The Republican journal., 1869-08-05
THE COMING ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

/ On Saturday, the 7th inst, will occur, I'M
less astronomers err, 4 total eclipse of the sum-
and will be visible along q track of about
ll0mles wide and more than GGOO miles long
In most parts of the United States the OBJ
scuration will only cover yc-sixths of the
SUMS disc, but even this will present spec
tacle of astoni shing interest to thousands of
people. For the grand effect of a total eclipse
ON the surrounding scenery, the following de-
scrption by Mr.. Hind, the celebrated English
astronomer, of that which he observed on the
2Sth Of July, 1851, may be taken as Il sample
He says -
The aspect of nature during the total eclipse
was grand beyond description. \ diminr-
ton of light over the earth was perceptible 4
quarter of an hour after the beginning of the
eclipse, and about ten minutes before the ex-
tincton of the sun the gloom increased very
pcrceptibly. The distant hills looked dull and
misty, and the sea assumed dusky appear
ance, like that it presents during rain. The
daylight that remained had vellowish tinge,
and the azure blue Of the sky deepened to Il
purplish-yioet hue, particularly toward the
north.
But Notwithstanding these gradual changes.
the observer could hardly be prepared for the
wonderful spectacle that presented itself when
he Withdrew his eye from the telescope after
the totality had come on, to gaze around him
| for Il few seconds. The southern heavens
We're then OF uniform purple gray color, the
only indication of the suns position being the
| luminous corona, the light of which contrastetl
strikin@ly with that of the surrounding skv
In the zenith and north of it the heavens were
! of DlD.1lj sh-In toilet and raJ
while il the northwest and northeast broad
bands Of yellowish-crimson light, intensely
bright, produced an effect which no person
who witnessed it can ever forget. The crimson
appeared to run over large portions Of the sky
in these directions irrespective of the clouds
At higher attitudes the predominant color
was purple. All nature seemed to be over
Swallowed by an unnatural gloom the distant
hills were hardly visible; the sea turned lurt
red; and persons standing near the observer
had pale, lvid look calculated to produce
the most painful sensations. The darkness
if it can be so termed. had no resemblance to
that of night. AT various places within the
shadow, heplanets Venus. Mercury and Mar
and the brighter stars of the first magnitude
were plainly seen during the total eclipse
Animals were frequently much affected. Cocks
croWed at llelsnborg, though the sun was
only hidden there 80 seconds, and the birds
sought their resting places as if night had
come on.
An astronomer writes to the New York Tri
bune that it would not be surprising if many
of the phenomena, which are usually peculiar
to the partial phase, should be generally OBJ
served even in the partial phase of the eclipse
very large throughout the United States, and
the effects of the suns observation will b,
very much aided by the latcncss in the day ii
which the greatest observation will taxi
pace--about 6o'clock in the afternoons at an,
near this city. Possibly something of the co
j, roma may be seen, especially if we take pain
to screen off the remaining bright crescent o
, the sun.
> Where nothing better can be had a bit 0
plain g lass, smoked over q candle or lamp, il
some parts more deeply shaded than in others
to suit varying intensity OF the suns rays dur
: ing the progress of the eclipse, will enabl,
{ the observer to see most of the phenomena
In the city it will be easy to procure pieces o
the red or ruby-tined glass, of ditfercn
shades or depths, from most of the glaciers
+ which may be used with advantage instea
Of the smoked glass. Those who can com
mand good opera glass, or small telescop
of any kind. provided with shade glass t.
} screen the eye, will of course have a bette
view