The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-15

From the Herald.
As the earth nears the meteoric belt which
surrounds the sun, our atmosphere naturally
becomes surcharged with electricity. Some OF
no ourious effects which have resulted from
this condition of the air have already become
anparent. and others still more startling are to
follow. Observant philosophers may trace the
bepinning of this electrical influence In the sud
denness with which Grant wound up the Rebel
lion. the excitability of the assassin Booth, the
shock which Napoleon received when Maxi
milian,s failure became evident, and the vigor
with which John Bright opened his reform cam
pajpn in England. Then, as we swung still
closer 10 the meteors, mems minds and actions
we're still more powerfully affected. No doubt
Bismark's ambition was generated by electricity.
The recent campaign of the Prussians was con-
Quoted with lightning like rapldity. The men
tai disturbances resulted in attempts at assassi-
nation in Prussia, Russia, and Austria.
The Princess Carlotta, passing from the posi-
tive electric currents OF this hemisphere to the
negative electric atmosphere OF the olo world,
behaved so strangely that certain DOCTORS tgno-
rant of the approach OF the meteoric pheno-
meua, pronounced her insane. The Eenians
felt the afflatus, and invaded Canada. The Re-
Dublicans were stirred up by it, and swept the
whole North tremendously at the recent elec-
tions President johnson and Louis Napoleon
were drawn into sympathy. upon the Mexican
business. Macmillan, receiving his inspiration
"
oontinently abdicated. Revolutions, like fire.
balls suddenly flashed forth in SPAIN A new
island sprung up in the Mediterranean. The
old Atlantic cable began TO work. The japanese
Tycoon died Off. All these and various other
remarkable circumstances are doubtless at
trlbutable to the electrical condition OF the
atmosphere.
The nervous temperaments of the American
people are peculiarly susceptible to these mys-
ferrous influences. At the South they have
wrought up the politicians to such pitch that
the Constitutional amendment is rejected. At
the North precisely opposite effects are pro-
duced, and the amendment is unanimously
indorsed. When mastodons are discovered at
CohOes all sorts of political, religious social,
and dramatic revelations are to be anticipated.
Electricity gives Morrissey an impetus that
sends him to Congress. The same power elects
Miles 0'Reily, smashes the corporation "ring,"
induces Brennan to politely decline a renomina-
tion, and clears the way for Judge Barnard as
Comptroller. 1t operates Vivldly upon the
religious world, and nerves the Rev. Mr.. Smyth
in his criticisms upon the clergy. 1t acts posi-
lively upon Manager Wheatley, drawing crowds
TO his demorahzing exhibition, and it acts mega
lively upon the other associated managers,
emptyIDg their houses remorselessly.
1t inspires Rstori, and endows her with mag
netic power over her audiences, and 1t places
Dillon in the front rank of English tragedians,
lar beyond Forrest the tanned Indian. 1t
revives the Grecian games In their classical
purity, and gives us race-course at Jerome
Park, free from those nuisances that infest the
trotting tracks. 1t causes gentlemen to ride
their own horses in q hurdle race, and orgi-
mates such unprecedented feats as driving
team without traces to Macomb's Dam, and
four-in-hand around the Foroham course inside
of three and half minutes. 1t croW Wds the Park
with thousands of brilliant equipages, and i'm
presses upon everybody the desire tor grand
Boulevard at the upper end OF the island 1t
suggests the widening of all our thronged
streets, and vetoes the Mayor who vetoes public
improvements.
The nearer we come TO the meteoric display
the more amazing are the atmospheric in
huences. The ladies change their fashions as
often as they change their minds, and grow
more eXtravagant and charming with every
transformation. Wall street is excited, and
bulls and bears leap and wrangle galyanically.
Unless these phenomena culmlnate III a
meteoric shower, we may expect the most
extraordinary events during the next year that
have occurred since electricity created the globe
out of the original nebulous gases.
But among the most noticeable results OF
the electrical excitement the ocean yacht race,
which is now awaited with intense interest by
the people on both sides of the Atlantic, must
not be overlooked. This race, to be begun in
December, will inaugurate new era in Amerl-
can and English yachting. IN former t,mes our our
yachtsmen were satisfied to cruise about the
bay or the sound. Then they aspired to ocean
matches to Cape May and return, Now, ndu-
enCed by the electrical condition OF the atuo
sphere and by the spirit of American enterprise
which is itself electric, the owners of the year
FLeetloing, VeSjQ and Henrietta have arranged
a race from New York to Cowes, during what
is popularly, though perhaps enormously, re-
garded as the most tempestuous season OF the
The Com modore of the New York Yacht Clut
will act as one of the judges, aud await the
arrival of the contestants at the Isle of Wight.
The yachts are already at the shipbuilders'
receiving the repairs ard alterations necessar
for their long voyage. The arrival of the win
ming boat will be Immediately telegraphe
through the cable. Never has anything con
nected with yachting occasioned so unIversa
ayOitamp0t The only DOOt about which
there seems to be any question, outside of tn
uncertainty as to the winner, is whether or no
the owners will accompany their vessels. Th
public interest in regard TO this matter is ind
Gated by the communications, pro and con
which we have received, and lew OF which w
have published. "a YaChtsman," " full of eectri
fire, argues that the owners must go upon thel
yachts or submit TO the sneer OF the British pres
that this race is a mere Yankee trick got up t
sell the yachts. "A Landsman" replies wit
meteoric brilancy that the race is between th
yachts, not between the owners, and that plea
OF business or of family duty are sufficient
excuse the owners from going.
contemporary places the subject IN
galVanic light By hinting that yachtsman
not expected to sail in his own boat any mol
than a sportsman is expected to ride his ow
horse during race. In our view, the questio
is one which every yachtsman must decide fC
himself. 1t is very natural that there should
discussion about it, because such race is
national affair, in which our national pride al
reputation are concerned, as they were in Il
triumph of the America. We hope that Il
winner OF the race will challenge the be
British yachts, and beat them also. The ia
that such an ocean contest is seriously &C
templated Is striking proof, not only OF t
curious electrical condition OF the atmosphel
but of the marvellous progress of our yach
men and of their superiority in enterprise
those bold Britons who ruled the wave un
Americans snatched from them both the Ouee
cup and old Neptune's trident.