, where IL the ,st Intensely bright. soon
streaks Of snowy white appeared iuermngled with
blood red column and gradually assumed the appearances
OF OF living light such As-wthout intending any
rrcverencc as the beautiful spectacle was the hini
work Of HIN who made the heavens and the earth,
all the hosts Of them-might have appeared
favored disciples the Mount OF TRANSPORTATION These
rays not stationary but shifted aud varied, like
cetsion Of ssovng views, TIL, towards the north
northwest its greatest radiance concentrated 10
focus while the alternate slreas Of ruby and white
snd Sin ,oting IA upwards TO the zenith bore resen
blanee TO the rays OF gloy with which the Saviour IL
represented missas as being surrounded when
ing from the tomb aud triumphing over the powers OF
earth and he'll This appearance continued for nearly
half an hour, when, loi appeared another woaier in
the heavens. Sire ching from north northwest
nearly west, and describing Of about forty
five degrees, there oistincuy visible
sembiance Of a lunar rainbow. The bow perfectly
white sometimes the with this wonderful ,he-
nomenou, though sometimes appears with ali the pris
matte rays Of the solar bow was about ha9 degree
IN breadth s stay evanescoat for in few minutes
IL vanished from sight,
Ald ike the baseess fabric OF a vision,
Ieft a wreck behind.
II Is scarcely probable that this wonderful bow was the
lunar rainbow for though tho moon, waning towards
fourth quarter shining brightly, unooscured by
the light neecy clouds TINT foaed through the blue
pyrean Ike sprnklag OF snow drops bed OF vio
let's there rain, without whcn true DO cannot
be formed We coud but gaze enraptured at the ceies
tia my stery, and while gazet, wonder and ADORE BY
half past four O'Clock the gorgeous pageant had entirely
faded from sight, while the bright morning and the
svery stil continued their destined course,
walking IN brightness
Forever singing as they shine,
Tue hand that made rs Is dly1ae.