Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-05


eclipse aud the time which closely pre-.
ceded the total disappearance of the sun,
we remarked nothing worthy of record
in the CONTINGENCIES OF the numerous
spectators. But when the sun, narrowed
to mere line, began to throw over the
horizon a faint light, an anxiety spread
through the whole crowd; each man felt
impelled to communicate his impressions
to his neighbor. Then began dull roar,
like that of distant sea after a tempest.
The noise became louder in proportion
to the thinning of the slender solar cres-
cent. Finally the crescent vanished.
Darkness succeeded suddenly to the
light, and an absolute silence marked this
phase Of the eclipse as sharply as did the
pendulum Of our astronomical clock.
| The phenomenon in its magnificence
had triumphed over the restlessness of
youth, over the frivolity which certain
men take for sign of superiority. and
over the noisy indifference of which the
soldiers ordinarily make their boast. A
profound calm reigned, too, in the air;
even the birds ceased their song. After
solemn waiting of about two minutes
duration, transportsof joy, frantic ap-
plause saluted, with the same accord,
the same spontaneity, the temperance
of the first solar rays. To the melan-
choly self-collectedness produced by in.
defnable sentiments succeeded lively
satisfaction, the evidence of which no
one dreamed of suppressing or of moder.
ating. For the majority of the public
the phenomenon had reached its limit.
The other phases of the eclipse had
few attentive observers, except those de-
voted to the study of astronomy.
For the grand effects Of total eclipse
on the surrounding scenery, the follow
ing description by Mr.. Hind of that
which he observed on the 28th Of July,
1851, may be taken as a sample. He |
says
The aspect of nature during the total |
eclipse was grand beyond description. A |
diminution of light over the earth was
perceptible quarter of an hour after the |
beginning of the eclipse, and about ten
minutes before the extinction of the sun
the gloom increased very perceptibly.
The distant hills looked dull and misty,
and the sea assumed dusky appearance,
like that it presents during rain. The
daylight that remained had yellowish
tinge, and the azure blue of the sky
deepened to a purplish violet hue, par
ticularly toward the north. But notwith-
standing these gradual changes, the OBJ
server could hardly be prepared for the
wonderful spectacle that presented itself
when be withdrew his eye from the tele-
scope, after the totslity had come on, to
gaze around him for few seconds. The
southern heavens were then Of uniform
purple gray color, the only indication of
the suns position being the luminous
corona, the light of which contracted
with that of the surrounding
sky. In the zenith and north Of it the
heavens we're of q purplish-volst, and
appeared very near, while 10 the rortb.
west and northeast broad he'd of vel
lowish crimson liD. t.., intensely bright,
produced an effect which no per-
S"- who witnessed it can ever for
get The crimson appeared to run
over large portions of the sky in
these directions irrespective of the
clouds. At higher attitudes the predomi.
nant color was purple. All naturet
seemed to be overshadowed by an un-
natural gloom; the distant hills were
hardly visible; the sea turned lurid red,
and persons standing near the observer
bad pale, livid look, calculated to pro-
duoe the most painful sensations. The
darkness, if it can be so termed, had no
to that of night. At various
places within the shadow the planets,
Venus, Mercury and Mars and the
brighter stars of the first magnitude,
we're plainly seen during the total
eclipse. Animals we're frequently much
affected. Cocks crowed at Helsingburg,
though the sun was only hidden thirty
seconds, and the birds sought their rest
ing places as if night had come on.
Charles Reade is in love with American