The sun., 1901-11-12
SHOOTING
STARS DUE

During three successive years, from
1881 to 1898, the 18th of November was
marked by a magnificent display of
shooting or falling stars, those myster-
iotls visitantS to our globe respecting
whose real nature and origin science is
still perplcXed. The first Of these bril-
liant exhibitions was witnessed off the
coasts Of Spain. and in the country
bordering on the Ohio. The second is
thus described by Captain Hammond of
IL. NJ ;. Restitution who beheld it in the
Red Sea, off Mocha. From one o'clock
Il. M. till after daylight, there was II
very unusual phenomenon in the heav-
ems. 1t appeared like meteors bursting
III every direction. The sky at the time
was clear, the stars and moon bright,
with streaks Of light and thin white
clouds interspers.d in the sky. On
landing III the morning, ! inquired Of
the Arabs if they had noticed the above.
They said they had been observing it
most of the night, ! asked them if ever
the like had appeared before. The oldest
Of them replied il had not The area
over which this phenomenon was seen
extended from the Red Sea westwards
10 the Atlantic, and from Switzerland 10
the Mauritus.
Hut the most imposing display If
shooting stars on record occurred on the
third of these occasions-that is. on tbr
18th Of November 1888. 1t extended
chiefly over the limits comprised between
longitude 81 degrees in the Atlantic. ana
100 degrees in Central Mexico, and from
ne latitude of the Great I.akcs Of North
America to the West Indies. From thr
appearance presented, il might be regard
ed aS grand and portentous display If
nature $ fireworks. Seldom has n scene
or greater or more awful SubImity bccp
eAhlhlted than Mt the Falls of Ninrnr,
~ the memorable occasion. the two leal
ilS powers III nature. water ana fire. en-
SaGiilS' rs i were. in an cumulative dis
play OF their grandeur. The awful rom
of tile cataract filled the mind Of th4
spectator with an infinitely heightened
sense Of snhlimity. when its waters were
llghtened up by the glare of the mo
teoric torrent in the sky. LII many partS
Of the country the people were terror.
struck, imagining that the end Of thc
world was come; whilst those whose edu-
cation and yiguor of mind pr.ventaJ
them from yielding to such terrors were
~ = ''A'NN1' NiNHIA reminded of tho
grand description in Apocalypse. 9Th
stars of Heaven fell unto the earth. eyon
aS liz tree caSteth her untimcly figS
when she is shaken Of n mighty wind
The most probably theory as Ia tht
nature Of shooting stars is. that thr,
tnrln part Of the solar system, revolyiIi.,
round the sun in the manner as the plan
"toids, but both infinitely smaller il,
SIZE, and subject 10 great ami irregular
nerturhations. The latter cause brin,..
'hem not unfrrqnently within the limits
~ the earth'S atmosphere. on entering
which they become luminous from IN,
great heat produced by the sudden ana
violent compression which their transit
occasions. Having thus approached IN,
earth with great velncity. they are n.
rapidly again Withdrawn from il inn
IN" realms Of space Ii is very possible
moreover, that the fiery showers which
we have Just described. may bc tho 70
suit Of multitude Of these metrors %
eollntering. each other: whilst the oero
lIits. ol actual metcoric Substances
which occasionally fall to the surface AZ
the earth. may be such Of those bodio,
As have been brought 50 far within m,
influence Of terrestrial gravity as to i,
rendered subject to its effects.
fol NG MRS. GRUMPY.