The Solar Eclipse

Abstract

IT does not happen more than once in a lifetime to see such a glorious and magnificent sight as that from which I have just returned; that is, the total eclipse of the sun. I have seen many eclipses before, but never anything to equal this. I was engaged to go with the Morgans to the top of the hill to see it. Got up at six, and found it a lovely morning; rode up to Morgan's, about half a mile, carrying with me glasses, smoked glass, and sun hat. Got there before seven, and found eclipse already begun. Got our two mirrors and watched the hole in the sun grow bigger and bigger. It began from the top, and we all went off to the highest point on the hill, from whence we could see all Ooly and the mountains round. When the eclipse got so far, the cold on the mountain grew much greater, the grass was so wet that no one's boots kept it out, the feet and hands grew cold, and with your back to the sun the light over the country was like twilight, or the earliest dawn. Gradually the lower streak got thinner and thinner, until at last there shone a light like the famous lime-light, and in a moment or two that went out and the sun was totally concealed; many stars were visible, the whole country looked dark—that is, half dark, like moonlight—the crows stopped cawing, and for two minutes and a half the total eclipse lasted, a sight I shall never forget, and then the lime-light again appeared at the bottom rim of the sun, and gradually more and more of him appeared, the crows began again at once, and the cocks began to crow, the shadow now was inverted, and by degrees got smaller, until at nine o'clock the eclipse was over. I cannot but suppose that the scientific men must have had grand opportunities of observation, and that to-day's pencil will carry home many a description. Anything more beautiful, more sublime, or more perfect, it would be impossible to conceive.