, 1881-09-11
pchks Of the brassy
This brasSy appear
notable features of

Mr.. Cutler in Ipswich, also spenks Of the bras5y
appearance nf the Clouds This hrassy appear.
ence WIS one Of the Mp5t notable features Of
tho phenomenon yesterday.
Tie people OF Il hundred years ago were much
nltrc liable tn be excited ny strange ,lutar,l1
phenomena than arc the people OF today. and
tnore wis terrible CONSERVATION ut tho unusual
state of affairs: People sat ut their tables, bur
had no appetite for their food; ordinary labor
was abandoned; and tocking to the meeting
houses the panc-strlclsen oues heard from their
ministers telling sermons III relation To tho
New England, however, who did what his hands
found TO do withont fear, and kept Mt the work
he hnd in hand: confident that he could not he
about to sound. Whittier has immorfalixed him
i'll verse. Col. Abraham Davenport WAS
ono Of the Revolueiopary pltriots, the
Of Stamford, Conn. \ matt Ut tho stern
est integrity, be held tho Office OF: Judge. was n
legislator twenty-five years, serving IN the SEN
Executive Council, tltinr every position with
the utmost futthfulncss. He wus also lnan of
generous hcnrt, and in time OF scarcity he sold
tho ruduct Of his farm to the poOrAt Old prccs-
As will be seen by this brief sketch OF his his
toFy be was Senator at the time the ''tiark
day" occurred. Tho Semitic was in session when
tue darkness fell. Senators were but tucn. and
the terror which had taken possession OF tho
people filled their hearts also. \ motion was
made to adjourn, and Col: davenport opposed IT,
~ am against the adjournment" said he.
Either the Day Of Judgment is at haud or it Is
not II il Il not, there is no cause for adjourn
n1ENL IL IL IS, NISQ To Uft l0tlAu LEO ltQE or
my duty. wish candles to be brought
Tho cause OF the darKuess oi thAt day was
much discussed ut the time. and has been often
discussed since. 1t Is nossiple that tho scienttc
investigation Of yesterdays phenomenon may
throw s"nlc light the question. Meanwhile,
we will state in conclusion some Of the theories
advanced by the men OF Il hundred years ego
\ writer in tho massachusetts SpU supposed that
at tho time the uArk1lcss occurred there were
III tho atmosphere ''vnst quantities Of elastic,
heterogeneous vapors. generated i1 consequence
ut the great huuy Of SNOW which covered the
earth So long the winter past A1td cxhaied dur
ing the warm, dry weather Immediately prcced-
Ing this time. which then had epngestrd and
condensed into thick ctds, which extended
through tho atmosphere tor vast dstaucc.'
He considered that there may have been various
strait Of clouds, sOuc Of the gross banging
near the earth, especially rs the air was much
rarittcd: that consequently the rays Of light slf
fcrcu So lnAny reflections AMI refraGtlDns that
but few could possibly be transmitted. and that
the vast extent Of tho clouds anu their ncarncss
to tho curth prcyentLt tho ObscurGd region from
receiving Turh advantage fruu the reelection
upon the under siue Ut the clouds of the light
fron auy portion OF the atmosphere which WAS
not clouued.
This theory is the same iu effect as that ad-
yailced by Sln,tcl Stcnrns, ". D.. LII. D., Of
and tho calculator OF the lrSt nautical 4l,e,"t:
published in America. Writing to the fudt]}e, 4.
f1h Chfnnic!: he SAID: 1t is my candid opi1lio.
that that darkness w9s not caused by nuy
eclipse. transit hazing star, or mountain, but
BY IN admirable coudcnsity OF large quantities
OF cShaed particles that consisted Of different
tliuliteS.'