The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-19

(C0nCinued rom Eage D
 Perhaps the majority of those who saw the display first thought it was another evidence of national defense effort, a searchlight battery going into action to fofestall 8 mock air raid. Others of more ex- citable temperament, or more pes- sinlistic disposition, were convinced in their panic that Q real air at tack was under way. It was a mild CT repetition of the lnysteria which prevailed at the time of the much discussed broadcast of an "inva- sion from Mars"
 Radio Stations Hit
 Radio stations throughout the east reported constant succession of calls from persons anxious to know the worst. One or two per- sons actually inquired whether 1t was the end of the world, and most of the callers were obviously rec lieved to learn 1t was all e natural, and as far as they were concerned, harmless phenomenon. Several stations, to forestau further calls, as well as to calm more excitable persons, broadcast frequent aa- nouncements about the nature of the display.
 Even those persons who recog- nized the northern lights for what they were, agreed that they had seldom before seen e comparable display.
 At times most of the sky was ob- scured by the quivering streamers of multi -colored light, shifting this way and that with bewildering rap- idity. Dull red and brighter green patches appeared from time to time, the former causing the belief among several WaterhurianS that the whole phenomenon was the re- flection of distant fire. Banners of light emanated from the horizon at countless points, coming to a common center in whirling vor- tex overhead, fading, and reappear- ing.
 Democrat Machines Affected
 Even early in the day yesterday the effects of the magnetic dis turbance were evident in jurnbled communications. In the morning, the Democrats two teletype ma- chimes operated uncertainty, with many of the outside messages H. legible in part or entirely. The broadcast of the Brooklyn Pitts burgh ball game yesterday after noon was interrupted briefly, much to the discomfiture of local Dodg- CT fans, because of the uncertainty of the telegraph connection be- tween Pittsburgh and New York, whence the program emanated.
 Scientists are not entirely agreed on the cause of the northern lights, or the aurora borealis, the most widely held view being that they are connected somehow with the prevalence Of sun spots. At any rate, the display Is of magnetic sort, and harmless except for the disruptive effect on radio, cable, telegraph and teletype. Seldom, however, is a display so spectac- ular, so vivid, or 50 long as last nights exhibition.
 Explanation
 AURORA BOREALIS. = Polar lights - a meteorological phenome- non occurring in high attitudes, chiefly observed in the direction of the magnetic meridian in the north- ern hemisphere. 1t takes the form of arcs, bands, rays, wavy curtains, patches or a corona" varying in color from silvery white to yellow, green, violet, red, which move about coruscating or resembling illumi- mated clouds. Usually the Northern Lights are at maximum in mid winter, a minimum in midsummer. Numerous explanations of the phe- nomenon have been brought forward, most investigators agreeing that 1t represents some form of electrical discharge. There is an intimate relation between aurora and mag. netic disturbances, another. re- markable connection existing be- tween the frequency of auroral dis plays and sun spots. worlds Popular Encyclopedia.