Year: 1860

NEW l ofk July 2Itn.


had the pleasure of witnessing, on the
evening of the l9th, the most beautiful at
mosPheric, electric or meteoric phenomenon,
that ever was seen in any heavens. Being
at the house of friend on Bengen Heights,
n j., with few other guests, ard the even
ing being excessively warm party of us
were standing out undar the night sky for
better breathing facilities, when my eye
caught an illumination in q western cloud
not unlike the heat-lghtning of summer
nights, though more steady, While l still
looked in uncertainty as to its meaning, a
balloon-shaped body of reddish light rose out
of the low cloud before mentioned and nro-
eeeded with swftness in course directly
east. 1t had now caught the eye of the
others, and ordinations of "what is it?"
"a rocket {" "a meteor?" "a blue rock
ct p ooh how beautiful !" burst from their
lips 1t now seemed to be directly over our
heads, and while in this apparently close
neghborhood the mass of light which had
changed from dull red to a vivid blue. sud
denly discharged brilliant fire ball from its
centre, leaving behind two distinct rings
like the rings of Saturn, which, however,
followed close upon the ball ard right in its
wake, dropping along the sky hundreds of
little starry gems of fire. and so passed quite
across the heavens to the eastern horizon
where the phenomenon disappeared. At the
time of the bursting of the meteor, the whole
country was lighted up as if by gas. At
first some were inclined to think this a rare
exhibition of the pyrotechnic art, yet upon
reflection concluded that no fireworks could
be sent to such distance as this appeared to
go. This conclusion only increased the gen
eral wonder and admiration, and we all
looked eagerly for news Of the meteor, as
seen by others, in the next mornings papers
1t appears from subsequent accounts that the
appearance was the same for hundred miles
north, and all around us-seeming every
where to be right over head and near the
earth, going from west to east. The appar-
ent balloon which | Isaw rise out of the lighting
cloud, was three feet or thereabouts in its
longest diameter, and .he ball which shot out
of the two rings the size of a large cannon
ball, looking larger as it sunk again toward
the eastern horizon. The blush flame which
lighted up the air so splenddly was very
vivid and transparent. Altogether, the ex-
hibition was as beautiful as it certainly was
remarkable. The heat had been intense for
two days, and other electrical phenomena
had been noticed during the week, such as
a brilliant aurora borealis, and minor displays
Of electricity. This whole year, so far, has
produced the most singular atmospheric
effects In Missouri they have been visited
by simeon, coming upon them in the after
noon of day unusually pleasant. This
wind is described as having been like the air
coming from the mouth of furnace, obliging
people to close doors and windows, tho the
thermometer stood at l05 degrees. 1t was
expected that a terrible tornado must follow,
and that it did not is the most curious fact in
the case ; since it proves we may have the
simeon in our latitude, as we do any other
wind, followed by no unusual circumstances
That the climate of our continent, especially
in this range Of latitude, is undergoing a
great change, the extremes of heat and cold
Of the last few years clearly enough demon.
strate. In central New York the cultivation
of the smaller and more delicate fruits is al.
most entirely done away with the trees be-
ing unable to Withstand the effects of the
climate. The same effect is noticeable in the
health of the people. Diseases INCIDENT TO
violent extremes are becoming alarmingly
common. If the earth is uniting herself
for the present race by slow degrees, as per-
haps heis, we who inhabit her may proong
existence by flight to her more genial parts,
leaving the arctics to come after us at their
leisure. In this view of the case, long live
California


In this connection, Of climateoogy and its
effect upon the races, must mentioa that
took notion to go to Barnums, the other
day, to see the "What Is IT," or the man
monkey. Now, unless Barnum has gotten
up very successful humbug, as he knows
how to do, this man monkey becomes a sub
ject of very grave speculation. The crea
ture is about four feet high, slenderly built,
with rather long limbs, and long, ill-shaped
feet, very well formed hands, and head ex-
actly like a native Africans, excepting that
it is entirely bald, and the ears appear to be
set too far back The creature is dressed in
a tight-ftting suit, so as to display its pro-
portions, and its movements, which are not
firm and elastic like those of the human fig
ures but have a supple, ,a07decjded look,as Of a
dog when it tries to sustain itself upon its
hind legs to walk. The gait is rolling, and
the body sinks perceptibly at every step, as
in the case of the dog trying to walk erect.
The eyes are black, CLASSY and glttering
the tongue, which generally protrudes, very
red, and the teeth are said to be all double
teeth The intelligence shown by the Gu
rious specimen is about as much hs is eXhb-


tied by any trained pet animal. 1t turns its
head to hear its keeper whenever he is speak
ing, gives a real negro grin, points at the
audience and mods its head. The expression
of the face is quite human, but of low or
der Of intellect, as if this might be after all
an idiotic and dwarfed negro, with bald
head, 1t is roundly asserted that when cap
tured there was a family of five-the Others
having died on the voyage. Perhaps Bar
mum will let us know thein sequel to his Auto
biography Acknowledged humbug as he is,