The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-09-07
MINISTER, MD, SATURDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER T. 1872.


the face Of clock or watch by persons
Of uuimpaired eyesight Candles be
came an absolute necessity both out
doors and in, as it was impossible to
transact ordinary business without them
Fires on the hearIhstone shoue as
brightly as on a moouless November
evening, aud all dinner. tables were set
with lighted cuudles upon them as il it
were the evening repast, The keenest
eyes in doors could uot see to read the
common priut. SO far beyond any or
diuary lus was the effect that stages on
the road either put up ut the nearest
hotel during the mid day hours, or car.
ried candles or lanterns to euable the
perplexed driver to well see his way.
Aud the brute aud ieathered creation
seemed puzzled and agitated. The
birds ceased to fly, and hid themselves
IN the branches Of the trees As the
darkness increased they sang their
evening songs as they do at twilight,
aud Ilien became sileut. Pigeons on
the wing took to the shelter of the
forest as they do at night. The whip
pOor,wiil, us il it were truly night,
chceriully sang his song through the
| gloomy hours. Woodeocks, which are
night birds, whistled rs they only do in
the night time. Bats came out uf their
hiding places and flew about. The fowls
marched solemnly to their roosts as they
do Ouly at nightiall, aud, after aekliug
iOrA while over the mystery Of 50 short
day, became still Cocks crowed us
is their custom at nightly intervals aud
the early breaking OF day Frogs
peeped their evening concert, and dogs
whlued Or howled aud ran away as ou
the approach OF uu earthquake The
nerds vi cattle GU New Englauds thou
sand hills, sought the shelter OF the
shed or barnyard, lowing as they came
to the gate, aud sheep huddIed arouud
the circle with their heads uward-the
lnyarlabie token OF apprehended dau.
ger.
On the human family the effect was
still more curious and terrifying The
mechanic lett his tools in the shop, the
farmer his plow ia the furrow, and each
moved in sllent aud maryeIing mood
toward the barn or dwelling. 0a the
home threshold they were met by pale
aud anxious women, who tremblingly
Inquired, Nv hat Is comiugW The
alarmed traveller, seeking the sympathy
OF his lcliOw niau as one Impressed with
a sense ol Impending peru, put up at
the nearest house, aud mingled his
anxious questloniugs aud iorebodings
with those vi The family. Strong mcn
met aud spoke with surprise on their
eountenuuces, aud little children peered
tiui1diy into the deepening gloom, and
then sought the shelterlug parental
arms. Schools broke up in uTright.
and the wondering pupils scampered
homcward With muuy expressions OF
childish fear. The inevitable candle
shUDe out Of the windows OF all dwell
lugs-syery couutenans sc gathered black
uess--ail hearts were filled with fear OF
an approaching, unparalleled storm, OF
the occurrence of u terrestrial couyul
sion; but 1t was not the black ness Of
the stOrm.clOud, such as sometimes,
with irlghtiul agitation, breaks over u
single city; it was the silent spreading
OF the pail cloth over the earth by
strong, Invisible hands. Many auec
dotcs Or terror are related, lu Boston
from the hours OF | or | till 3 clock
business was generally suspended aud
shops were closed. At Grotou, a court
Was III session IN meeting house full
vi large windows, as Was the old style
ot houses Of worship; but at halt past
eleven all faces began to wear sombre
hue, whereupon magistrate and people
followed suit with all New Eng gland
aud called Tor lighted candles. Con-
necticut went totally under the cloud.
The journal OF her House Of Represen
tatiyes puts on record the fact that
"Nonc could see TO read or write in the
House, or even ut window, or distiu
gulsh persOus at a small distance, or
perceive any distinction of dress, &c,
III the circle ol attendants. Therefore
at eleven o'clock adjourned the House
Ill two O'Clock, afternoon" Amid the
deepening gloom that wrapped about the
city, darkencd the rooms OF the State
House, aud set the lawgiyers trembling
with the apprehension that the day Of
Judgment was at hand, when the motion
Tor adjournment was made, Colonel
Abraham Davenport, aiterward Judge oil
Stamford, Conn, and State Councillor
IN the Legislative Chamber at Hartford,
said; 81 am against the adjournment
Either the Day Of Judgment is a, hand
or it is not. Ii it is not, there is no
cause for adjournment. If it is, wish
to be found in the line Of my duty. |
wish caudles to be brought"
The darkness Of the day having been
succeeded au hour or two before even.
Ing by partially clear sky, and the
shining Of the sun, still obseured by
the black and yapory mist, this Interval
was followed by u return of the OBJ.
scuration with greater density, that
rendered the FIRST half of the night
hideousIy dark beyond all former cxper.
ience OF probably million OF people
who saw 1t.