The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-19
PERMANENT FREAKS.

For some weeks past the people in the
latitude of the United States have been
treated TO a series OF gorgeous sunsets-frma-
ment freaks of wonderful beauty. The heav-
ems were never robed in diviner light. Asa
matter of oourse everybody has talked sun.
sets, and astronomers have been called upon to
explain the wonder and account for the sub
lime grandeur and glory of the celestial
phenomena. That these gentleman who
have studied the laws of the Heavenly orbs
believe they know something about the ex-
traordinary sunset radience of the West.
ern skies, it is not worth while
to question. but it must be
confessed that, so far, they have
not solved the mystery Day after day, as
the sun touched the Western horizon, the
supernal effulgence of the skies has attracted
all eyes, and millions of people reyerently, or
in blank amazement, bave gazed upon exhibit
tions of celestial splendors such as might be
supposed are prepared only for
the delight of seraphs. The
confession may be somewhat humiliating,
but it is not the less true that the astrono-
mers are unable 10 give any rational explain
alton of the strange appearances. They are
too occult and beyond the grasp OF the most
advanced in sIderial science. 1t is, there
fore, in order to acknowledge that
man has not yet advanced to that state
OF development when he can solve all the
problems OF the universe We measure and
weigh planets, map out their course, talk
learnedly OF perihelIOn aphelion, nubule,
etc, and yet mysteries multiply as knowl-
edge increases The simple PROPOSE
ton of distances battle Imagination.
When we are told that the fixed
star. Sirias, is 10000, OO0, 900 of miles from
that the term ''stardust" has been coined to
convey some idea OF their number, il is not
hest to become demoralized because of &C.
ca,ional appearances in the heavens, the
cause of which no man can solve, and
certainly it is not in good taste to become
alarmed when the phenomena are such as to
excite the most pleasurabe emotions. 1t is,
however, true that the fiery glow of the
Western skies is made to do duty as portent
of terrible calamities that are soon to visit
the world; such As tornadOs cyclones, earth
quakes. scourges death and general smash
up OF things on the surface oil the
earth. Some have il that the earth is al
ready in the grasp OF the tail of a comet
whose bead is not yet visible in space: 9TH
ers. that the planets Mars. Neptune, Jupiter,
Uranus and Saturn have entered into
some sort of league to give the
earth trouble and kill off nu-
merous millions of its inhabitants
particularly those who are not specially at
tentve to sanitary rules We are told that
not with certainty calculate upon
seed time and harvest, and that famine is in
the near future, and finally. that the day of
doom is at hand when the earth will be
set on fire and disappear in smoke. 1t is well
| known that the fools are not ali dead and it
is more than probable that some of them
will take warning and at once begin 70 make
| however, continue to take stock st par in
this sublunsry sphere and admire the
| beautiful sunsets; we prefer them
to dark, gloomy and uninteresting
| dust-meteoric showers-Or comet mist, we
do not know nor are we particular about
theories every fellow can suit himself. As
/ celestial shows, the late sunsets have been
beautiful beyond description, and if old Sol
continues, to seek his couch during the winter
months so royalty robed he has our best
| wishes for pleasant dreams.