Smyrna times., 1889-05-15

The wonderful MeteOrtC ShOWCs of 1888.
Theories to the Cause and ETect-A
Chiid's Wonderment at the Scene Super
stitiOus Awe of Colored People.
One of the earliest and most vivid of
my personal recollections is of the grand
meteoric shower of Nov. 13. 1888. A
similar occurrence is recorded as happen
ing in northern Europe near the close of
the last century. But no meteorological
display has equaled that of 1888 in ex-
tent and duration from the beginning of
the historic period.
vEXED QUESTIONS.
With reference to the origin of these
meteors there have been divers coniec-
lures, most of which are at best hap
hazard speculations. A number of astron-
Omers have regarded them as fragments
of an exploded planet small in size, but
of like sort with the hundred and odd
asteroids that have been discovered be-
tween the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Kepler himself thought that a large
planet was needed in this vast interplane-
tary space to perfect the rhythm of the
The subsequent discoveries of Piazzi and
Olbers and their successors have fully
justified this opinion. This old astro-
nOmical fancy of lost Pleiad likewise
finds its vindication. it may be in these
asteroids and in the far more numerous
meteOrOids which have since been seen in
all parts of the world. Whether they be-
as suggested, the disjecta membra of
some errant and wrecked orb doomed
and damned for some earlier Adamic
transgressiOn, they certainly occupy a
definite place in our system.
Their periodical occurrence with great
er OF lesser brilliancy in May and Novem-
Der and likewise in August and Decem-
Der, establish the facts that at these dates
our earth in its annual travel comes in
frequent contact with mcteoric zone
1t may require another century of inves-
tigation with the aid of mighticr instru-
ments than that of the Link observatory
to determine whether, as is probable
these meteOric exhibitions result from
vast volume of nebulous matter revolv-
ing around the sun, and itself the nur-
sery of embryonic planets.
Whatever our conclusion OH these
vexed questions, it was certainly not
only tho privilege of a lifetime but a
millennium, to be an eye witness of such a
stupendous and resplendent spectacle.
distinctly remember being aroused about
o'clock in the morning by the weird
Outcries of the domestic servants. They
seemed possessed with the idea that the
day of judgment was at hand. and read
lily recall the efforts of my father to quiet
the uproar by assuring them that there
was no cause of alarm.
Of course, knew nothing Of scientific
import. My impressions were those of
elation rather than fright. To me the
whole scene was about what ] have
since conceived of the pyrotechnic dis
plays Of the Vauxhall garden or a full
hedged Chinese feast Of lanterns. A boy
reader will best understand the aspect of
things when add that aside from the
fizz and the pop it was like a thousand
Christmases condensed into one
Scientific observers have since told us
that these meteOroids all seemed to pro-
ceed from point in the constellation
Leo For this reason they have been
since called LeOnids. Ny boyish remem-
brance accords with this statement of
the scientists. Usually they issued singly,
but at times they had the appearance of
stream Of fire. \ few that observed
were very large, one or more not unlike
the nucleus of Halley's comet in 1885
when it was receding from the sun.
READY FOR "a WORD OF PRAYER"
They nearly all seemed falling directly
to the earth, and it was matter of child
lsh wonderment to me that they did not
cover the ground as | had seen falling
snow flakes do at other times The splen.
dor of these celestial fireworks gradually
waned as the dawn approached. very
much to my personal regret.
A great many stories are still current
in regard to the general CONSERVATION
produced by this marvelous phenomenon.
In some instances persons were FRIGHT
ened into convulsions, and several deaths
were reported from different parts of the
country
In my boyhood there was Il story cir
rent Of wealthy stakeholder in western
Georgia. who was hesides something of
Il philosopher. He resided in the center
OF large negro quarter and being
awakened by the shreks and wells of
nearly one hundred slaves. he hurriedlv
equipped himself in pants and slippers
and stepped out on his front piazza lie
was soon surrounded with a large num-
Der OF slaves who were frantic with ter
ror. For a time ne surveyed the heavens
with Il decree of painful apprehension
Noticing in the crowd an old neyro
preacher. in whose piety he had much
confidence, he addressed him in this wise
'Cncle Joe, 10 you watch the seven
stars and the ell and yard. and when
YOU see them start come into the .big
house and we will have word Of |
prayer"
or course the Pleiades were iinmova-
bic nor did the empyreal suns that blaze
IN the belt of Orion "shOct pladly rrom
their spheres" As a CONSEQUENCE the
hypothetical WORD of prayer was uu-
spoken. The return of daylight hIotted |
out the meteors and calmed the SUPER
Stltlous fears Of master and slave
Most astronomers tell us that 4. lother
such spectacle will probably never be
witnessed again through all the genera.
tons Of men. ST. John, who was 81
prisoner in Patmos, says: II beheld
when he had opened the sixth seal" that
the sun became as blood; and the stars
OF heaven fell unto the earth, even as n
iis tree casteth her untimely figs when
she Is shaken of a mighty wind. Rev
j. w. Scott.