Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-01-05
tbe Seosrr NJ Melscrs.


The leading article NJ the London
1im,s M N0tembof ~ says.
"l.O1k where w. would II WA The
,amc IN the far west, aud through
cut The entire north, there was eth.
,rihc bright, CHANGING spook oflight,
or the long train, or what scened
nm actual ball Of light that illumi-
mated the country aud was slow TO
die away. As the night advanced
these lnctcors chased ono another
ncro.r tho sky, following in ono
anothcr's track, or running side by
sido. Tho heavens seemed alive with
this unwonted host, There were
times when II sccmcd IA ifa mighty
wind had caught the old stars, loos'
ed them from their holdings, and
swept them across the armament
The Olympian himself might have
been supposed on the throne launch
ing his bolts against an offending or
iargcllul world. There he was all
but visible, for at that one place
there were meteors that appeared
only rs spots to disappear, or to ira.
verse only Us much space rs would
show motion. That, in fact, was tho
very pathway OF all this artillery,
which was thus foreshortcned, like
column Of soldiers, as seen by
those that have to bear the brunt.
In the course Of two or three hours
there must have been many thous-
unds Of these visitors, usually so
rare, Even when the sky became
partially overcast they still showed
themselves at every opening, and
shone through the veil Of clouds
Few indeed, who saw 1t, had over
seen the like, or could expect over
to see it.
X \ X y
These stones enter our atmos-
phore with velocity Of forty miles
por second, and destroy themselves,
as it were by their own violence, for,
when once arrested by our grosscr
mir, they are instantly melted and
dissipated in the air. That process,
however, is only possible with very
small stones, estimated by grains,
Tor an aerolite Of only few pounds
would only have its surface affected
by such momentary operation. 1t
is quite probable that some day tho
earth may have to encounter moro
bulky metal, more comparable to
our mundane artillery! Showers of
stones there evidently have been
and there evidently is no limit to
their size, either in history or in sci
ence. For the laws which govern
the movement of every body in our
solar system apply equally to all
sizes and all substances, from this
earth to grain Of dust, from q mass
of metal toa vapor. Here is show
or of missiles, of unknown weight
and inconceivable velocity, always
in motion from some unknown bat
terry, and every human generation
has to run the gauntlet. Will this
atmosphere ofours always prove an
absolute protection. and turn off
these bolts, as merit as said to do
the shafts Of envy and detraction :?
That is question at least to be
thought of.
The "showor" began at South
nmpton at half past eleven on Tues
day night, and did not entirely cease
until six o'clock Wednesday morn
ing. The direction of the meteors
was from east to west. The flight of
some Of them lasted five or six sec
onds some appeared as large as a
cricket ball. They were of a blush
color; the smaller meteors were of
yellowish red color. A great num-
Der of the inhabitants witness
ed the phenomena. At times the
mctcors shooting athwart the sky |
from their number, rapidity and
brilliancy, formed magnificent
spectacle.