The age-herald., 1900-05-28
Suns Rays Will be Hid
 from View. AWE INSPIRING SIGHT Performance Begins Promptly
 at 6:48 O'clock. WEATHER CONDITIONS PERFECT Birmingham is Situated Just Outside the Total Obscurity Belt-The As- tronomical World is All
 Agog This Morning
WEATHER CONDITIONS PERFECT

Much local interest is manifest in the eclipse which Is scheduled to appear early this morning, and as The Age-Herald goes to press many a yawning face and sleepy eye is being rubbed by the early risers, who have been called from their slumbers by the faithful alarm clock to witness the greatest astronomical phenomenon of the century.
 Supper will take the place of breakfast, lamps will be lighted, electricity turned on, and a general upheayal of household routine will occur, for "Old Sol' rarely puts on one of his spectacular productions, and these things will have to be borne with patience.
 Probably the most disappointed tribe in the Birmingham district will be the fowl family. The roosters who crow at day. break and herald the approach of sunshine will find his prophecy wrong for once, and with his frightened followers will have to sulk back to the roost.
 Unfortunately Birmingham will not be given the full benefit of the double turn of the and moon, as only nine-tenths of the light will be obscured. The reason for such action on the part of the ee- ments is not exactly known, though it may be due to the lack of enterprise on the part of the Commercial club and Board of Trade in pushing this citys claims to the front. It is said that an effort was made by the city authorities to have the phe- nomenon take in the Birmingham district, but no definite steps were taken. Mayor Drennen was strongly in favor of calling a special meeting of the light committee, but quorum could not be gotten together in time for action.
 The eclipse will first be noticeable in Bir- mingham at 6:4S o'clock. At that time a black curved shadow can be seen slowly creeping over the surface of the sun. This cannot be observed without the use of smoked or colored glass, as the powerful rays of the7 sun might permanently injure the eyes, At 7:33 the maximum effect will be reached and with the naked eye the ob- scurity will be almost total.
 
 At this time only one-tenth of the suns light will reach the earth, and a deep shadow will encircle the country for miles, The light here will be about four times as strong as on bright moonlight night This almost total obscurity will last about one minute and thirty seconds. The black shadow will then begin to gradually with S:30 the orchestra will play the finale.
 To observe the full effect of the phenom- enon sight-seers should mount some high prominence so that the surrounding coun- try can be seen for great distance. have the rubber in their necks strongly enforced or don a tight check rein, as the two-hours' strain will be severe
 The greatest local interest is among the teachers and pupils of the schools, es- pecially in the more advanced grades, where astronomy is taught. Prof. Cunningham of the High school, who is perhaps the best posted man on the science in the city, left yesterday afternoon for Greenville where several celebrated astronomers will take observations
 Numerous parties will go to the top of Red mountain, and altogether the perform ance promises to be greeted by large and appreciative audience"