Evening star., 1900-05-29

after the total phase Of a solar obscure
ment.
Ten minutes before the suns light was
entirely shut off weird and rather grue-
some light was apparent. 1t seemed a
great deal like twilight with the exception
that the shadows cast by the partially
eclipsed sun were not of the length cast
by the setting orb nor was the light filled
with the pink-hued constituency which
often attends a dying day. The peculiar
shade was perhaps best described as com
pared to that of an immense calcium. 1t
lacked the brilliant gleam OF the suns
rays. The shadows were soft and the
whole air was pervaded with peculiar
mellownesS.
AS the moon protruded itself more boldly
'twixt the earth and sum- and only thin
crescent of the shining surface could be
distinguished through the smoked and col
ored glasses, interest was momentarlly
shifted from the heavens to the earth, and
all eyes were turned toward the southwest,
for from that direction the shadow or to-
tality was to approach. At this time bats
were flying wildly through the air, the
anomalous creatures having been disturb
ed in their days sleep by the approaching
darkness. Thousands of English sparroWs
were twittering and moving rapidly through
the air In haphazard fashion AFTER the
eclipse the usual stories of chickens going
to roost, of cows beginning homeward
journey from the pastures, etc, came In In
greatest plenty. On account OF the prieI
duration of the eclipse few peculiar cir
49,
1t is an attested fact, however, that many
negro men and women who had heard
vague stories regarding the phenomenon OF
the day refused to go to work this morn
ing in this section, declaring they were go
ing into the woods to pray that their SOUS
might be saved from the pending danger Of
a cessation Of worldly existence.
"Here Comes the Shadow"
Here comes the shadow"
The announcement sent distinct and in
describable thrill through all who heard the
words.
In the southwest quarter all was appar-
ent blackness. In a few seconds more this
vale Of darkness swept across the river
from the Portsmouth side, and the last dim
shadow cast by the sun was no longer to be
seen. 1t was a darker and more Aecullar
light than twilight-ai shade OF light to be
seen only on the occasion Of total eclipse
of the sun. 1t might be more fittingly
termed shade Of darkness
Traversing the distance between earth and
heaven, the eyes met ON the eastern horizon
a strata OF red like that often seen when
the sun sinks behind ian afternoon cloud IN
heightened by the strata Of smoke SO dill
gently emitted by the lamber furnaces
thanking the city. y!
Mounting the shadow-vened sky the gaze
as only nature can provide The insignif1-
canoe Of art and ahs worldly effort COM
pared to this inspiring spectacle was
thought uppermost in the minds OF all OBJ
servers.
Hanging in mid-sky was leaden disk.
beautifully smooth and round to the naked
eye. Back Of the dark circle was glorious
effuigence of pure white light extending
millions Of miles into space. 1t was not the
light of the sun direct, but gaseous body
encircling the orb and rejecting its rays
This corona has been the subject of many
eminent writer's of descriptive laurels we'll
won. but full of justice can never be ac-
corded 1t. The constituency of the corona
has not yet been fully established by sci
ence. but 1t is believed to be made up Of
a burning gas lighter in character than hy-
drogen. Another claim is that the corona is
a peculiar atmosphere of the sun and that
its light is that of the sun reflected upon
particles of matter. rather than its own
flames, If there be any. Many spectroscopes
were brought into play in today's observ-
ances, and from the working-out of the in
formation thus secured 1t is expected much
of the mystery of the corona may be dis
PEELED.
At display of beautiful fireworks the