The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-24
OUR CELESTIAL RING.
How 1t Was Observed In the Central
Park-An Old Travellers Reflections
on Mount Wnshincton.

How 1t Was Observed In the Central
Park-An Old Travellers Reflections
ON Mount Washington.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
have been reading with pleasure your editorial
meteorologist's explanation Of that rare phenome-
non, circle round the sun, which we had In such
perfection on Monday last on Manhattan Island
as to be especially remarkable. At Patchogue,
Long Island, it is said to have lasted about fifteen
minutes From a little after eleven A. M. till half
past twelve, or over an hour, fingered in the Gen.
trail Park, looking from time to time at this singu-
larry beautiful spectacle and noting the observa-
tions of the numerous incoming and outgoing Park
visitors on that wonderful ring; for the eyes Of
every passenger were cast on 1t. / left the Park
at about half-past twelve, and 1t was nearly one
O'Clock when stopped on my way down town to
call the attention of some ladies to that ominous
circle still flaming In the armament. But, from the
thin, flmy clouds within and without the circle,
there was such dazzling reflection OF the suns
rays that the ladies suddenly called out OF the
house could not bear to turn their eyes the drec-
ton OF the halo.
Your meteorological editor says that "when the
sun Is high up in the heavens, as 1t was when this
last halo was seen, the interposng vapor is too
thin to produce any action on the solar rays, and
hence the absence OF prismatic color In this noon
phenomenon" But at times, as observed 1t in
the Central Park, 1t had the appearance OF rain
the inner Finn the coors were yeiIed ccasenay
the circle, on one side or the other in the passage
oil the shining, misty medium upon which 1t was
imprinted. would dissolve to dim shadow, but at
one period OF hail an hour the entire ring was
maintained in the most brilliant dstinctness and
regularity.
One Of the Park workmen asked me, Can you
tell us, Sir. what that strange warning up there
means w eyes, IL means that big storm is
coming up, the same as when you see a circle
around the moon, only when IL comes around the
sun there will be tornadoes, and trees and houses
will be torn up by the roots in some parts Of the
country. And this Is the meaning or this circle
around the sun" The weather reports OF Tues
day, Wednesday and Thursday, especially from the
Mississippi Valley, furnish the fulnlment Of this
prediction.
An old traveller seated at my side observed that
this reminded him that once upon time he was on
the top OF Mount washington ut sunrise, when
more wonderful phenomenon than this appeared
before him. in the form Of circle in the misty air
mlllength as In a circular frame. "How do you
account for that ~
"Why, that was maybe called mirage. On Lake
Superior at times II pulls the sun himself as he lifts
his golden head above the water into the most
ridiculous distortions, as If he were made OF India
rubber and some invisible hands were stretching
him out.n
Some OF the passengers In the Park thought this
circle around the sun bike a comet or some awful
meteer) was warning OF heavy impending ca
lamity; while one brave young lady didn't believe
"there was ythng more In IL than there il I'm the
Northern lights or falling star"
But the most remarkable fact In reference to this
circle around the sun Is the fact that although the
halo was not so brilliant, perhaps anywhere else
as IL was over the city OF New York. our city
papers, excepting the HERALD, appear to have had
no knowledge OF the event and no information on
the subject W.
NEW YORK, May 49, 1873.