The Placer herald., 1868-09-19

known 10 be arid land wastes), defined aud
designated, while the beights Of the peaks,
the depths Of valleys and volcanic cra,ers,
were indicated as clearly as those of any
earthly elevations or depressions accessible
to the foot OF the surveyor.
The planet Mars appeared not as a bril-.
liant spsck or point of light but as vast
round silver shield, with the marks of seas
and continents distinctly traced. Another
Photograph taken an hour later, and 10 the
aspect Of the planet had altered. A gres,
snow storm bad been sweeping over it. Its
majestic mountains and plains had been
draped in winding sheet Of frozen raio, and
the dark wastes had become white, and the
deep seas alone retained their original som.
bre hue. Thnk of a snow-storm iD dis.
tant planet, watched and folio we'd, and fixed
on g ass plates, and presented to an audien, Q
sitting comfortably in The opera house Of the
city Of Philadelphia.
The magnetic telegraph can tell US what
is happening in distant parts Of our globe,
but here is a messenger who comes to US,
and tells US what is happening in the planet
Mare. more than thirty five millions of miles
away! The storm signal is hoisled on the
coast of England, aud mariners know that a
tenpes, is up and at work on the broad At
Iautic and may soon be looked for wing
along the chalk cliffs of the islands, and
laundering into its bays; but the telescope,
and the photographer with bis baths and
plates, here reveal how a tornado OF sleet
and snow is sweeping across The plains and
oceans of the planet Mars.
Attention was next directed to the SUM-
His spots were, by means Of Photographic
art shown to be gigantic rents made IN the
robe of fiery cloud masses which compass the
orb just as slid cyclones or great rotary
storms might tear and rift the rain clouds
which cover our sky, twirIing them round
and making tempest circles, with radii Of
thousands of miles. The rotary motion Of
these sun.storms could be distinctly traced
in the several photographs made at different
periods Of their progress, and the laws which
regulated their motion Investigated and de-
termined
To illustrate the effect of such tempera-
ture as that shown to exist in the sun upon
some familiar elements, and to explain why
these should occur as vdpor in his a,mos
phere, the lecturer placed himself with II
powerful oxhydrogen blow pipe upon a
platform secured to one of the stage straps,
and was raised to considerable height, from
which point, by burning thick rope of steel
wire in the jet, he caused to pour down a
broad sheet of scintiIIating sparks and minute
gIobues of boiling iron, which spread over
with an effect never to be forgotten by one
witnessing it.
The fixed stars as suns Of other systems
were next noticed, aud in connection with
some of the pecularilies which they exhibit,
the subject of persistence of vision WAS intro'
duced and illustrated by several beautiful ex
permeu,s, among which the most remarka.
bIs was large wheel, five feet in diameter,
carving six Geisser tubes of great size
through which, while in motion, flashes Of
electric light were passed from an induction
coil, made by Mr.. Richie, Of Boston, (prob
ably the most powerful in the world. pro
duced sparks twenty inches in lengthy, be
longing TO the University of Pennsy ylvania
This apparatus produced the appearance of a
star with countless colored, vibrating and
ever changing rays.
The final and perhaps most impressive ex'
pertinent of the lecture was, however, that
illustrating the composite character of white
LIGHT and the difference between Its effect as
an illuminator and those Of monocbroma,c
light.
The drop curtain was lowered for few
moments. to allow Of some scenic changes
and during this time the lecturer explained
the subject in hand to the audience, and by
aid of TWO large groups Of chromatic burners,
fed with spray of chemical solutions, pro-
duced lights of con trasting colors on opposite
sides.
The curtain then rising displayed bril-
liant palace scene, illuminated by several
lime gh,s judiciously placed. At signal
there then marched in troup Of brilliantly
cos,umed masks CONSISTING of students of the
University, who had volunteered for the oc-
casion), bearing banners with appropriate
colored devices.
The effect of this march was most striking,
the tramp Of the advancing columns, the
rushing flutter Of the banners crowding the
stage, and the blaze Of gaudy colors in the
bright white light, formed spectacle as
pleasing as it was novel and unexpected.
The masks having grouped themselves
around the stage, at signal the white Light
was turned off, and from six large sets OF
chromalic burners food of yellow light was
emitted. Instantly the brilliant array be.
came roup of ghas'ly pbantom', clad in
gray, and bearing banners with black and
white devices.
The amount Of yellow light was SO great
as to illuminate the entire house and reduce
the audience to concourse Of sombre-clad
spsctres. The lights we're then changed
several times. This experiment was ny far
the most impressive thing we have ever seen,
and by the precision with which everything
Was managed, reflects great credit on all con-
cerned 10 its production.
A ''man and brother" at Marion, Ala,
| ona lov ,gant into a rhurch ln1 his W ifa out.