The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-01

tHo Sulueo W IeIldlH, 81 tne EuS ilSu-
man took his station in the entrance
and waited until night. No sooner
did complete darkness set in than the
phantom of the cave appeared-a re-
markable semblance to a human
form, with arms outspread outlined
against the gloom. If the truth be
told the Investigator was startled, but
making his way to the figure that
had alarmed so many woodchoppers
and wayfarers he found it was plant
that grew upon the wall in that
shape. 1t was the well known phos-
phorescent fungus Rhizomospha sub
terranea, frequently found in caves
and familiar to miners. It's light is
often SO vivid that people have read
by it; and many of the ghosts that
are seen in dungeons, caves and tombs
may be traced to this innocent origin.
These curious lights are not found
in the tropics alone. Some years ago
Mr.. Morrell, editor of the Gardiner
(Me.) Journal, wrote me that he had
observed brilliant steady light in
his garden at times, totally unac-
counted for by any mechanical con-
trivance, and which, upon investiga-
ton, proved to be the phosphorescent
light emitted by the young of the
nlant Tianus Stupticus.
In Brazil there is an agaric that
often astonishes strangers who pene-
trate the deep jungles of the interior.
Another is found growing on palm
trees, emitting a brilliant greenish
hue. and known as the Flor de Coco.
Perhaps the most startling exhibit
ton was observed several years ago
by an English traveller in Borneo.
Belated he was overtaken by night,
and there being no moon he was fear
full of losing his way, when as the
darkness came on singular lights ap-
peared here and there in the bushes
and by the roadside. Some were vel
low, others burned, or seemed to,
with bright greenish hue. AS it
grew darker the blaze of light in
creased, and finally the traveller was
amazed to find that he was passing
through lines of luminous bush which
emitted light so brilliant that he
could read by it-a strange and awe
inspiring spectacle, which struck ter
ror to the hearts of his followers, who
saw him handle what they supposed
to be fire without harm.
Mr.. Hugh Low, we'll known Eng
lish writer, witnessed similar scene.
He describes the Jungle as being
ablaze with light, and SO vivid that
he read by it.
In Australia those agaries are util-
lied for the light they give; especially
on the Swan River they are very COM
mon, where Drummond, the natural
list first noticed two specimens on the
roots of trees. He describes their APP
pearance at night as marvellous, and
compares them to veritable lamps
They were first observed on the roots
of banksia trees, and surrounded by
water, giving the impression of little
islands of fire. The plant was about
two inches across, and when num-
Der were detached and hung in a
room they served as lights; even one
placed upon newspaper for several
days served as light to read by, the
luminosity disappearing as the plant
dried up. One specimen found by
this botanist was nearly two feet in
diameter, and regarding it he says:
This specimen was hung up inside
the chimney of our sitting room to
dry, and in passing through the apart
ment in the dark observed the fun
gus giving out most remarkable
light. No light is so white as this, at
least none that l have seen. We
called some natives and showed them
The fungus, and they cried out
'Chinga,' the name for spirit, and
seemed very much in fear of it."
In Italy plant, Agaricus olearius,
is found on the trunks of olive trees,
that often emits bright light of a
blue tint that is so vivid that some
times it can be seen in the daytime.
The remarkable feature of these
Ii hts is that so far a satisfactory ex-
planation has not been given. In
some experiments made the light was
extinguished when the temperature
was lowered to certain degree, but
when the temperature was increased
the light reappeared. When kept be-
low freezing for a long time the light
emitting power appeared to be de-
stroyed. 1t cleaned brightly under
water, and a thermometer buried in
it was not affected in the slightest;
so here was light without heat.