The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-09-10

storm began, in fact, as the light broke
out on the suns surface. But this was not
the only evidence of the sympathy with
which the earth responded to the solar ac-
ton. 1t was subsequently found that soon
after the spots of light had appeared the
whole frame of the earth had thrilled I'M
der mysterious magnetic influence. At
the West Indies, in South America, in
Australia, wherever magnetic observations
are Systematically made, the observers had
the same story to tell. In the telegraph
stations at Washington and Philadelphia
the signalmen received strong electric
shocks. In Norway, telegraphic machin-
cry was set ON fire. The pen of Bain's tel
egraph was followed by flame. And
wherever telegraphic wires were in action
well-marke ed indications of disturbance
presented themselves. Even this, however,
was not all. The great magnetic storm
was not mere instantaneous electric throe.
Hours passed before the disturbed earth
resumed its ordinary state. And thus it
happened that in nearly all parts of the
earth night fell while the storm was yet in
progress. During the night magnificent
auroras spread their waving streamers over
the sky, both in the northern and southern
hemisphere. AS the disturbed needle vi
brated, the colored streamers waved re-
sponsive, and it was only when the
magnetic storm was subsiding that the au
roral lights faded from the heavens Now,
it is evident that these phenomena show
the most intimate relation between these
peculiar disturbances in the sun and the
magnetic currents of our own earth. Di
rectly one of these changes takes place up
wards Of ninety millions of miles away,
the electric condition of our planet is
changed i'll some mysterious way, OF which
our Instruments, and even the condition of
our sky bear record. The pen of all our
Geographic wires may some day trace in
flame handwriting more ominous of hui
man destiny than was the handwriting
which during Belshazzars feast, traced
warning on the wall of the fall Of the
Babylonian dynasty. Moreover note this,
that these changes in the condition of the
sun take place at intervals of about eleven
round it, as well as supplying us with
light and heat and apparently magnet
ism, clouds over every eleven years these.
spots, so that it seems most likely that
every eleven years certain magnetic con-
ditions rccur which have not occurred in
the interval. Ifso, perhaps, the magnetic
excitement of 1859 will recur, and it may
be in much greater force next year-in
1870. And if it does, how are VIC to say
what may or may not rccur with it? 1t is
quite possible that those periods Of specu-
lativc financial excitement-whicha are also
said to follow periodic law of something
very like the same period-may be more or
less dependent on the magnetic condition
of our planet, that so mean phenomenon
as speculative frenzy on the stock ex-
changes Of Europe may be more or less
connected with these wonderful discharges
of voltaic batteries in the sun. Is it quite
impossible that the electric polite con-
dition of Europe in 184S--and again at an
interval of eleven years, in the year of
Italian revival and revolution, 1S59--may
not recur after one or more period ofcleven
years, in 1870, in conseo ucnce ofthe return
ing epoch of magnetic excitement in the
sun