Middletown transcript., 1868-11-21
m. s1.sseris display.

The telegraph brings as intelligence,
from all points, Of the magnificent meteor
10 display which occurred on the night of
the 18th inst. The sublime spectacle was
Witnessed in all parts Of this country and
in England Dissertations were made at
Oxford University, England; at Washing
ton, d. 9. at Poughkeepsie, N. Y; at
Hartford, Connecticut; in the city of New
York; in Richmond. at Fortress Monroe,
in New Jersey, at Charleston, South Car
olina in New Orleans, and in San Fran
cisco. Everywhere mnch the same aspect
was presented by these phenomena of the
heavens. which transcribed, on this occa-
sion, all exhibitions Of the kind which have
been observed since the very remarkable
one in 1882.
II was our good fortune to witness that
Of Saturday morning last. We awoke at
2.45, A. NJ, and gazed upon the scene for
few minutes from our chamber window.
But, desiring to have better view of the
extraordinary spectacle, we wrapped up
warmly in an overcoat and sailed out into
the frosty air. The morning was exceed
ingly favorable for the observation. A
perfect calm prevailed, and not cloud OBJ
str1ctcd the view, The hoar frost whiten-
ed the ground and glittered in the star
light from every object around us. We
proceeded down the railroad, beyond the
town, SO that the houses might not OBJ
struct our vision. We cannot analyze our
feelings as we stood there, alone, in the
quiet and hush Of those Silly hours. ga
zing upon the sublime and beautiful spec
tacle before us. The :. front of heaven
was full of fiery shapes" and we beheld
them with awe, admiration and wonder,
We did not attempt to count them, for
their number was too great, and they came
in such rapid succession that it was alto
gether impracticable. They differed in
magnitude, from the faintest and most
evanesccnt coruscation of light to the bla-
zing meteor, which shot athwart the heav-
ems emitting yari-colored light above the
brightness Of the largest rockets. and leav-
ing behind nebulous train which lasted
from fifteen to twenty minutes, curling
and wreathing itself into many fantastic
shapes before it finally faded from the Wis
ion. AT one time We saw three of those
stupendous meteors darting across the
heavens at the same instant, emitting light
sufficient to read the smallest print. Al
another time we saw very large one
double-headed, or with two nuclei, which
exhibited red, blue, and purple light anG
the nebula which remained, was also dou
ble-headed. and took the form of the letter
U This peculiar appearance lasted fol
twenty minutes. Its position was few
degrees above the western horizon, jus
below the Pleiades. Several Of these neb
ulous trains we're serpentine, and one tool
the form Of the letter A. This change 0
shape in the trains was probably owing t.
currents in the upper air. At one time
pale meteor made its appearance, apparent
" at an immense height, near the zenith
and hoated slowly down like feather, bu
expired ut much greater altitude tina
the rest. Sometimes there would be an in
Permission Of 0 minute or two, when nc
one could be seen. and then they woul
suddenly burst forth. simultaneously, froi
oil points Of the compass. Ever and ano
there came up from the horizons utmos
verge flashes from passing meteors belo
the line of vision, which resembled tt
CLEAN Of lightning from some far-of thur
der-cloud. The general course of the mt
teors was from southeast to north -wes
We counted four which took a due mort
direction, and several took north-easte
ly course, while only one went towart
the south. Nearly all the larger meteo
exhibited yaricgated colors. This strant
and striking display presented scene, Il
tom ensemble of which was grand and ma,
niiccnt beyond description. These pyr
technics Of the skies cast far into the shat
the mimic efforts of man, compared vii
which his greatest and most brilliant exh
bitions .pale their Intellectual fires" v
would not have missed the sight for al
reasonable consideration, and shall prob
bly, never look upon its like again, thoui
we could wish TO view once more
These metcors, prodigies, and signs,
Presages and tongues OF heaven"
For upwards Of two hours we gazed u
on the sublime and wildering scene, a
drank deeply of its inspiration. Y
thought Of the sentiment of Beattie, a
af Tlo,nsat -. IL n F3lt