The Portland daily press., 1869-08-14
THE RCLlPsE.
How ID Appeared 90 NY slecun af BaI-
com's Corners.


com's Corners.
To The Editor Qfthe Express:
.f BALcoA's CORNERS, August 0, 1869.
Contrary to tle calculations Of astrono-
mers, the solar eclipse OF the 7th instant was
total here at the Corners where We had made
preparations for only 75 pei cent. OF obsurity.
As member of the Society for the confusion
of intelligence, l am naturally partial to
eclipses, earthquakes, double-headed babies,
and such other phenomena as usually attract
the attention OF the scientific world hence 1
could do no less than to testify my approval
of the exhibition last Saturday by subiecting
it to critical scrutiny. / am indebted to Sy
Brown,a retail astronomer and amateur eclip-
sist tor much valuable assistance in preparing
for and conducting my observations. 81
We extemporized an observatory at Bailey's
Tavern, where for a slight consideration we
could obtain smokes and glasses, and having
duly provided ourselves with liberal supply
of those necessary apparatuses, at about half
past 4 p. M. we slgnifed our readiness to
give the phenomena our candid attention.
With commendable pHnctuality the phe-
nomenon made its appearance,and was greet
ed with applause. After moment of anx-
ious observation Sy exclaimed, But wherein
thunder's the limb?" "What limb ?" inquir-
ed L. tWhy," says Sy, sdidn't the papers all
say the eclipse would make her appearance
'on limb?'" Taking a fresh glass from the
bar, where our apparatus was stored, i turned
my intcnsest gaze upon the phenomenon but
without discovering any sembance OF limb.
We both took several glasses and scrutinized
her simultaneously. In vain. The phenom-
enon declined to make her appearance eon a
limb," and after a few moments spent in
swallowing our disappointment at this hitch
in the programme, we called Tor q stronger
N o~.1 49,
and careful search after "Bailey's beads" /
experienced considerable difficulty in bring
ig my glass to locus, but Sy drew bead"
in his glass with the aid OF few crystals of
sugar. We examined it as critically as our
excited state would permit, and solemnly
agreed that it was one Of 'sBaiey's beads;s
though Sy for some time insisted, with tears
in his eyes, that il was one of Mrs Bailey's
beads. After a somewhat warm discussion,
l convinced him that astronomy entirely ig
nored Mrs. Bailey, and We shook hands on
its being Bailey's beads.
The phenomenon meanwhile continued to
go ON, and soon reached a point where she
ought TO have begun TO show her horns. We
watched for them some time, and Sy had
just emphalicallY expressed his opin ion that
it was a mnley- eclipse, without any horns,
when they made their appearance. They
were but two in number and oi good size. Sy
agreed to take one horn in his glass, while 1
took the other in mine, and after analysis in
our respective expectorscvpes, we were to
compare results and decide what the horns
were made OF. s.,r.5 .s,s.g
After few moments of absorbing silence,
or silent absorbing-or both-Sy announced,
as the startling result of his analysis, "Schie-
dam Schnappsw p "No," says l, "Hydro-ginl" !"
"Git outp says Sy, "it's Holland gin, and
NI,offo Snt. fnfInr SOiar
Itried to convince Sy of the absurdity of
an eclipse with one horn of Hydro-gn and
tother of Holland gin, but he treated my lti-
cid argument with the acrimony characteris-
tic OF TOO many scientific men. He made
contumeliOus illusions to my state OF soular
eclipse and mental observation. With true
scientific zeal replied, "Sy, you're a drunk
en- fool" when at that precise moment the
phenomenon reached her climax and the
eclipse became total. Experienced violent
conclusion on the bridge OF my nose, doubt
less attributable to the rapidly advancing
shadow Of the moon, although 1 don't
remember that observers of previous
eOlipses mention any such violence
Another evidence of totality was caused by
the vast number of brilliant stars that be-
came suddenly visible to me. not only saw
stars, but numerous scintillating meteors also
trayersed the field of my vision. Oppressed
by a sense of the solemn grandeur of the
phenomenon l became temporarily uncon-
scious. t. .,ssxr
Something that Sy muttered about the
coroner OF corona, reminded me that the mo-
ments were too precious to be wasted in an
unnecessary swoon, and after brief strug-
gle my senses began to do business and Rich
ards identity was restored. (Shakspeare).
The corona was distinctly visible to my ma
naked eye as opened 1t, and I asked lSy If
he could see it. "See what?" enquired he.
"Why, the crown" says l, @the luminous ha-
10 70 Luminous hog-yoker says he, "that's
your straw hat brim. You mashed the crown
out when you fell. Although convinced that
the crowning feature OF the phenomenon
upon which was gazing was no straw hat
brim, was too intently engaged in noting
the singular effect OF the eclipse to waste
words in dispute. ~.
The rotation of the earth became so appa-
rent that plainly saw the entire landscape
chasing itself around in circle. As / rose
to my feet, that phenomenon, described as an
apparent dropping of the sky, occurred, ac-
companied by a sudden elevation OF the earth,
SO unprecedented that it took me by surprise,
and gave me severe blow on the back before
1 could dodge it. .ss
Things assumed CHASTITY appearance. l
noticed it particularly In Sy's features, and
told him he looked sick. Well, am sick" !"
said he. "Oh, no." l replied, " its merely an
optical Illusion" Optical Illusion be"
said he, heaving Jonah, does that look like
an optical illusion2 ?" With increased respect
tor the power OF an eclipse that seemed with
equal recklessness TO override the laws OF as
tronomY and gastronomy, was obliged to
confess that it didn't look much like an opti-
cal illusion.
The brute creation was not EXEMPT from