The age-herald., 1900-05-20
TOTAL ECLIPSE
 OF THE SUN

non or l900, and although the frequency with which solar totality occurs, and the scientific knowledge which has robbed it of the mystery and even the terror which formerly accompanied it, great value in astronomical circles is given to its recur- renee. Unfortunately there is a doubt as | to the totality being visible in America, the leading astronomers locating 1t in Spain and naming 1925 as the date of @ total solar eclipse in the United States Be this as it may, elaborate preparations are to be made for the occurrance on May 2S, when the Southern railway will run an eclipse train from New Orleans to Nor folk, and another epoch will be accentua- ted by progression in science. Among the elegant modern distinctions of railway travel smoked glass will be a leading fea- ture, and the only drawback anticipated will be cloudy sky or a total absence of the expected eclipse.
 
 The earliest records of solar eclipses are ascribed to Confusius, and of these three were total, and they are not mentioned as scientific facts, but as bad omens. He re- corded that the total eclipse was greeted, as such phenomena is received at the pres ent time by the Chinese people, with the beating of gongS, wild cries and a savage uproar, all of which is supposed to drive off the evil monster who is "eating up the friendly sum-.
 oH0 Ol lIle eCllpSeS Ol dHlluully was Ia- nous for two events. One was that it was foretold by an astrologer of the philoso- phical school of the time 5S5 B. C.. and it's alarming appearance stopped a battle be- tween the Lydians and the Medes. The sudden darkness convinced the combatants that the gods wroth and they at once ceased fighting. The prophets took advantage of their own ignorance and the terrors of the people to predict direful things, which in many cases-being the -111f Af F.Y place. adding to their terror of the sun and inspiring a new reverence for the powers of the prophet.
 Two famous eclipses occurred in Europe during the ninth century total eclipse in A. D. $40 frightened Emperor Louis of Bavaria to death and destroyed his king dem. Other ecipses had the same effect on rulers, which was disastrous that some wise men among those in power gave out the death of the king as an event of such moment that the heavens, shocked at the suddenness of the fatality, went into mourning.
 In 1715, in May, an eclipse of the sun was predicted in London by a pamphlet, "The Black Day, the Prospect of Doomsday." Great preparation was made for the un- welcome shadow. and 1t was related after ward that in spite of the "aweSome dark, nc one of prominence died nor did any public disaster overtake the country.
 
 An eclipse of especial interest to Ameri- ca was that of October 27, 17S0, when the first American eclipse expedition was fitted out, destined to be followed by many and greatly improved solar institutions, secur- ing results of wonderful scientific assu- racy and developing much valuable astron- omic material. Several eclipses of minor scientific importance were recorded be- tween 1883 and 1SS9 but in the later year two appeared. The first ushered in the new year and was visible from California, to Manitoba. The weather was favorable at all points along the line, and many pho tographs were made. The second eclipse of the year occurred in December and was visible in South America.
 On more than one occasion in history there is a record of the special darkness which accompanies an eclipse, disclosing the presence of a comet, but the eclipse of 1882 was the first time that a comet was photographed by the astronomers. This eclipse was observed by astronomers rep resenting England, France and Italy.
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 The total eclipse of May 1883, had some special dramatic features about 1t. To begin with, the duration was unusually long. nearly five and half minutes. The greatest duration of totality was six and a half minutes, recorded in Great Britain August 20, 1886. Another peculiar feature was that this eclipse was only visible in the middle or tDe 1dclllc OcedH ly for the cause of science, group of coral islands lay in its neighborhood. America, England, France, Italy and Australia were all represented.
 During the total eclipse of the sun, Au--s gust T. 1869, which was visible in Alaska, the Indians of the Chilkat river were greatly alarmed Professor Benjamin Price of the United States coast survey had gone with party to Alaska to ob- serve an dreport the eclipse and had warn ed the Indians, but they had refuse1 t9 be- lieve him until the was half obsured. Then they all disappeared and not sound was heard through their village. They had made up their aboriginal minds that the scientists were taking care of matters that the sun was ''very sick and they had put it to Sleep."
 Educated and intelligent people do not hesitate to express a dread of that solemn darkness, which is unlike any other at mosphere, and in which all nature appears overshadowed with approaching doom. One who has witnessed a total eclipse gives this graphic description:
 AS much as five minutes before the total obscurity it may be possible to detect strange wavering lines of light and shade drawing across the landscape. Then with frightful velocity the shadow of the moon is seen approaching, tangible darkness advancing like wall, swift as imagina ton, silent as doom. The immensity of nature never comes so near as then, and strong must be the nerves not to quiver as the blue black shadow rushes upon the specta- tor with incredible speed vast palpitat- ing presence seems overwhelming the world Rats emerge stealthily Sensitiye flowers close. An assembled crowd is awed into absolute silence. It becomes curiousIy cold, and the chill is mental well as physical
 Already the colored minister and exhorter of the south is pointing a moral with the coming of the eclipse, and this recalls the story of a colored servant of Governor James of Alabama, who, on the occasion Of an eclipse, fell prostrate at his masters feet breathless with his news: "Massa James, de sun a-clippin'-de sun am a-clippin'."