The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-26

the 18th. at about eleven O'Clock its continuance
lasted until the morning OF the 18TH. ending
writer only saw the first meteoric shower that fell
on the night OF the 18th. but Is informed by
a reliable gentleman, that the shower on the morn
ing OF the 18th still brilliant and OF greater
duration. That observed by ourselves flashed upon
ty seconds At the time the sky was ciouSed but
not darby so. as the moon wanted only day OF Its
fuiness; yet II was obscured The shower fell from
part OF the city through which we were walking ut
The time the Hood OF light clear and brilliant
an Impression that great fire had broken out.
but finding no touch OF heat seemed as n the
had suddenly burst through the light ancfu clouds,
the mind simultaneously seeking cause for the re.
suit presented 10 IT, But the moon was still shaded.
falling and In a moment knew IL TO be the event pre-
dicsed by astronomical calcuiators. There was no
detonation or sound like that o. musketry which
characterzes the falling OF bodes, and the fact
that no solid masses such as form aerolites have
been found leaves the late display simply among The
list OF falling stars. or, as they are sometimes called
shooting stars.
This last display Of November meteors was wit
messed along this coast for distance OF 900 miles,
the shower on the night OF the sth having attracted
general attention al San Francisco. The same shower
was witnessed BY passengers on board the steamship
board the steamer California, lying In the pert OF
Acapulco
marked upon the OF the people here: bat this
was TO be expected, since the masses love anything
miraculous. marvellous or extraordinary In nature.
they are very superstit0us and naturally have the
widest IDEAS concerning the cause and consequences
OF such wonderful phenomcna IA that which has
lately occurred. ON the 18th, the sabbath following
the DAYS on which the meteoric showers fell, mass
was held as usual IN the Catholic church here and
while the priest was blessing the vino worshipper
IN the conQrega shouted aloud that tais world
was coming TO an end and that God had commence.
destroying tho earth by earthquakes ana that tha
heavens we're also falling asnnder. Asneag the Old
women stories were set aioat such ~ would forever
darken the fame Of Munchausen, Aladdinand his wen
eru lamp or Chicago editor, each OF whom IN their
speciaties was or Is unriyalled w telling what Is
known as .whoppers." One old lady OF stroag po-
litical proclivties had 1t that Mexico was gazing TO
be DESTROYED by flood Of fire that would rae from
the Colorado to yucatan, SIMPLY because the liberal
party had robbed the cnurci,es OF the golden mag
az our saviour and his Virgin Mother Another that
the meteoric lire but symbol OF grand battle
fought nv he good and bad spirits, who fill the In
visible and boundless space. over the soul OF mere
tic who wanted to ascend ~ heaven without having
procured the proper religious pass, signed and coun
ters,pned by the proper authorities. third pre-
dc,ed that the great fall Of stars was emblematio o
| so many Yankee Invaders making descent upot
| this devoted land. Absurd as these productions nay
seem, they are no less true. Only n few samples ar
gwen, because II IL feared that II the list were pro
ionged professors OF az, ronony might feel mortlnet
that Their darling subject should be 80 ruthlessly tor
tured into subject for the vagartes OF old women
brains. II anything has been said regarding tn
latest November meteors that will DO instructive o
| interesting TO Professor LOOMS, the Smithsonian
Institute, the SUBJECTS OF President Juarez or tn