The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-26

plicable.
"Just how dark the day was is at
tested by indisputable evidence. The
hour and minute could not be discov-
cred on the face of clock or watch by
persons of unimpaired eyesight. Can
dies became an absolute necessity both
out doors and in, as it was impossible
to transact ordinary business without
them. Fires on the hearthstone shone
as brightly as on moonless November
evening, and all dinner-tables were set
with candles upon them as if it were
the evening repast. The keenest eyes
, in doors could not see to read the COM
mon print. So far beyond any ordinary
fog was the effect that stages on the road
either put up at the nearest hotel during
the midday hours, or carried candles
or lanterns to enable the perplexed
driver to well see his way.
"And the brute and feathered crea-
ton 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 even
ing songs as they do at twilight, and
then became silent. Pigeons on the
wing took to the shelter of the forest as
they do at night. The whip-poor-will,
as if it were truly night, cheerfully sang
his song through the gloomy hours.
Woodcocks, which are night birds,
whistled as they only do in the night
time. Bats came out of their hiding
places and few about. The fowls
marched solemnly to their roosts as
\ they do only at nightfall IA and after
eackling Tor a while over the mystery OF
so short a day, became still. Cocks
crowed as is their custom at nightly in
tervals and the early breaking of day.
Frogs peeped their evening concert, and
dogs whined and howled and ran away
as ON the approach of an earthquake
The herds of cattle on New England's
thousand hills sought the shelter of the
shed or barn-yard, lowing as they came
to the gate, and sheep huddled around
the circle with heads inward the inva.
riable token of apprehended danger.
"On the human family the effect was
still more curious and terrifying. The
mechanic left his tools in the shop, the
farmer his pillow in the furrow, and each
moved in silent and marveling mood
toward the barn or dwelling. On the
home threshold they were met by pale
and anxious women. who tremblingly
inquired, What is comingP' The
alarmed traveller, seeking the sympathy
of his fellow man as one impressed with
sense of impending peril, put up at
the nearest house, and mingled his anx-
ious questionings and forebodings with
those of the family. Strong men met
and spoke with surprise on their coun-
tenances, and little children peered tim
idly into the deepening gloom, and then
sought the sheltering parental arms.
Schools broke up in alright, and the
wondering pupils scampered homeward
with many expressions of childish fear.
The inevitable candle shone out of the
windows of all dwellings-every coun-
tenance gathered blackness-all hearts
were filed with fear of an approaching,
unparalleled storm, or the occurrence
of a terrestrial CONFUSION; but it was
not the blackness of the storm-cloud,
such as sometimes, with frightful agita-
ton, breaks over single city; it was
the silent spreading of the pall-cloth
over the earth by strong, invisible hands.
Many anecdotes of terror are related.
In Boston, from the hours of IL or till
3 O'Clock, business was generally sus-
pended and shops were closed. At
Groton, a court was in session in
Westinghouse full of large windows, as
was the old style of houses of worship;
but at half-past eleven all faces began
to wear a somber hue, whereupon mag
istrate and people followed suit with all
New England and called for lighted
candles.
Connecticut went totally under the
cloud. The journal of her House of
Representatives puts on record the fact
that None could see to read or write in
the House, or even at window, or dis
tinguish persons at small distance, or
perceive any distinction of dress, etc.,
in the circle of attendants. Therefore,
at eleven O'Clock adjourned the House
till two O'Clock, afternoon Amid the
deepening gloom that wrapped about
the State House, and set the lawgivers
trembling with the apprehension that
the Day of Judgment was at hand,
when the motion for adjournment was
made, Colonel Abraham Davenport,
afterward Judge of Stamford, Conn,
and State Councillor in the
Legislative Chamber, at Hartford,
said: l am against the adjournment.
Either the Day of Judgment is at hand
or it is not. If it is not, there is no
cause for adjournment. If it is, wish
to be found in the line of my duty.
wish candles to be brought
"The darkness of the day having
been succeeded an hour or two before
evening by partially clear sky and the
shining of the sun, still obscured by the
black and vapory mist, this interval was
followed by a return of the observation
with greater density, that rendered the
first half of the night hideously dark be-
yond all former experience of probably
a million of people who saw it. '-Nev
York Observer.
The native Roman ladies are very
handsome, tall and exquisitely formed;
but poor things thew can not aniov tho