Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-21
THE MIDNIGHT SUN.
Wonders of the Spectacle That Few
MOrtals Ever See.

wonders OF the spectacle That Few
MOrtals Ever See.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
The various phases and peculiar attributes
associated with the sun in its extreme
northern orbit have long constituted a
theme Of fascinating interest and infinite
speculation. The remoteness Of the polar
regions whence alone these solar evolutions
may be observed, and the diversified ac-
counts set forth by the comparatively few
travellers who have penetrated those frigid
zones, principally responsible for the
subtle mysteries involving the subject
Weavers of juvenile romance delight in
portraying a land where the arctic sun
shines without intermission the whole sum-
mer through, but seldom is the appearance
of that sun and the course 1t actually de-
scribes explained with any degree of pre-
cision
How rarely the midnight sun is viewed by
mortal eyes will be better understood from
the fact that few Of the thousands Of
miners in the famed Klondike regions how
ever extended their quest for gold, have
ever penetrated sufficiently far north to
itude of GO degrees 80 minutes north Is
reached, which, by sea, means the passing
Of Boring straits into arctic waters, does
the sun cease for its brief interval in mid
summer to dip beneath the ice-bound hori-
zon The duration Of this period at the
point specified, which is LAOS geographical
miles south Of the pole, represents an en-
tire day of twenty-four hours, while at the
farthest limit of arctic navigation the
space Of perpetual sunlight lengthens out
to nearly three months Throughout this
long summers day the sun describes cir
cular orbit once in every twenty-four hours,
attaining its greatest elevation at high
neon and sinking to its lowest position, i'm
mediately above the horizon and due north.
at the hour Of midnight. At no time, in
these northern regions, is the sun 80 in
tensely dazzling as in the south. while .un-
der various influences of the atmosphere 1t
assumes the most fantastic aspects. SUCH
conditions are especially prevalent In the
late afternoon hours, for as the sun curves
downward toward the horizon the moisture
In the air becomes more or less intense,
causing the orb to assume the most mar
velous colorings. At times this will be
vivid red, the effect of which on the sur
rounding world, whether land or ice-strewn
sea, is startling in the extreme. Always too
chill for otherwise realistic likeness to
fire, the whole universe at such times seems
stepped in blood, in the midst Of which the
sun is fixed like ominous scarlet seal.
Again, and more frequently as the mid
night hour approaches, an opalescent effect
will! dominate the shining disk, from which
prismatic colorings radiate over the polar
landscape, rejecting maze OF spectacular,
iridescent hues in drifting clouds and
spreading ice fields. When finally the sun
reac hes its lowest decline it's appearance is
almost invariably characterized by phan-
tom-like pallor, on which the eye can rest
unblnded by any glare. Thus appears the
traditional midnight sun, and for the space
of an hour 1t apparently hovers there in
direct line with the pole, during which In
terval the world seems wrapped In droWsy,
awesome silence.
After the brief season Of continuous SUM-
light the sun dips lower and lower be-
meath the horizon, until the 22d Of Septem-
Der when, after resting, as 1t were, on the
rim Of the world for the space Of day, it
disappears altogether until the I'D Of the
following March.
OF such short duration are the arctic sum-
mers and so rigorous and prolonged Its win
tiers that absolutely no vegetation of an
arboreous character exists along the shores
bordering the arctic seas. Notwithstanding
these utterly barren conditions, however,
there are many indications in the form Of
petrified forest and fossil plants. which
would indicate former temperate and pos
sibly tropical climate in these arctic re-
Ricns.