Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-29

photograph equatorial during the
eclipse.
AT this particular time said Mr.. Pc
tiers. part Of the direct solar light being
cut off. the planet was seen to better ad-
vantage than 1t could have been during
| direct sunlight.
Venus was visible a thin crescent.
and by close attention the circle could be
shown complete. This extension of the
| crescent into full circle is owing to the
| refractory pOpwer of the atmosphere OF
| Venus. We are looking through the atmos-
phere of the planet on the dark edge, and
| the sunlight is brought into view by the
twilight effect Of the light passing through
| the atmosphere of Venus"
Previous Sun Eclipses.
Prof. Echelberger said the last eclipse
of the sun (partiaD was on January 3.
1908 1t was observed from Flint Island.
dreary and scarcely inhabited bit of
land in mid-Pacific. not far from Tahiti.
by party of astronomers from Lick OBJ
servatory. Cal: another from the Astro-
Physical Observatory of the Smithsonian
Institution. and an English party.
A total eclipse of the sun occurred IN
August, 1905, viewable from various parts
of the old world. lasting a little less than
two minutes. and producing the ph aa,;,,no
was observed by Lick astronomers sta
toned in Labrador. Spain and Egypt.
and by parties from the naval observa-
tory stationed in Spain and africa. some me
means of the photo-heliograph.
Another pretty sky picture was visible
in the cleaning last evening Immediately
following sunset. Jupiter, Mercury. Mars.
NEPTUNE and Venus were noticea BILE,
grouped together in the west. These
stars, according to astronomers. will not
be seen again in such proximity for sew
eral hundred years.
In Baltimore people are said to nave
! focked to their housetops TO witness the
| eclipse. while many groups assembled on
Federal hill for the same purpose. As
tronomers there state that one of the
most interesting features of the phenom-
| enon was the fact that two black spots
on the sun could be seen distinctly
through telescopes and smoked glasses.
The spots are believed to have been
caused by depressiOns on the sun. The
moon touched the edge Of the sun, as
viewed from Baltimore. at 9:21 o'clock,
| and passed it at 12:4S. 1t was semi-dark
| for a short time.
Curious Incidents.
1t is said eclipses have been predicted
at least 1900 years ago, if not earlier,
and various superstitious ideas are enter
| tanned in regard to the phenomena. The
East Indians imagine dragon is pass
ing over the sun anu elucdNOT 10 dIANc
il away with the noises of drums and
guns and what not.
The darkening shadows of the par
! TALLY eclpsed sun yesterday recall an In
| teresting humorous experience the late
| Prof. s. P. Langley had in the state OIL
| kentucky on an eclipse expedition in
1870 The astronomical tent with the
| telescopes. had been located near the
| town of Shelbyville, KY.
I'm this part of the state the colored
! population was large and in those days
| ignorant of everything outside Of plan
tation life" said Prof Langley. "On Au-
gust 8. the day of the eclipse. the col
ored population came in great numbers
to view the Enclosure and tents of the
| observing party and to inquire the price
of the show.
ION learning that they might see il
without charge from the outside most
unfavorable opinion was created among
them as to the probable merits of so
cheap a circus. They crowded the trees
about the camp. shouting to each ether
sarcastic comments on the inferior inter-
est of the entertainment.
"Those trees there said Mr. Langley,
| were black with them. They kept up
| their noise till near the last when they
suddenly stopped. All at once, and as
'totality' came. we heard wall and a
| noise of tumbling, as though the trees
| had been shaken of their fruit. and then
the bodest did not feel safe till he was
under his own bed in his own cabin"
When the sun begins to darken when 1t
| is daytime, OF out Of the order of ma
ture. there is something which is not al
/, together physical apprehension. but more
| like moral dismay that startles above su-
perior reason. There is something es-
sentially different from the natural dark
ness of twilight that all creation shows
the feeling alike said the late Ameri-
can astronomer, in speaking of d solar
eclipse.
Two Observation Experiences.
Prof Eichelberger. while in remi-
niscent mood last evening. on the portico
of his dwelling at the naval observatory.
recalled two of his experiences with
| eclipse observation parties abroad. One
was a total eclipse and his station was
| in civilized European country.
Many of the natives assembled about
| the observation station. They were re-
quested not to make any noises during
| the period of observation. as one of the
observers was required to count the time
| in voice loud enough to be heard by
| the other observers.
! When the midday twilight came and
| the atmosphere grew darker and darker.
! many of the people fell to the ground
| prone upon their faces. and their lamen-
| tations and cries were loud and long,
| drowning the voice OF the t1mekeeper.
| The noise seriously interferred with the
| success of the observation and its results.
In comparison the astronomers told of
! a later observation taken in Sumatra.
where the people are not civilized. and
where the Dutch soldiery are now wag-
| ing war against the dark-sknned ma
| tives. Prof. Eichelbergert said several of
| the head chiefs of the S',matrans were
| invited within the Enclosure about the OBJ
! servation station. They were requested
| to caution their people not to make any
noise to interfere with the counting OF
| time
Absolute silence prevailed. he added
| while the eclipse was i'm progress. After
the moons shadow had cleared the face
of the sun and full daylight had re-
! turned however. the natives set up loud
| cries. Then one of the chiefs approached
| the astronomers and said:
| MY people want you to make them
| (pointinG to the SUM do it again.
Fear Views Will Be Imperfect.
CAMBRIDGE. Mass, June 29.-Sev-
eral photographs of the partial eclipse
of the sun were attempted yesterday at
the Harvard observatory, but Prof. w
| II. Pickering. director of the Observa-
tory declared that he did not think they
| would result satisfactorily, owing to the
cloudiness of the sky.
WEATHER FORECAST.