The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-10-23
THE RED SUNSETS.

a year ago the red sunsets began, |
and again at this same mellow season |
of the year the tints are growing
grand. at no time, since their first |
appearance has there been any real
cessation Of these red sunsets. For
months the brilliant colors have been
subdued, but they have chung to the
west as surely rs the god of day de-
sends in that direction. Yesterday
evening the tints were beautiful,
while the evening before they were
truly sublime. Besides the brilliant
red, there was towards the northwest
a shading of green, truly wonderfulto
behold, and upon the few clouds that
on that evening lay apparently mo-
tionless in the heavens, there was shed
an ashes of roses hue, the like OF which
was never before observed. Surely
these brilliant sunsets are grandly
phenomenal. So far they are known
only as the tasteful paintings of ma
lures great artist. They are as unac-
countable as providential ways are in
scrutable. When these red sunsets
first began some of thescientific guess
ers said they were caused by cosmic
dust coloring the sky; others said the
glow was caused by red particles from
the craters of Java, floating high
above the earth's surface, and yet
within its atmospheric area. 1t was
told, as proof OF the latter theory, that
in Holland some atmospheric cOndi-
ton had precipitated large amount
of the volcanic dust to the earth's
surface, that it had been gathered and
analysed, and that it was really the
same dust that fell around Java, on
the decks of vessels, while the great
eruptions of 1883 were in progress.
Certainly no man knows what these
red sunsets mean, what wonderful
change is progressing i'll nature which
causes them. We do not believe in
the volcanic dust theory; the other
theory may be true. Yet it is all
speculation. Last fall the glow was
sublime; it lasted in its bril-
liancy through a greater part
of the winter months, and then it
gradually lost much of its brilliant
hue, but remained with us during the
spring and summer, while now, as
winter approaches, the color returns
in all its grandeur and strange sui
Unity. History and science tell OF
nothing in the past like this phenome-
non; it is as new as its existence is
} inscrutable. Our solar system is max
ing sweeping strides through space
the earth is not only revolving about
the sun, but this great governing ORR
: is darting with fiery haste from
one point OF the universe to an
other. The system to which this
: earth belongs is driving its
l mighty course toward constellation
) Hercules; it is passing through new
and strange space, and in its course
4 it is evidently taking in lew ant
strange things. The superstitious at
tach to this existing condition o:
the atmosphere, or of the suns refiec
. ton, things portentious; some have
even thought it signifies the approach
- of the grand collapse. But the sun will
move on with its system through in
a finite space, for time eternal, as it ha
moved through time that has had II,
! beginning. The immutable laws o
n nature admit of no de
q struction of matter. The sun ant
g the stars, even this little planet upol
d which we live is everlasting. Gener
= ations pass away but the uniyers
|, and all that belongs to it are thing
i of eternity. The earth may be gath
e ering up cosmic dust-growing NOR
e potential as a heavenly body. Thes
e bright sunsets may be taken as tn
K everlasting glow of an eternal Goo