The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-08-27

C0'Te4'ondence Of tile 1EgiS g. MteNgencer.
LETTER FROM VIRGINIA

MEssRs. EDITORS Having just slowed
away two or three loads of hay in the NOW,
with the mercury up in the nineties, and
the breeZes all asleep or wasting their lul-
laby upon the mountains have concluded,
while resting and cooling off, to drop you
few lines by way of remembrance, and
to give you hasty and imperfect
sketch of my observations and impressions
OF the eclipse on the 18th, from the highest
point above tide water in the Old Domin-
ion, or within the line of total observation
on our continent. In company with two
scientific gentlemen from Washington city,
who took me, nOtens 0olens, to pilot them
through the intricate mountain D q h 8
to the summit of White Top, had an OPP
portunity, by the aid of their instruments,
to witness the phenomenon in its grandcst
phases AS you were out of the shadow,
and witnessed but partial observation of
the great luminary, trust may be par
, doned for attempting to describe the novel
and magnificent display
Being In highly rarifed atmosphere,
5000 feet above the sea-level, and 1000
above the dust and mist of the surrounding
country, lad nothing but space, not even
a cloud, to obstruct the vision. Immedi-
ately under the lower limb of the sun dur
ing the totality, and when naught also was
seen of it but the brilliant corona that sur
rounded the Opaque body that interviewed,
was bright rose-colored stream of light,
which presented the appearance of a lumi-
nous star to the naked vision. This, by
some astronomers, is said to have been
burning hydrogen gas, and by Others high
ly Illuminated atmosphere. 1t was bril-
liant beyond conception in contrast with
the surrounding darkness, as were numerous
other smaller lettings of crimson flame
which shot out all around the corona, but
invisible to the unassisted vision.
The breaking up of the upper crescent, or
the "Baily Beads" as it is astronomically
termed, was another magnificent display of
Natures pyrotechnics. This was the dis
solving OF the crescent as it were into par
ticles, as the moon marched right in the
face of the day-god, and shut out his light.
The sun remained totally obscured for the
space of two minutes, when, as if scorched
by the proximity, the dark shadows glided
onward, and the world was instantly illu-
med again by surprisingly brilliant rays.
But the grandest of all to me, who had
neither astronomical knowledge to display,
or scientific ambition to crafty, was the
effect of the light Of the corona upon the
clouds. Those who have had the privil-
eye Of being upon White Top, and enjoy
ing the vast and diversified views west
ward, will remember the grand panoramic
circle of mountains on the northeastern
and southeastern horizon, and stretching
away toward the west, till they seem to
unite in the misty distance, will appreciate
the scene which feebly attempt to describe
Stretching along this semi-circle of noun
tains, in long horizontal lines, far below
the sun, and seemingly resting on the SOM
bre foliage, lay numerous light and feecy
clouds, as if reposing on their wings dur
ing the seeming struggle of the orbs above
them. AT the moment of the falling of the
dark shadow, when naught was to be seen
above save the stars and the gorgeous coro-
ma, these clouds werelighted up with all the
colors of the rainbow, presenting an indie
scribable richness and grandeur, standing
out from their sombre backgrounds Of
pine-clad mountains. To my vision, it
were as if bands of broad ribbon, of every
conceivable hue, had been stretched in
parallel lines half round the universe
Such is u brief and imperfect sketch of
the total eclipse on Saturday last, as It
presented itself to my vision, both with
and without the aid of the telescope, thous-
ands of feet above all the rest of the inhab.
itants of the Old Dominion.
But to descend from the sublime to the
ridiculous, will, with your permission, re-
late an incident or two growing out of the
celestial phenomenon. An old mountain
Ger in the vicinity, who had assembled to
the summit for clear view, and who sat
and silently watched the progress of the
shadows, arose and Strengthened himself
when the corona was all that was left of
the sun, and exclaimed-"By George, if
the moon was little bit bigger, it would
cover the sun plumb upp'
Another. When the sun was about half