The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-06-16
THE DARK DAy-MAY 10, 1850.
A Day Which Puzzled Everyone
and Frightened Many.
Erom ma Boston Transcrlpt.


'''T was on n May-day of the far old year
Seventeen hundred and eighty. that there fell
over the bloom and sweet life of the spring,
over the fresh earth and heaven of noon,
horror of great darkness, like the night
In day of which the Norland sages tell.
The Twilight of the Gods. The low-hung sky
Was black with ominous clouds. save where its rim
Was fringed with a dull glow like that which
climbs
The crater's side from the red hell below"
Such is Whittier's description of the
"dark day" which caused such consterna-
ton here in America one hundred and
fourteen years ago.
For several days previous to the 18th of
MAY the sun was clouded, the atmosphere
was very close and peculiar vapors hoated
above the earth Many people predicted
Il volcanic eruption, and we find comments
on the atmospheric conditions in many old
letters of the time. When the sun and
moon rose and set they cast dull uncer-
tain light which seemed more reflection
than direct light.
On the morning of Friday, the 18th,
the atmosphere was heavier than on any
previous day. About 8 o'clock in the
morning gentleman, who was watching
the unusual clouds, saw sheets of vapor
rising from some springs and lowlands
some distance away The clouds consoli-
dated and rose above the hills and foated
off to the westward. A second cloud
formed seen after and very shortly third.
In three-quarters of an hour from the
time the first rose the uppermost cloud
was of a reddish tint, the second was green
and blue, while the third was white. The
higher the sun rose the less light seemed
to reach the earth. Between 10 and IL
the darkness increased, and before noon
the people were obliged to light candles in
the houses.
While the sun gave any light the shad-
ows were observed to fall in all directions
instead of to the west before noon as is
usual. The clouds were in some places
yellow and brown and even faint red.
The trees and grass exhibited a marvellous
deep green-everything which was natur-
ally white appeared yellow, while the most
highly polished silver looked very much
furnished.
The cattle were greatly frightened, and
jumped the fences to get home. The do
nestle fowls roasted The birds sang their
evening songs and few to their nests, while
the night birds commenced their songs. If
the small birds ventured to fly, they were
suffocated in the strange vapor which sur
rounded the earth. They were so con-
fused that many of them flew into the
houses, causing the superstitious to declare
i'll omens.
Naturally every one was greatly puzzled
and very many were much frightened.
Some thought the end of the world was
near at hand; others believed a blazing
star had come into the direct rays of the
sun, and had in some wonderful way alb
sorbed all the light of the sun, while still
others declared that great mountain had
sprung up in space somewhere between
the earth and the sun, and thus accounted
for the intercepted light which reached
the earth.
Many declared that the blaekness was
a forewarning of some calamity which was
about to befall the country. A few
months later, when Benedict Arnold so
treacherously betrayed his country, these
people were thoroughly satisfied that their
belief was correct. The Tories and those
who were undecided in their opinions re-
garding the separation of America from
the British crown believed the terrible
darkness to be a communication from the
Lord warning his people against the sepa-
ration.
Lanterns were seen fitting about as
men went from house to house trying to
gain some consolation from the troubled
faces of friends and neighbors. The
churches and meeting houses were opened,
and the ministers and deacons went from
their homes to the places of worship with
lighted lanterns to conduct services. Those
who did not wish to go to public worship
held neighborhood prayer meetings.
In a certain town in Essex county,
Massachusetts, the silver communion set
in one of the churches was cared for by
women in the church by turns" On
this day the parson held the communion
service; in the uncertain light the silver
looked badly furnished, and noting this the
parson mildly rebuked the good matrOn
who had charge of the set. 1t happened
that she was one of the best housewives
in town, and this rebuke before all of the
members greatly reused her ire. After
the darkness ceased and the sun appeared
the next day she went to the parson and
requested him to accompany her to the
meeting house. Arrived there she took
the vessels from their places and put them
in strong light, where they appeared
beautifully bright, and took solemn oath
that they had in no way been polished
since the yesterday She told him his re-
buke had been unjustly given and the tar
nished appearance was wholly due to the
unusual quality of the light
She declared that as a gentleman and
''parson of the Lord" he should, in JUS
tice to her, revoke his reprimand in open
meeting. This he did on the 'next Lord S
day morning before the sermon. This
was thought by some to be wholly unnec-
essary, while others thought that as the
husband of the good woman was one of
the solid men of the church the parson
showed good policy in speaking in open
meeting.
All are familiar with the story Of Abra-
ham Davenport, in the Connecticut legis-
lature, whom Whittier immortalized in the
poem which bears his name. What quiet,
shrewd New England humor there is in
the opening lines of that poem:
"In the old days "a custom laid aside
With brooches and cooked hats the people sent
Their wisest men to make the public laws"
When the darkness commenced the leg
islature was in session, and many Of the
members were anxious to adjourn, where
upon Mr.. Davenport arose and spoke with
great strength and showed his fellow-mem-
beers their duty and advised, as the light
was very dim in the legislative hall, that
candles be brought, and that they proceed
with the affairs in hand. His composure
and dignity transmitted courage to his
L.