The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-05-17

nlortinately there is u doubt as to the
totality being visible In America, the
lchulng astronomers locating it in
Spain, and naming 1925 as the date OF
a total solar eclipse In the United
States. BE this rs it may, elaborate
preparations are to be made for tho Oc.
currence on May 18th, when the South.
ern railway will run an eclipse train
rom New Orleans to Norfolk, and
another epoch will be accentuated by
progression in science. Among the
elegant Nodern distinctions Of railway
travel smoked glass will be u leading
cipated will be IL cloudy sky or 3 total
absence OF the expected eclipse.
| The earliest records OF solar cclinscs
are ascrlbcd to COnfucius. and OF these
three were total, and they are not
mentioned rs scientific facts. but IA
bad omens. lie recorded that the total
eclipse was greeted rs such phenomena
are received at the present time hy
the Chinese people, with the beating
OF gongs, wild cries and savage up.
roar, all CT which is supposed to drive
on the evil monster who is "eatiur up
the friendly sun"
One OF the cclipses OF antiquity WAS
famous for two events. One as that it
|
philosophical school OF the time, 5S5
b. c., and its alarming appearance
stopped q battle between the Lydiaus
and the Medcs. The sudden darkness
convinced the cOmbatants that the
gods were wr0th and they at once
ceased lighting. The prophets took
advantage OF their own ignorance and
the terrors Of the people TO predict
direfu( things, which, In many cases-
being the result Of unfortunate c0ndi-
ttons-took place, adding to their
terror Of the sun and inspiring new
reverend for the powe, Of the prophet.
| Two famous cclipses occurred in
| Europe during the ninth century. \
| total eclipse in a. ID. $40 frightened
Emperor Louis Of Bavaria to death
and destroyed his kingdom. Other
cclipscs had the same effect on rulers,
which was so disastrous that some wise
meE among those in power gave out
the death Of the king rs an event OF
such moment that the heavens. shocked
at the snddenness Of the fatality, went
into mourning.
In lTl5, in May, ar eclipse OF the
sun WAS predicted IN I.pndun by Il
pamphlet. "The Black Day. or the
Prospect OF Do0msday." Great pre-.
paratiOn was made for the unwc come
shadow, md it was related aftcrw ards
that in spite OF tho awcSOmc dark
no one OF prominence died. nor did SOY
public disaster 0vertakc the country
An eclipse Of especial interest 10
America WAS that Of October -, l1S0.
whcn the Grst American eclipse cX-
peditiOn was lifted cut, destined tn be
followed ny many and greatly inn
proved solar Institutions, securing re.
suits OF wonderful scientific accuracy
and developing much valuable astro.
nOmic material Several eclipscs Of
minor scientific inheritance were re.
corded between 1883 and 1899, but in
the latter year t10 appeared. The
first u.hcrcd in the new year and WAS
visible from California 10 Manitoba.
The weather was favorable at all
points along the line, and many photo.
graphs were made. Che second eclipse
OF the year occurred in December and
was visible in South America.
On more than one occasion in his.
tory there is record Of the special
darkness which accompanies an eclipse,
disclosing the presence OF q comet, but
the eclipse Of 1882 was the trst time
that a comet was photographed by the
astronomers. The eclipse WAS observ-
ed by astronomers representing Fog
lHpd, France and Italy.
The total eclipse OF May, 1888, had
some spccial dramatic features about
il. To begin with, the duration was
unusually long nearly tive and u half
minutes. Tnc greatest duration Of
tOtality was six and q half minutes, re.
corded in Great Britain August %,
1856. Another peculiar feature was
that this eclipse was only visible in
the middle OF the Pacific ocean. Furtu-
nately for the cause Of science, u group
Of coral islands lay in It's neigh Dor.
and Australia were represented.
During the total eclipse OF the sun,
August I, 1869, which was visible in
Alaska, the Indians Of the ChilKat
river were greatly alarmed. Pro-
fessOr Benjamin Price Of the United
States coast survey, had gone with q
party TO Alaska to observe and report
the eclipse and had warned the In
dians, but they beu refuS Cd to believe
him until the sur WAS half obscured.
Then they all disappeared and not a
sound was ncard throughout their
village. They had made up their APO
rig inal minds that the scientists wore
taking care Of mattcrs-that the sun
was very sick y and they hal "put IL
to sleep"
ibuuChVSu Nui I'SOplC Nv
not hesitate to express u dread Of that
solemn darkness which is unlike any
other atmosphere, and in which all
nature appears overshado%ed with ap-
preaching doom. One who has wit
messed total eclipse gives tnis 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 velo-
city, the shadow OF tho moon Ia seen
approaching, Il tangible darkness ad-
| vancing like wall. swift as imagina.
tion, silent rs 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 spectator with incredible
speed. A vast palpi .ating presence
seems overwhelming the world. Bats
emerge stcalthly. Sensitive flowers
close. An assembled crowd Is aweo
into absolute silence. 1t becomes curl.
ously cold and the chill Is mental a.
well as physical"
----------s-SEzs e.
Miss Helen Gould rides Ia an