Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-07-10
Sunset on Mount Blanc.

Sunset on Mount Blanc.
And now, wbils, occupied 10 driukiog IN that
strange sensation. and allowing our minds to re-
cover their equilibrium from the first stagger-
Jog shock Of astopishmen., began the strange
spectacle of which We were the sole witnesses.
Doe long delicate cloud, suspended 10 mid air,
lust below the sun, was gradually adoroing IT.
self with prismatic coloring. Round the limilless
horizon ran faint fog bank, unfortunately not
thick enough to produce shat depth of coloring
which sometimes makes an Alpine sunset iuex-
prcs,iby gorgeous. The weather-lt was the
only complaint VIZ had TO make-erred on the
side Of fueness But the colorng was brilliant
enough to prevent any thoughts of serious dis
appointment. The long series of western ranges
melted into uniform hue as the sun cllned
10 their rear. Amid their folds the Lake of
Geneva became suddenly lighted up in faint
yellow g!eam. TO the east blua xauzs seemed
to cover each valley as they sack into highland
the Intervening ridges rose with increasing dis
tinctuess, or rather it seemed that some fluid
of exquisite delicacy OF color aud substance was
flooding all the lower couutry beneath the great
mountains. Peak BY peak the high >noS Il Ids
caught the rosey glow, aud shown like sigual hres
across the din breadths of delicate twilight.
Like Xerxes We looked over the countless host
siLklug ioto rest, but with tho rather different
reflection that hundred years heuce they
would probably be doing much the same thing,
Willie we should long have ceased TO take any
Interest 10 the performance. Aod suddenly be.
gau a more startling phenomenon. Avast cone,
with its apex pointing away from us, seemed
to be suddenly cu off from the world beneath;
night was within its borders, aud the twilight
still all round; the blue msts were qucnched
where it fell, and for the instant we could
scarcely tell what was the origin OF this strange
appearances. Some unexpected change seem
ed to have takcp place IN the programme; as
though Il great iold 10 the curtain had sudden
ly given way, aud dropped Oh that part Of he
scenery. Of course, mom2nt's ref :ctlon tx
planned the meaning OF this uncauny intruder;
it was TIE giant shadow Of Mont B;apc testify
iDy to his supremacy over ell minor emluances.
1t is difficult to say how sharply marked was
the outlinc, and how startling was the contrast
be,wceu this pyramid of darkness aud the
auiy lighted spaces beyond its iuhucuce;
huge uky blot seemed to have taIlcu upon the
landscape AS We g.z ID wo coud see it move.
1t swallowed up ridge By ridge, aud the sharp
point crcpt steadily from one landmark to an-
other dUwu the bread valley of Aosa. We were
standing 10 fact on the point of the gnomon OF
IL gigantic sun DIAL the face OF which was
formed by thousands OF square miles OF mouu
tain and valley. So clear Was the outline that
if figures had been scrawled upon glaciers and
ridges We could have told the time to second;
indeed, we we're half Inclined 10 look for our
own shad ,ws at distance so great that whole
villages would be represented BY scarcely dis
tinguishable speck Of coloriug. The huge
shad ws. looking ever mors strange and magl
cal, struck the dis.an; Becca di Mona, aud then
climbed to the dark region where the hr nader
shadow of the world Was rising into the East
erD sky.
By some singular effect of perspective, rays
of darkness seemed to be converglng from
above the apex of a shadowy cone. For time
it seemed that there Was kind OF anti-suu 10
the east, pouring out not light but deep
shadow as it rose. The apex soon reached the
horlz N, aad then, to our surprise, oogao
climbing the distant sky. Would it never stop,
and was Mount Blanc capable OF overshadow
log not only the earth, but the sky? For a
minute or TWO | fancicd in beUildored way
that this uuearhly object would fairly rise
from the ground, aud climb upward to the
zenith. But rapidly the lights went ou. on the
great army of m ,untaiDs; the snow all round
took the livid hue which Immediately succeeds
an Alpine sunset. and almost at blow the
shadow Of Mont Blanc was swallowed up 10 the
general shade of night.-Cornhau Mdgdzane.
LACQUER WoRK.-The Japan Mail quotes
from Consular report an interesting account
OF one of the oldest industries of that Inventive
people. According to the native ohroniclers,
the art of lacquorng was discovered IN the year
724 A. d. BY the eud Of the thirteenth cen
tury 1t had attained such perfection that dis.
tlogushed member OF tae craft is recorded to
have then startod particular school of paint
Jog u sQuer. The material used 10 that work
consists Of the cap Of che urushl tree, a plant
Gu tvated partly for the sap aud partly tor the
fruit, from which vegetable wax Is obtained.
These trees obtain their prime OF lite In the
short space Of five or six years, when the sap is
drawn from them by an elaborate process re-
quiring great judgment and experience, and 10
which the iuhsbitauts of particular district
are celebrated for possessing special skill.
After tn, sap has been fully extracted during
the four or FIVE autumnal months, the tree Is
condemned aud cut down. But its usefulness
does not even then cease, for its wood is so
light, aud at the same time durable, as to be
used very generally for making floats for Ash
ing nets, aud for many other purposes. AS
Tor the process of lacquer painting, 1t IS rather
elaborate, but it consist 10 the main 10 applying
successive layers of varush. gold powder, and
paint. followed again by varnish, and lastly
rubbed successfully with particular kind OF
charcoal, polishing powder and horn dust.
The manipulation of all these various ingredl-
euts aud appliances may we'll be beloved to be
adshc.te matter, requiring manust skill aud
uea!ucss as well as good taste. 1t would make
aprctty amusement for some OF those lngenl
Gus ladies whose talents are now devoted to the
preparation OF less elaborate ornaments, and
who are on the lookout for new sphere of dec-
orstiye art. London Globe.
uER Il ERT r. TAN LIS