The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-05-07
ECLIPSE OF THE SUN AS
VIEWED IN FORMER TIMES


Chicago Times-Herald: A total eclipse
of the sun is announced as the most i'm
portant celestial phenomenon of 1900. and
although the frequency with which solar
totally occur and our present scientific
knowledge ave robbed 1t of the mystery
and even the terror which formerly ac-
companied II. great value in astronomi-
cal circles Is given t. It's recurrence. I'm
fortunately there is doubt as TO the to-
tally being visible I'm America. the lead
ing astronomers locating il in Spain.
and naming 1928 as the date of a total
solar eclipse in the United States Be
this as IL may, elaborate preparations
are to be made for the occurrence on
May 18Th when the Southern railway
Will run an eclipse train from New Or
leans to Norfolk. and another epoch will
be accumulated by progression in science.
Among the elegant modern distinctions
Of railway travel smoked glass will be a
leading feature, and the only drawback
anticipated will be u cloudy sky or a
total absence of the expected eclipse.
The earliest records of solar eciipses
are ascribed to COnfucius. and of these
three were total. and they not men
toned as scientific facts. but as bad
omens. He recorded that the tota eclipse
was greeted as such phenomena are re-
ceived at the present time by the Chinese
people. with the beating of gongs. wild
cries and savage uproar. all of which
is supposed TO drive off the evil monster
who is "eating up the friendly sun"
one of the eclipses OF antiquity was
famous for two events. One was that Ii
was foretold by an astrOloger Of the
philosophical school Of the time, So Il.
c.. and its alarming appearance stopped
a battle between the Lydians and the
Modes. The sudden darkness convinced
the combatants that the gods We're wrotn
and they at once ceased lighting. The
prophets took advantage Of their ows.
ignorance and the terrors of the people
10 predict direful things. which in many
cases-being the result of unfortunate
conditions-took pace. 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,. 4 total eclipse
in a. d. so frightened Emperor Louis OF
Bavaria to death and destroyed his king
dom. Other eclipses had the same effect
on rulers. which was 50 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 fatali
ty, went into mlIrning.
In lbs. in May, an eclipse of the sun
was predicted In London by a pamphlet.
The Black Day. or the Prospect of
Doomsday.' Great preparation was made
for the unweicome shadow, and il was
related afterwards that in spite of the
'awesome dark" no one of prominence
died. nor did any public disaster over
take the country
An eclipse of especial interest to Amer
lea was that of October % 1880 when
the first American eclipse expedition was
fitted out, destined TO be followed by
many ana greatly improved solar insti-
tutIOns, securing results of wonderful
scientific accuracy and developing much
valuable astrOnOmic material Several
/ eclipses OF mino. scientific importance
were recorded between 1888 and 1889, but
| in the later year two appeared. The first
| ushered i'm the new year and was WISH
/ bic from California to Manitoba. The
weather was favorable al all points
along the line, and many photographs
/ were made. The second eclipse OF the
| year occurred IN December and was Wis
/ ible in South America.
On more than one occasion i'm history
/ there is a record Of the special darkness
which accompanies an eclipse. disclosing
/ the presence of comet, but the eclipse
/ OF 1872 was the first time that COM
et was photographed by the astronomers
/ The eclipse was observed by astron-
omers representing England, France and
/ Italy.
/ The total eclipse of MAY, 1888. had some
special dramatic feature about it, To
/ begin with. the duration unusually
/ long; nearly five and a half minutes.
/ The greatest duration of totality was six
and half minutes. recorded in Great
/ Britain August -, 1sS6 Another peculiar
| feature was that this eclipse was only
visible in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
Fortunately for the cause of science. a
I ir,f Far
I hood. America England. France. Italy
/ and Australia were represented.
During the total eclipse of the sun. Aug
ust I. 1862 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 a party To Alaska To OBJ
/ serve and report the eclipse and had
warned the Indians. but they had refused
10 believe him until the sun was half
/ obscured Then they all disappeared and
/ not "A sound was heard throughout their
village. They had made up their abo-
rginai minds that the scientists We're
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 dread Of that solemn
darkness which is unlike any other at
mosphere and I'm which all nature APP
pears overshadowed with approaching
doom. one who has witnessed a total
eclipse gives this graphic description;
AS much as five minutes before the
total obscurity II may be possible % de
tect strange wavering lines OF light and
shade drawing across the landscape
Then. with frightful velocity. the shadow
of the moon is seen approaching. = tan
gible darkness advancing like wall,
swift as imagination. silent as doom. The
immensely of nature never comes SO near
as then. and strong must be the nerves
not to CULVER as the blue black shadow
rushes upon the spectator with Incredible
speed a vast palpitating presence seems
overwhelming the world. Bats emerge
stelIthily Sensitive flowers close An
assembled crowd Is awed into absolute
silence. IL becomes curiously cold and
the chill is mental "a well as physical
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