San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-18

ing and tossing under the TREMENDOUS
forces at work. Chasms, some OF which
by measurement were several thonsahu
miles across, yawned within this area,
their Jagged and shining edges and
deep purple ulysses showing splendid,
ly even in small telescopes. Bright
tongues projected from the sides over
the central chasms, and in some places
marrow bridges of snowy Wilderness
crossed them. These holes were OF
every conceivable size and shape, ana
around them all was vast penumbral
shade, resting like veil upon the face
\ of the sun, and indicating to tho
trained observer the limits and extent
of the great depressed area in which
the still deeper chasns were formed.
All the minor features OF the great
spot were continually changing. An
hours watching revealed changes which,
though slight compared with the vast
extent of the spot, appeared marvellous
when little figuring showedthe rapid
ity of the motions that were taking
place.
X The evening Of the 10th was clear,
and the sun could be watched till it
touched the horizon. The treme ndous
disturbances that had revealed them
selves during the afternoon continued
at sunset. The astronomers put up
their telescopes to wait for the morning,
when the study of the great spot could
be renewed; but hardly had the twilight
faded before in the north, in the direc'
ton of one of the earth's magnetic
poles, pale green light began to glow,
and presently an arch was formed, and
then the mysterious curtains OF the au-
rora were silently swayed and shaken
in the heavens. sHr. t' s+.'.'t 'r....' '.'
At the same time the telegraph lines
and the Atlantic cable were crippled,
and the magnetic needle, showed the
greatest excitement. The effects of the
great sun spot, or rather the effects of
the forces which produced it, were be-
ing felt by the earth, and it was re-
spending to the magnetic. thrill COM
municated from the sun, gg9i,
?, The great spot continued through
the week to show signs of intense activ-
ity, and almost every night the auro-
raj streamers were shaken in the north,
although the first display of Sunday
night was unequalled by any that fol-
lowed. That the magnetic disturbance
did not cease so long as the auroras
lasted, those whose business suffered
through delays in the telegraph know
too we'll. -.. .... '-e . a7-.
At first sight it seems a startling
proposition to assert that the sun has
it in its power thus to interfere with
the workings of the Atlantic cable, and
to interrupt to no slight extent the
correspondence and business between
two continents. Nothing that the an
cient fable makers related of Phebus
and his Car of day was more wonderful
than this Itwould be yet more startling,
however, if those who believe that the
tornadoes andother atmospheric, which
have made this month of April remark
able in meteorological annals, and also
due to the disturbances in the sun,
could establish their theories as scien-
tiic facts. a.'
The power of the sun is only just be-
ginning to be appreciated, even by men
of science, and it is impossible to pre-
diet where the study that is now being
concentrated upon his subject will end.
Science has to-day no more splendid
and promising field open to it.-Nea0
York Sun. " .