Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-03-14
DAWN OF THE MOON.

A Rochester journalist who visited
Prof. Swift, and had view of the moon
says: The telescope, with power of
thlrty-six diameters, was turned upon
the moon. At first the food of light
was binding, and the view was but
cursory. The moon looked like shield
of embossed silver-the shield of
Archilles, hung by his goddess mother
in the azure of the heavens Prof.
Swift looked over the field, and noted
as he looked many of the interesting
points, and suggested that we follow the
sunrise on the moon. On the moon the
dawn advanced at the rate of five miles
an hour, lighting up new fields and fur
nishing an ever-changing panorama.
Still, there is naught but desolation,
yawning craters and sharp peaks of vol
canic mountains and circular walls with
perpendicular sides that surround deep
pits. The moon is dead to all appear
ance-burned out with volcanic fires.
No water laves the desolate and rugged
shores of its great sea bottoms. But in
the gray plains where some astronomers
think an ocean once spread, craterS are
seen with perpendicular walls.
The gray plains can be seen with
naked eye, forming what is called, "the
man in the moon," on map like the
eastern continent. Under the telescope
we could trace what at first seemed to be
shore lines on the border of this plain.
On closer inspection, instead of wave
washed sand, these lines appeared to be
but rounded steps formed by successive
lava bursts spreading over the PLAIN and
marking, by the lessening flow, the
gradual exhaustion of the volcanic
force. From one of the largest cratels
rise three volcanic cones, the SUBMITS
of which are tipped with sunshine be-
fore the floor of the crater is lighted.
In another large crater two cones arise.
From the large craters rays spread out,
as though the volcanic forces cracked
the firm crust in its upheavel, injecting
through the broken surface ridges of
dazzling white lava, spread out like the
arms of cuttlefsh, covering vast sui
face.
The grandest phenomena are to be
observed by following the sun on the
moon. The advancing dawn forms
ragged crescent line upon the surface
still in the darkness. The suns rays
pass over dark chasms and low fields,
lighting up ragged mountain tops far in
advance. They appear like little is
lands of light lying off the coast of an
illumined sea. High mountains and
crater walls near the shore of light cast
deep shadows. The circular rims of the
crater are illuminated, and shine like
rings of silver glittering on a cushion
of darkness. The advancing dawn now
lights up the bases of the outlaying
mountains that but moment ago show
ed but speck of light. and still new
mountain tops are tipped with silver far
in advance.
The sunlight strikes upon the side of
circular wall of a crater, and there is
a silver crescent, with black space be-
tween it aud the sea of light. Slowly
the summit or other portions of the cir
cular wall are lighted up, and the sun
shine invades the depths of the crater,
while the shadow of the wall nearest
the sun stretches half across the floor
Of the chasm. Frequently great gaps
are broken in the crater walls, and
streaks of light stream across the floor.
The Jagged rocks, in calm, cold beauty,
shine and glitter in the fierce white
light. The mountains are mountains Of
desolation. and the valleys are valleys
Of silence and death. They are wrink-
led with the flow of lava and torn with
upheavals. The moon is dead. No
air, no sea, no forest shade or living
thing. The moon is never-failing
source of delight. 1t is also awful i'll
its suggestions of power and its lonel.-
ness of utter desolation.
Disease prevented and medical bills lessened by a