The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-20
Sunrise On the Moon.

THE WONDERS REVEALED By THE ADVANCING
SUNLIGHT on THE MOONS SURFACE.
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
in recent issue, says:
Saturday evening q representative of the
Democrat and Chronicle, impressed with the
idea that it was suitable opportunity to
view the moon, called upon Professor Lewis
Swift, at his hardware store on State street.
and inquired il the time was suitable to &C
cent his invitation TO look ut the moon
through his telescope. Professor Swlft-he
| i called professor frcm no desire or claim
| OF his own, but because the citizens OF Ro-
| chester delight to honor him said that the
haI,.moon was the most interesting, but con-
siderable satisfaction could be gained from
viewing it in its present phase. ana eX-
urcssed cordial wish TO crafty us.
The telescope. with power OF thirty-slX
d;ometers. was turned upon the moon. AT
trst tbe flood OF light was binding, and the
yipy was but cursory. The moon looked
like shield OF embossed silver-the Slaeid
of Aclilcs-hung by his goddess mo'ner
in the azure Of the heavens. Professor
Swift looked over the field aud noted as nc
Looked many of the interesting points, ana
suggested that we follow the sunrise On the
moon. On the moon the dawn advanced
at the rate OF ten miles an hour, lighting
I'm new fields and furnishing to the tele-
scopist an crer-chansing panorama. SUI,
there is naught but deso!atlon, yaWnlnS era
! ters, and sharp peaks OF volcanic mountains
and circular walls with perpendicular sldcs
that surround deep pits. The moon 10
dead to all appearances-ourned out WIFI
volcanic fires. No water lares the dcsolate
and rugged shores Of ITS gray sea-bottoms.
| But in the gray plains, where some astrono-
| n. nm npI
seen with perpendicular walls. The gray
| plains can be seen with the naked eye, form
| inc what is called - the man in the moon,"
on map like the eastern continent. IN
der the telesconc we could trace what
seemed at first to be shore-lncs on the
borders OF this plain. On closer inspec-
tlcn. instead Of wave-washed sand, these
lines appeared to be but rounded
steps formed by successive lava bursts
Spreading over the plain and making by the
lessening flow the gradual exhaustion OF the
volcanic force. From one OF the largest
craters rise three volcanic cones, the sum-
mits of which are tipped with sunlight be.
fore the floor Of the crater is lighted. In
another large crater two cones arise. From
| the larger craters rays spread out as though
the volcanic force cracked the firm crust In
its upheaval, injecting through the broken
surface ridges OF dazzling white lava, tb't
spread out like the arms Of cutt!e-flsh, coy
cring vast surface.
The grandest phenomena are to be Oh
served by following the sun on the moon.
The advancing dawn forms ragged cres-
cent line uuon the surface still in darkness.
Tie suns rays pass over dark cGasms and
low fields, lighting up ragged mountain
tons far in advance. They appear like little
islands of light lying off the coast OF an
Illuminated sea. High mountains and era
ter walls near the shore Of light cast deep
shadows. The circular rms OF cratcrs are H.
Illuminated and shine like rings OF silver. gill
tcrinm upon cushion Of darkness. The aG-
yanciug dawn now lights UP the bases OF the
outlying mountains that buta moment ago
showed but 4 speck OF light, and still new
mouutain-topStare tipped with silver far in
advance. The sunlight strikes upon Tie
side of Il circular wall OF a crater, and there
is silver crescent, with Il black space be-
tween 1t and the sea Of light. Slowly the
summit OF other portions Of the circular
wall are lighted up, and then tho sun
light invades the depths Of the crater,
while the shadow OF the wal! nearest
the sun stretches half across the floor
Of the chaSm. Frequently great gaps are
broken in the crater-wallS and strcaks oi
light stream across the floor. The Jagged
rocks in calm, cold beauty, shine and glitter
in tie fierce white light. The mountain!
are mountains OF desoaiion. and the val
levs are valleys ot silence and death. The.
are wrnkled with the flow OF lava and torr
with upheaval$. The moon is dead. Nf
air, no sea, no forest shade, or living thing
The moon is a neyer-faling source Of de
light. 1t is also awful in its suggestions O.
power and in its loneliness OF utter dcsolt