Connecticut western news., 1879-09-17
NortheFm Lights.

VA - ANNOUNCEMENTS to cluster together within doors and with trembling and fear" look out upon this alarming phenomenon as the precursor of some dire event-perhaps the day of doom. But for the encouragement of philanthropy, we can safely conclude, that when society discards superstitious terror, something pleasing often takes it's place; so that the evening glee of childhood is no longer in- terrupted, unless it be by amusement at the appearance of the Northern Lights" And so it will doubtless be, that in due time many depressing ideas which now so heavily weigh upon the heart of the world, will be rooted out by the pioneers of thought, and men will be inclined to more buoyancy of dis position, the natural result of which is, better terms with themselves and others.
 What are the Northern Lights? is query unanswered. In the ages of ignorance and superstition it was a question of fear-at present, one of curiosity. One of the earlier suggestions of reason which never grew to the strength of an opinion, was, that the suns rays upon polar ice caused the "Aurora." But as this cause would procure southern, as well as northern light, this theory could not be LObHCGt6AS to be much more free from objections. The first is something like this: These mysteri- ous lights are conjectured to be caused by planetary nebula-meteoric matter which is supposed to surround and attend each mem ber of our solar system in it's orbit-that this substance becoming at times disturbed, is made to give out @ phosphorescent light; but here we meet with a difficulty. If these phenomena are thus caused, by planetary in- f1uence, why should they not prevail in any quarter of the sl1y2 Another view of the matter is, that the northern light is dis turbance of the earth's magnet by electricity or some other influence, there seems to be good evidence; as during Auroral displays of unusual brilliancy, the magnetic needle is found to be in state of agitation, plainly in- dicating the mysterious power known as polar magnetism as being frictionized into a glow by electric irritation. SEARCH.
 Harper's Magazine for october, 1879. The October Number of Harper's Magazine is unusually rich in illustrations and varied in it's literary attractions. Among the latter are, of course, to be placed first the new serial nov els by WILLIAM BLACK and R.D BLACKMoRE. A very powerful ghost story-s'The Revolu- ton in the Life of MT. Balingall"-is contrib uted by SHERWOOD BONNER, the author of Hike unto Like :" and there is also a very brief but unique story by Mary N. Prescott, entitled Belles Diary" Miss MULocK's se- rial novel, 'sYoung Mrs. Jardine," increases in interest every month.
 Those who have read Colonel WAR1Ne's Tyrol sketches will welcome the new contri- button from his pen with which this Number opens, entitled ''On the Skirt of the Alps'' with several very beautiful illustrations. This paper, after some very novel views of Venice, gives delightful description of the Lakes of Northern Italy.
 MT. CHARLES A. CoLE's ipaper on Painted Glass in Household Decoration, accompanied by some extremely interesting illustrations, is ito the general reader-a remarkable reve- lation. The writer, besides general review of the subject, shows what the glass-painters are now doing in New York.
 sew. BENJAMIN concludes his series, tFif- ty Years of American Art" with a third paper
 illustrated with engravings from paintings by Bierstadt, Hill, eThomas Moran, M'Entee, Wyant, Martin, De Haas, Norton, Quartly, T. W. Wood, Mayer, J. G. Brown, Guy, Thompson, Magrath, and Tait. This will be followed in the November Number by an arti- cle on 'sEarly American Painters" with simi- lar illustrations.
 Mrs. HELEN s. CoNANT's "A Ramble in Central Park" is not intended to be formal description of the Park, but presen ntation of some of it's most picturesque features These are also represented in some very character istic illustrations by Rogers, Pranishnikof, Reinhart, Graham, Church, Miss Oakley, and Miss Curtis.
 Miss Curtis also contributes two remarkably beautiful illustrations for PHILIP BoURKB MARsToN's poem, ''The Two Burdens"
 MT. FRANK H. TAYLOR contributes a very entertaining and instructive paper on Texas, with seventeen characteristic illustrations
 A very novel descriptive paper with quaint pictures of Irish scenery and character is con. tributed by Miss J. L. CLOUD, entitled 'sThe Connemara Hills"
 A brief paper on the present state of the al- cohol question is contributed by Dr. T. M CoAN.
 The Editorial departments are well sustain ed. The Easy UhaI is timely and entertain ing, and the Literary Record is very com plete summary of current books.
 GopEY's LADY's Book FoR OCTOBER will be