Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-08-29
SEEING The ECLIPSE
Moons Passage Across Sun
Watched in Holland.
Weather Ideal for Event-Nelther AMI
nal Nor Plant Life Was Affected
IN the Leas- by Midday
Gloom and Cold

The Hague. Holiand.-Whether the
Dutch astronomers have succeeded IN
solving the problems set themselves
with regard 20 the sun and moon will
only be known when ali the photo
graphs taken in the eclipse camp in
Lmburg have been developed and
studied and the numerous observa-
lions then taken have all been worked
out. The weather. every one admitted
was entirely favorable. so that a
wealth OF material was gathered.
One OF the important tasks OF the
astronomers was 10 try 70 obtain data
from which 20 determine the exact
position and exact diameter OF tho
moon. For that purpose they station
ed observers at i've different places
At each OF the points chosen two
telescopes were erected on hrm stone
foundations-one for direct ocular OBJ
ssrvations. the other for projecting
the phenomenon on a screen. on which
could be followed the whole course OF
tho sun and moon while IN eonjunc-
ton.
The sky was ideal for observing the
eclipse.
As for myself. had chosen the open
fields for taking observations. There it
would be possible 20 note how birds,
animals and plants comported them
selves: for very conflicting stories are
told OF fear manifested by some crea-
lures or OF birds going 20 roost and
OF flowers closing their petals in sleep.
| Exact TO the half minute the sun be
gan 20 show an indenture at the lower
t.
| minishlng OF the warmth OF ITS rays
| could vet be felt Not until the moon
had covered more than half q the
sun was II nppreciRbly colder. But at
the critical moment. when only one
twentieth part OF the suns disk re-
NAMED. like the sickle OF golden
new moon. the air became very cold
At the moment OF greatest intSnEity
Of eclipse the light effect over the
landscape was peculiar. II was some
what Ike u very bright moonlight
night. only that the colors we're more
! vivid: the grass Was much gresner
and the red Of the roofs OF the distant
houses more intense
Contrary 20 everything l had ever
heard the animals In the nelds tool
7 not the slightest notice Of the gather
, ing gloom. Cows. sheep and horses
> Era1ed calmly on or lay quietly chew
tnE the cud Neither was there sigT
D OF unrest IN the bird world The sky
> larks did not cease their warbing no
. the plovers circling over the meadow
r uttering their plaintive cries. ster
nngs and crows Few about IN httl
focks as usual. No birds went TO roos
d as far as 7 could see.
b The plants and flowers around m
utterly ignored the phenomenon; IN
daisies did not close their starry eve
and the clsvers did not fold their tr'
foils IN sleep as they DO st eVsnud'
i But as looked the moon was pes
ing swiftly across the suns disk al
the lower right hand horn Of u
u sun was visibly lengthening. TT
/ .colors in the landscape grew brighter
more light flooded the heds
. seemed as II the light Increased VII
II greater rapidity than 4 had dimi
N ished. The temperature rose as u
II suns sickle now appeared stAndii
y upright ike q golden new moon 7 h'
n IN a few seconds the lower rim OF u
sun reappeared. Soon Il was hs
sun then three-QuArtSrs SUE and
ten minutes 10 only a small DARK
depture showed on the extreme LETT
the suns surface. At 1887 the pl
. pomenon Was over. II had AAt
about two hours and thirty minutes