m-i-r-rji r\-\r * r r A T A TT.IT 2 ttMJtiiTO\n Tnr err - < onr
FARING : WITH BACTERIA
'A Marvelopa-tHscoTery for Enriching Ex-
' Imusted Soils ,
GERMS BRED FOR USE AS FERTILIZERS
from I'nxirur'H fircnt AV'urk
Ilfln Knlr tit Work 11 ItcvoJn-
Uo ii In Agriculture
Novel
From Ocrmnny comes the announcement
of tlio success of a scries of novel experi
ments carried on by Prof. Nobbe of Tharand ,
In Saxony , which , In the opinion of scientific
men , scorn destined to be the beginning ot
a revolution In farming. Those who follow
closely the technical Journals arc awn re
that some monthn ago Prof. Nobbo an
nounced that ho had been able to make
"pure cuHtiips" of bacteria for the pur
pose of promoting the growth of certain
plant forms , Their specific office was to
promote the absorption of nitrogen by
leguminous plants and to his now cultures
therefore , ho gave the name "nltragln. "
The 'invasion ot the field of agriculture
by the 'bacteriologists la to the ordinary
understanding nt least strange enough. Hut
It follows legitimately upon the remarka
ble discoveries and researches , ot Pasteur
concerning the work of micro-organisms In
countless-processes which have hitherto been
regarded as a purely chemical nature.
Those whose ( notions of natural science have
been derived chiefly from such text books
as arc in use In the public schools will
recall that ono of the conceptions Incul
cated therein Is that the action of fire and
the decay of a piece of wood , for example ,
arc simply1 different forms of exactly the
Game process , namely , of oxidization. The
view formerly held was that the difference
between the two was simply one ot rapidity
In operation.
Perhaps.the greatest work of Pasteur waste
to show that the process of decay or putre
faction of organic matter constantly going
on all over the earth's surface Is duo to
the action at microscopic organisms , or
bacteria. Subsequent research has demon
strated thnfof these germs there are ninny
varieties and that In 0119 or another they
play a tremendous part In almost oycry
life process. The functions of bacteria In
the dairy ufe now well understood ami the
use of the latter Is now general by all In
telligent dairymen. The various changes
which milk undergoes are all traced to the
action of Its mlcroblc denizens , and with
thlo advance In knowledge It Is now pos
sible to keep milk perfectly fresh even In
the hottest summer for a long period.
A HEGULAU BUSINESS.
The making ot butter , cheese and
houmyrs , as well , Is now conducted with
the aid of "pure cultures" of bacteria , the
manufacture and sale of which has become
a regular buslnjsa. With the use of these
cultures tlip dairyman may secure that
uniformity of quality , taste and color upon
which the success of his business so largely
depends.
It was only a matter of time when
bacteriological research should extend
farther and take up the mode of plant
growth. Following upon Pasteur's discovery
It was found that the soil ot the Held Is
literally teeming with millions of these
mlnuto forms of organic life , and finally It
is now the conclusion of science that the
fertility or barrenness of the soli depends
upon fho presence or absence of certain
germs. The apparent office of the latter Is
to take up the different substances In the
Boll and prepare them for assimilation by
the plant. Most ot the substances arc re
quired by vegetable life In a simpler form
than they arc originally present , and In some
way of which as yet there Is but scant
knowledge , the bacteria make over the soil
into such a. condition that plants may
thrive. v
It has long been known that nitrogen ,
which Is one of the prime elements ot plant
food , Is absorbed by plums In the form
of , nitric acid , or to speak with more
precision , as nitrates , and It was further
found that nitrogen In the form of organic
compounds and ammonia was liable , under
certain conditions , to bo converted Into
nitrates In the soil Itself. In 1877 It was
discovered that this process , to which the
name nitrification was given , was caused by
micro-organism's. Subsequently It became
possible to separate the forms ot bacteria
Implicated In this pcocchs , and gome > cars
later two Herman professors made a further
advance In Identifying a certain class of
bacteria which Infest the little nodules or
fleshy excrescences to bo found on the root
of human plants. They found that tne office
of the latter was to render the free nitrogen
of the air available for the plant.
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS.
This power ot utilizing the free nitrogen
of the air , Is to be explained , Is possessed
only by a limited number of plants , such
as clover , peas , beans and the like , \\hlch
are grouped under the name of leguminous ,
and the discovery laid bare why It Is that
these plants have the power of resuscitating
cell which has been exhausted by other
crops. This process of nltro fixatlon , as It
is called , Is not as yet known with accuracy ,
but It' skeins clear the nodules containing
the bacteria are gradually absorbed by thu
plant and the. nitrogen taken up In this
way , 'A long scries of very Interesting ex
periments was carried on In Germany to
test the accuracy ot this theory , with the
result that nn attempt was made to Inocu
late the' ultra-fixing bacteria In largo num
bers ,
To effect" this satisfactorily , however , It
was found that anywhere from halt a ton
to a ton of auch Impregnated soil had to bo
Used per acre , and this method ' , besides
being very qumbcrsome , was not' free from
other objections , slnco other organisms than
nitrogen-fixing ones were often present In
the soil thus applied and produced a dis
tinctly unfavorable action on plant growth
ns well as Inducing fungoid diseases or
purnsttlc gi'owthn ,
It was at this stage that Prof. Nobbo ,
who stands very high as a bacteriologist ,
Bet hluibclf to obtain , "pure cultures" of the
nltrogcivfl.\ng | germs. This process , which
Is now a very common one , consists simply
In obtaining a number of bacteria of the
kind desired , and separating tlieso others
by ollmlimtlnu and then propagating these
"cultures" In some medium which will not
take up other germ forms , and which Is
Itself thoroughly bterllUed , The bubstanco
most usually employed for this purpose Is
a preparation of gclatlno ; In this thu bacteria
multiply with amazing rapidity. From a
elnglo parent thousands , or for that matter
millions , of "puro cuturca" ) may be ob-
till n ml , These mny bo put up In bottles ,
liklially of tight or tcn-nunco capacity , and
cold as ordinary merchandise. The- cost
ot preparation la not great , and In Germany
this \\otk has been undertaken by a number
ot largo chemical manufacturers.
CULTIVATING I1ACTEIUA. In
Thrao bottled "cultuita" have to bo kept
from tl-o Influence of the light , and care
ruuut bo taken not to expose- them to a
temperature of 93 dcKicro Fahrenheit.
Jnouilatlon of the soil on a practical scale
mny b effected In cither of two ways. The
seed of Iho crop It U desired to Inoculate
may bo treated with the preparation before
U IH so\vu , by making a watery solution of
the puio cultivation. Immersing the seed In
this solution und subsequently drying It ; or ,
the Inoculation may bo effected by treating
n Quantity of fine sand or earth In the same
way and luen towing this over the field In
the KSiuo way that grain U sown , and
ubioqucntly vioiHIng U In the soil to the
depth of about tlueo Inches.
AYhfii thus Inoculated the most bairen and Is
exhausted soils cun be made to produce rich \ \
crops of clover and like varieties , and U JU
tliui In a condition to grow rich crops of
olhfr vegetations nueh as may bo desired.
In this simple manner worn-out fields maybe
bo brought , to ( bo highest pitch of fertility ,
and at a cost much leas than any other
I * . known method of fertlllrutlon. Kvcn at
I lie- present time a Held may be this ) Inocu
> . lated for something like $1,25 an acre , and
without doubt ns thn manufacture of these
"rulluirs" becomes general the price will
bflcomo greatly reduced
This discovery may bo likened In Its Im
portance to the discovery of vaccination or
luoculaUop la medicine Ati every school
boy understands , beginning with amallpox ,
4hu number .of ) IrultiU diseases which may the
successfully treated by tbli method has to
steadily Brownso tlwt'lncro are now more
then a ilBTttmof the- most deadly plagues
OJvlsIt mankind , Including cholera
typhoid fever , diphtheria , and a number ot
others equally well known , that are now
reasonably under medical control nnd cura'
bio. In the opinion ot those who are at
work In this field ( I does not now seem
Improbable that the Inoculation of the sol
with different bacteria , towards a specific
end , will bo gradually extended so that
farming will within the near future not
merely bo reduced to a science , but to very
nearly an exact science at that. Since It
Is possible , as I'rof , Nobbe has demonstrated
to separate bacteria , which will enable th <
leguminous plants to draw such a supply
of nitrogen from the air so as to enrich , In
this regard , the most barren fields , It docs
not seem too much to hope that with the
progress of this work other germ forms wll'
bo Identified and their culture or manil
facturo undertaken to piomote other
functions equally valuable. In a word , the
art of fertilization will have made an
enormous advance and we shall come to re
gard the soil not as a mine , to be exhausted
but as a laboratory for the production ol
foods.
rAUMKIl CHEMISTS ,
tt seems clearly within view when the
farmer will have his own little storehouse
where foalnfost : every department of his
work ho will have his bottles of "pure
cultures ; " that the farmer himself , to be
successful , will have to become something
of a bacteriologist and a chemist as well
and from a dreary round ot uninteresting
toll , farming Itself wlll'bccomc ono of the
most skillful and absorbing of occupations.
What a field Is opened lip may bo Indicated
In the fact' that some recent experiments
have been conducted showing that these
micro-organisms , the very existence ot
which but a few years ago was utterly un
known , may bo present to the extent of
45,000,000 per graims theo o twanty-slghth
part of an ounce. It has been demonstrated
that thcso bacteria are-of countless variety
and that their functions arc varied ns to
their form. Some arc useful , some arc
harmful , some whoso work Is for good under
certain conditions becomes evil under other
conditions , even as Is the case with human
beings. To separate the different vailctles ,
to determine the functions of each , and the
conditions under which they will work for
good or 111 means an enormous labor. I3ut ,
though the work lias. . Just begun. It can
hardly be doubted tltat the conquest ot the
world of mlcro-orgaiflsraa now so brilliantly
opening will be carried to completion. It Is
not the least pleasurable of thoughts to the
man of scicnpethnt this work which In
common with many other forms of scientific
research was but < little while ago re
garded as of no practical' value , should al
ready bid fair to be'como of vast Im
portance to so Intensely practical a field as
agriculture * "
A TALE OrTWO CITIES
Two cities there are within the same
corporate limits twin cities , perchance , for
they sprang Into existence almost slmul
taneotisly. One Is'thecity of the living
the other of tlievflead. . ' dno bears the magic
name of Onidha , the "Gate City -of the
West ; " the other , Prospect Hill , the "City
of nest. " Their history dates back to t
time when civilization west of the Mlssour :
river was In Its Infancy , for with the ever
onward march of emigration the Angel of
Death followed lo'so on Its trail. During
nearly halt century * they have grown ur
side by side , and kept pace each with the
other.
Prospect ITIll Is not the oldest , but the
most attractive , cemetery In Omaha. Today
It looks down upon a great city of nearly
150,000 Inhabitants , teeming with social llf <
and business , activity. Hero sleep the dead
of the long ago , and 'around them arc clus
tered fond recollections of these early pioneers
neers ; who not only braved the hardships
and privations of frontier life , but who also
laid the foundations of business , social
municipal and stnto government strong and
deep , ahd'wtiose nairie's are Identified with
all thaC1s > great and g'cod' In the early
growth and development of our city and
state.
Great , bravo , noble , courageous men and
women were they greater far than we who
today enjoy the freedom and civilization
made possible' by them are apt to realize.
Here also repose the bodies of more than
seven thousand , who , having finished the
journey of life , have passed out into the
Great Unknown. Among , them are both men
nnd women from oVcry profession , vocation
and station In life , and representing In
nationality every civilized nation of the
earth.
Hero sleep those far , advanced In years ,
whoso whitened locks nnd bended forms and
enfeebled step told the story of a llfo whoso
lease had far outium the three score and ten
allotted to man and many of whom , by rea
son of their strength , had reached the grand
old agu of foyr scorq and more before the
Reaper came and gathered them to their re- ,
ward. '
Close by their _ sldo Is encamped the army
of the Holy -Innocents those little ones ,
whose pure Jyoung lives , unsullied and un
stained by sin , went'out In the early mornIng -
Ing of therr existence , before the evil day
dawned upon them and the trials and dis
appointments and v heartaches of life were
known. "May holy .angels guard their tot
tering feet on the ojher shore !
Here , too , sleep the nation's dead : bravo
men , who at their "country's call , bade fare
well to home ami friends and went boldly
forth under the , Inspiration of their coun
try's flan to do and to die for freedom and
the risht. ' " ' i
Within Its peaceful Borders all ranks are
leveled , all distinctions done away ; the
young and old the good and bad the high .
and low the rich "and poor all sleep side '
by side , nnd one cpmlnon sepulchcr within
the hospitable bosoin of Mother Earth Is the
final abode of them-nil. The rough rigor
und severities of winter , with their frost
and Ice , and' cold , piercing winds sweep
over them unheeded nnd unheard. Trees
and shrubs with their Icy branches glisten
In the frosty air and reflect their splendor
In the sunlight. Fleecy snowfiakcs. Ilka
tiny feathers from angel wings , gracefully
flutter In the light , and gently fall un
heeded upon fhelr bed.
And then , anon , the spring comes anil
lavishes Its splendors on every hand. The
gentle rain falls upon the earth , and the
genial sunshine warms Into life and sots In
motion the hidden- machinery of Nature ,
The green sward spreads Its velvet mantle
o\er the earth , and all nature smiles again.
Duds and leaves simultaneously burst from
trees and shrubs ; delicious odors fill tlio air ,
birds of plumage and of song skip from
branch to branch , and joyously wurblo their
hymns of praise , whllo each passing breeze .
mingles their wild notes with the sweet
perfume of fragrant flowers , and wafts them
over onward and upward to the throne of
God.
Iut ) Nature docs not always wear a smil
ing face , The angry blackness of the storm
clouds as they gather mountain high over is
our heads ; the fierce hurricane , as It sweeps
all Its terrlblcness over land and sea , car
rying death and destruction In Its trail ; the
awful roar of heaven's artillery as It shakes
thu earth ; the sharp cracking and
snapping of the vivid lightning's
tlasli , as U rends the sky and Illumines a
the firmament with Its fearful grandeur and ,
magnificence , and Its death-dealing poaalbll- '
Itles speak to us ot a great and awful , yet
tender nud loving Father , who holds within
the hollow ot Ills band the destiny of us of
nil.
Before these stupendous , unseen and com est
paratively unknown forces of Nature , the liv
ing tremble with awe ; but the silent sleeper
wakes not neither does he fear their fury ,
Again the clouds break ; the rain ceases ;
the wind Is lulled to rest , and all Natuio
lu repose OEBQ. | The rainbow of promise , to
\\Iilch , In the early dawn ot time , first spread
brilliant arch over the earth , continues to
span the heavens with Its glory and reflect
the many colors of the sunbeams there.
Silvery clouds tipped with gold stand out on
top
against the azure sky , and gracefully float
through limitless space , while above , below
and around them are others still , the gor-
Keouaness and magnificence of which no
artist's brush has ever reproduced , and ( ho of
exquisite harruoriy and delicacy of their the
colorings are unapproachable.
Soon the shades of night brgla to cast
their sable mantle over the earth. The
tun U slowly sinking behind the wcatcrn
hllli. und lu glories are reflected on land '
scape and sky. The birds are rustling among the
branches and chirping their lullabies
tbelrj OUDgt wooing them to Bleep. The } n
flowers are closing their petals ere they ,
too , take their rest. The soft night wind
whispers through the leafy trees , and lulls
all nature to rcponse. The great , round ,
silver moon rears Us head above the- east
ern horizon , and sheds Its luster and Its
brightness over the living nnd the dead.
Standing hero In the quiet end hush ot
the eventide , how exquisitely beautiful , how
sublimely picturesque the scene ! Hero no
sound breaks the stillness of the evening
air save the faint rushing of the wind
through the leaves. The silence Is nppall-
Ing like unto that of death.
What holy memories cluster * about this
spot nnd how like a mighty floodtldo they
rush In upon the souls as wo contemplate
them ; like living pictures they stand out
In bas relief before our gazei memories
of childhood's happy days , when love was
young nnd pure and true ; memories of
mother nnd ot home ; memories of pledged
love and reciprocal devotion ; memories of
the severing of homo tics ; memories of the
wedding day and the wedding ring ; of mar
riage vows kept and broken ; of'friendships
true and false ; of promises niaMc'hnd broken ;
of kindnesses received and fldriVc'd ; of Joys
and gladness , of sorrows ahd' disappoint
ments , and all the lontf ami'Innumerable '
catalogue of events , which frbm"tho cradle
to the grave enter Into and make up human
llfo.
llfo.Hither
Hither the fond mother comes , with tear
ful eyes nnd heavy heart , to kneel beside
the little green mound which contains , for
her , the dearest ot earth's idols. Hither , too ,
the lonely widow , from whom the staff and
stay of llfo has been taken away , wends her
weary footsteps. Like a frail bark , tossed
hither and thither upon the ocean of life ,
without sail or rudder , she gropes about
In darkness ot despair , without one bright
ray of hope save that of a blessed Immor
tality after this fitful , fretful llfo Is ended ,
to cheer her on the way.
With bended form and kncd she stoops
to plant bright flowers upon the new-made
grave , and to water them from the ever-
flowing fountain ot tears at her command.
And thus , thb pathway from the city of
the living to ( ha city of the dead Is dally
trod by hundreds whoso willing feet and
sorrowing hearts find their greatest com
fort In the pilgrimage.
Yonder lies that other city , Ils lights are
plainly seen through the darkness that In
tervenes. The sparks from her many fur
naces continually fly upward , and'the smoke
from her chimneys reach Into the heavens.
How marked the change ! Here , noise and ,
confusion and the strife of tongues reign v
continually hurry and bustle the wll
rushing hither and thither In the mad rab
for wealth and power and place. The slrug
glo for an existence of the poor ! 7he sorrows
rows and heartache of the disappointed
The want and distress of the unfortunate
the pain and suffering ot the sick ; the com
forts and pleasures of happy homes ; tli
merry laugh of Innocent , childhood ; tin
Joys and delights of social Ufa ; the peace
and satisfaction of holy religion , and a
blessed hope of an Immortality beyond this
earth life are all found within , and make
up the city of the living.
And thus time and years glide rapidly
on , and each returning seasoa brings Its
Joys j and sorrows to the living and adds
j Its numbers to the dead.
The sweet and solemn notes of the
cathedral chimes as but a few short days
ago mournfully rang out their requiem for
Trinity's lamented Dean are still lingering
In our cars. They come back to us on the
wings of memory , laden with many tender ,
loving thoughts of him whoso lamp of life
so suddenly and unexpectedly went out
They bid us look beyoud the shadows and
the gloom , beyond the weeping and the
waiting , nnd catch some now inspiration
from his pure and holy life , his true Chris-
Una character , hh well-rounded manhood
that shall bo helpful to us along the Journey
of life , and make us better , truer , noble
rr.eu file ! women.
In every walk of llfo , wherever duty or
pleasure called ; In the sacred calling of his
high priestly office ; at the holy altar ; In the
home ; at the bedside or the open grave ho
was ever the same kind , gentle , loving and
sympathizing friend , honored and beloved
by all. "May his soul rest In peace , and
may light perpetual shine upon him. "
Happy are they who , when the summons
comes , are found ready. Thrice happy they
to whom the Master shall say : "Well done.
Enter thou Into the Joy of thy Lord. "
Day after day the solemn warning Is
sounded In our ears "Do ye also ready. "
During the week that has passed three of
Omaha's oldest citizens have passed away ,
and the places that knew" them shall know
them no more forever. Strange as it may
seem they all came here the same year ,
1850 , within a few months of each other , and
today they all sleep side by side In beautiful
Prospect Hill cemetery.
The first to pass away was Mrs. Emily J.
Drlggs , widow of the late Judge Clinton
Drlggs , whose memory is fresh in the recol
lection of all the old pioneers. Her body
now reposes In the new and substantial re
ceiving vault beside that of the late Dean
Gardner.
The next day Mrs. Amanda Orchard ,
mother of Samuel A. Orchard , nt the ripe
old ago of 86 years , closed her eyes to
earthly scenes and entered Into rest. And
then , a few hours later , Andrew J. Popple-
ton , one of the most conspicuous and hon
ored figures at the bar ; a man of great
learning , of marked ability , of Inflexible In
tegrity , whose character was pure nnd un
sullied , and whoso reputation was beyond ;
reproach , after the hand of affliction had
for many months been laid heavily upon :
him , peacefully passed away , to be no more
seen upon earth.
And thus , ono by one , they fall like au }
tumn leaves to enrich our mother earth.
CHARLES F. CATLIN.
:
COJVXUIIIAMTIKS. otl
tl
The rumor Is abroad that Dr. Jameson Is I
to wed , on his release from Imprisonment , n
Gcorglnnna , countess of Dudley , said to .
bo a beautiful peeress.
:
Albert Fisher , a 16-year-old boy of Balti :
more , committed suicide the other day be
cause he could not marry a 14-year-old
girl.
girl.A
A courtship remarkable for Its length Is
that of Abram Marls , aged 60 yearn , and ol
Miss Sarah n. Williams , aged ) 47 years , and
the scene Is Damascus , n quaint little quakcr
village of Kentucky , lloth bride and groom \ \
are among the wealthiest members of the \
Society of Friends In that state , and for
forty years mot each other on Sunday at the
old brick church In their < jualit village.
The attachment between them began when
Miss Williams was a rosy-cheeked girl of
17 , but thu only love making was a smile
and a minute's conversation at the church
door once a week , year In and year out.
Miss Ella Collins , daughter of a New York
tailor , will bo the first woman of the United
Statea raised td a throneby marriage. She
will shortly become the wife of Colonel John
F , Hoobs , who , under the name of Oumaloa ,
reigns over the ecmt-barbaious people of the
Jllka Islands , in the New Hebrides group. >
.Colonel Hoobs was born In South Carolina , '
and after a wandering life full of strange
adventure settled on ono of the Jllka .Islands , :
Slnco then he has become the undisputed
ruler ot the 1,200 or more people who live at
there , under the title of king. By the edict
of the assembly which chose him the title [
to remain wl'h him and hs ) descendants
forever.
A certain peasant and his wife , In Ger :
many , were married on the enme'day as the >
emperor and empress , the peasant's 'Chris
tian name being William. Their first child , '
boy , was born on the same * day aa the
crown . prince , after which 'they ' , had five
other sons , each of whom wasborn ) at the i
tame time as the five younger boyi of the
emperor , The ro > al couple wire Informed
this , and were exceedingly Interested In ;
the very strange coincidence , but thin Inter if
was Intensified when on the last occa )
sion of a royal birth , viz. , the little daugh
ter of the kaiser , It was learned that the
peasant's wife in question had also given ,
birth to a daughter on tbo same day , So
astonished were the emperor and empress
that they stood as godfather and godmother :
this little girl , and have well provided for
her future ,
if
William M. Dyers , a Chicago painter , and t
Ida May Smith of Indianapolis were married
the 12th Inst , 250 feet above ground on
of the Indiana soldiers' monument , Cus
todian Captain Wright has had a standing
offer four years of a free license and a
bronze medal to the first couple that would
consent to a marriage ceremony at the feet
"Indiana , " the bronze goddess crowning
monument. Hit ambition Is now grati
fied , and ho considers the highest soldiers'
monument In the United States properly to
dedicated , A delegation of court house em
ployes , Including several women , followed
'Squire Hay to the monument and witnessed
ceremony. No one offered to klm ( ho
bride , and the groom bustled her away , t k
_ tbo ji xt train ( or Chlc io ,
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF 1896
A Study of tlio Earo Spectacle During It
Entire Progress.
OBSERVATIONS CF AN EYE WITNESS
I'lioiioiiienii AllrtiilltiK I' ' " '
( rent llrllllnncy MHITVII ti.v Many
I'liint'lN mill CoiiMellnt Icmn
Iiirii7 4lic Totality.
( CopyrlKht , 1SMJ by 8. S. McCture Co. )
The total eclipse.icf the sun , which has
been looked forward to with such deep
Interest by the scientific world , has como
nnd gone , with but meager results ns far
as science Is concerned. Only n fortunate
few obtained a glimpse of the wondrous
Right , and the htipcs which had been en
tertained as to the solution ot many doubt
ful problems concerning the nature ot the
corona and the character of Its luminosity
ucrc doomed to disappointment. The two
expeditions scnti from this country , one
from the Lick obwervatory under Prof.
Schaebcrlo , and itho other from Amhcrst
college under Prof. Todd , to view the
eclipse at Yezo , lu Japan , were unable to
make successful observations owing to
cloudy weather. Hccalllng the fact that
Prof. Todd has b'ecn two years making
arrangements to view this total eclipse , and
that iio via * specially skilled to make val
uable observations , assisted by Prof. Sehae-
berle , It seems all , tlio more disappointing
that the sky should have been cloudy nt
the critical moment.
A third expedition sent from this country
and composed largely of tourists and a few
scientists prepared to see the eclipse from
Dodo , a little Island south of the Lofoden
Islands. We sailed on the American line
steamship Ohio. Our captain , named
Doggs , was aa enthusiastic o\er the
coming 'eclipse as any of the astronomers
on board , and In fact It was mainly owing
to him that we wore so peculiarly fortu
nate. 1 On arriving nt Southampton he was
Informed that owing to a high range ( if
mountains at Dodo It was not a desirable
place for viewing the eclipse , and he was
advised to take us to the Uland ot Traencn ,
not far from Dodo. Arrangements were
accordingly mtde for the Ohio to anchor
off that Island at the time ot the eclipse.
On the way to'llodo wo stopped at Copen
hagen , and ono of our party , . Mr. Fred W.
Weston , a Yolo student , having a letter
of introduction from Dr. Elkln of Yale
college to Dr. C. P. Pechute of the Copen
hagen observatory , called ton him and made
i
COUONE AT TOTAL ECLIPSE , AUGUST 9 ,
1896.
Inquiries ns to the coming eclipse. He was
InWrmed'lliat'the' ' Island offTraeinen was too
far west for favorable observation , and Dr.
Pechute suggested- that the llghthouso
Island of Stet was in all respects a desira
ble position. Thisi Information was con
veyed to Captain iBoggs , but as he had or
ders to take us tot Traencn he refused TO
Incur the responsibility of acting against
orders unless a petition requesting him to
go to the Island of Stet was signed by
every passenger on > the ship. It was not
long before the petition was signed and
presented to the captain , who was only
too pleased to graciously grant our rc-
quest.
AWAITINGV THE EVENT.
We therefore anchoied oft Stet Island , on I
the west coast of' Norway , latitude CO de- '
57 N. longitude 13 degrees 30 13 ,
in the evening of ttugust 8. Next morn
ing we were awakened at 3 o'clock by the
sounding of the gong and after a hasty meal
it coffee and sandwiches wo hastened on
leek , eager for the coining event. The
iun had already risen and save for a few
leecy clouds tlngod with pink near the
iortzon the sky wa.s practically cloudless
The hills on the Kunnen promontory were
learly outKnnl against the sky and the
lea was as smooth AS glass. All the pas-
lengers had provided themselves with pieces
f smoked glass and they had their field
glasses In readiness for the instant of
otality. Telescopes wcro utterly useless ,
iwlng to the unsteadiness ot the vessel , so
.hat all we could axpect to observe with
iur field glasses were the attendant phc-
lomcna , such as the approach of the lunar
ihadow , the colors and illumination during
.otallty , the shadow bands , the moments of
ontact , the appearance of the sky , the a
orona , etc.
Among those specially Interested In mah-
ng observation * * were Captain Doggs and
Mr. E. Roberts , first officer of the ship , who
isslsted mo In timing the eclipse by means
if the ship's chronometer , with tbo follow-
ng results :
> . lie. Mln. Sec ,
\us. 8 11 M S3 Flrnt contact. O. M. T.
\U . 8 15 S3 25 Tot. bctran , a. M. T.
\UK. 8 15 > K CO Tot. ended. a. M. T.
lug. 8 16 tO 03 J.HEt contact. a. 11. T.
A THRILLING SPECTACLE ,
As the black body of the moon slowly en
circled upon the sun , a somber yellowish
l.uo gradually spread over the sea ami the
mountains on the Kunnen promontory near
by , and Just before totality a bank of gray
clouds settled over the top of these mouu-
ulns. At the same Instant the temperature
fell 2 degrees , from 53 degrees to 51 de-
srecs , and wo noticed a perceptible chilli
ness In the atmosphere. The faces of the
passengers assumed a ghastly appearance ,
ind the on-rushing gloom cast a weird color
vcr the scene. The sea gulls flew affrighted
'rom the approaching darknees , and in silent
we wo awaited the moment of totality. It
amo so swiftly that a shout of wonder
echoed from ono end of the ship to the
itlicr , as we gazed upon the marvellous sight
jeforo us. The sun was entirely hidden
rom view by the Inky ball of the moon ,
iVhlch was partly edged with scarlet proml-
icnces glowing like lurid flames against
ho dazzling white of the Inner corona ,
leyond this streamed the silver rays of the
utcr corona , distinctly outlined against a
iky of coppery hue. The streamers directed
'rom the solar poles were shorter and less
irllllant than those extended along the
astern line , whilst along the western line
streamer reached to a distance equalling
ipparcntly three times the diameter of the
iun. The planets Jupiter , Venus and Mcr-
ury shone with great brilliancy , and many
the well known constellations were
Ialuly to be ECCU , whilst the Polo ttar was
ilmost overhead. Just before totality the
western cdgo of tbo jiioon was outlined with
dark line of vivid Ted light , and next mo-
nont the sun burst forth In a blaza of
Iory , and the silver corona vanished all
oo soon ; but that Impressive moment , oc of
cupying ono minute ) and thirty-five seconds
time , Is ono that/can never bo forgotten , Is
was magnificent .beyond all description ,
nd a sight but few enjoy In a lifetime.
THE FINAL CONTACT. by
Assisted by the captain and the first of-
cer , I closely observed tliq eclipse till the
inal contact , and within half an hour of
otallty clouds drifted across the sun , re-
ciubllng the cloudsiUpon tbo planet Jupiter ,
uit before the last'contact the clouds were
till drifting In that direction , so that we had
watch most carefully In order that we
night detect the exact moment of the final
ontact , which occurred at 1C us. , fjOiu , , ,03s. .
irecnwlcli mean time. Photographs had
ieen taken of the ecllpso by Dr Murray
ordau of Gerruantovru. Pa. , but only the
nn r corona wag Tlilblc. Obtcrvatlona ol
the attendant phenomena were made by
Mr. John C. llyder of Uoston , Mass. , Mr.
Fred W. Weston of Yale college Mr. Theo
dore Oilmen of Williams college and Mr.
Farquhar of Washington.
But Iho excitement was not yet over , for
wo were anxious to know It the other ex
peditions had. shared our good fortune. We
werp BO assured that they had that It was
with a feeling of the deepest regret that
wo heard the next day , on arriving nt Trend *
hjclin , that the expedition to Vail so had
failed utterly In observing the eclipse dur
ing totality. Sir Robert Hall , Mr. Norman
Irfickyer and Dr. Crommclln presided over
the observations , but only sufficient glimpses
ot the eclipse were obtained to Intensify
the disappointment caused by the pres
ence of the Intervening clouds. It Is tall-
mated that over 3,000 persons wcro specta
tors of this wonderful scene , and n largo
number of scientific and distinguished vis
itors wcro present , Including the king ot the
Uclglans and his party , and Mr. Dayard ,
the American minister In London. AccordIng -
Ing , tp I'e ' telegrams received from Vadso ,
to | ( results of the observations were of no
sclcnlj/lc..valiiq . , whilst the photographs taken
every fiyp seconds had no special Interest ,
J.'ro/ ' , , /lajl gives the- following Interesting
account ot his experience :
PROR HALL'S OHSERVATION3.
"At the time of the eclipse the Instru
ments were duly opened , for It wns decided
that no mutter what happened the contem
plated programme should be faithfully car
ried out , I was stationed nt the small
equatorial or three-Inch aperture. U was
was with- some hope that we saw the par
tial clearness of the sky , and the sun peeped
forth. Dut I failed to see the first en
croachment of the moon on the sun's limb ,
A cloud , prevented that , though almost Im
mediately after I could see the advance
of the moon , and thus learned that the
ecllpso had actually commenced , For an
hour wo had one glimpse after anathei
ot the rcsjstlcss inarch with which the
dark moon entered straight on the brilliant
disc. Beautiful , Indeed , were the cusps
of light as they grew steadily narrower.
For a long time there was but little ap
preciable effect on the. general Illumination
of the earth. . It was not until about four-
fifths of the sun's disc were obscured that
I became conscious of the Increasing gloom
of the landscape , and felt as If sonic tremen
deus thunderstorm were approaching.
Gradually the Interest and excitement au-
gumcntcd as the solar crescent became
narrower and narrower. It was still only
to bo seen occasionally , and oven then
only to be seen through clouds. At last
the crescent had become perceptible , as c
thin line , and some hopes were Indulged
that It would remain visible up to the su
preme moment of totality. Dut alas ! Just
is the crescent began to shorten and ap
preach the vanishing point , the clouds
through which my vision was straining
closed In again. I found It Impossible to
distinguish this extinction of the light
from the extinction of totality Itself , and
thus I vfas led to believe that totality had
been reached some seconds before the ac
tual moment. Those \\ho were not engaged
as I was at the telescope , had a more ac
curate method of determining Its advent
by the- advance of the shadow. Mlsn
Klumpke was , however , BO fortunate as to
be able to note the exact moment through
her telescope , and this Is , at least , one
valuable observation which Is doubiy ac
ceptable amid the almost universal failure.
CHARACTERISTIC PHENOMENA ABSENT.
Of the phenomena characteristic of a
total eclipse , namely , the corona and the
prominences , not a trace was to be seen.
Not until after the precious 10G seconds had
long e.\plrcd was the nun again seen as a
crescent on the other side. The plates were
duly exposed , , no doubt , but as the sun Itself
was not able to pierce the canopy It need not
bo expected that Its faintly luminous ap-
pondages could send a single ray to n plate.
It lias thus to bo admitted that the object
with which the elaborate Instruments were
transported with so much trouble to Vadso
has been entirely defeated. But there are
certain phenomena of a total ecllpso which
do not depend upon the corona and promi
nences , and these other phenomena are In
themselves so Interesting and striking that
I feel heartily glad that I came to witness
so sublime an event. The approach of the
shadow Is a spectacle of unparalleled mag
nificence , and from our situation at Vadso
irony of the party were most favorably
placed for Jts ob'servatlon. 'The eclipse took
place when the sun was east and ( lie shadow
olvaiiced from tha west. To reach us It
had to travel within sight of the observers
at Vadso for many miles over a mountainous
district , and then for many miles down the
fjord. Mr. Crommelln succeeded In finding
the commencement of totality by the up-
preach of the mighty shadow as a dark cur
tain drawn over the sky , while the end of
totality was sunicicntly manifest by the
sudden lightening up ulilch so many ob
servers In this , as In other eclipses , have
noticed. Other observers testify to the ar
tistic beauty of the phenomena of totality ;
they were struck by the Indlgo-purplo color
of the clouds and the amber-yellow light
between ' , while at the horizon tints re
sembling those of the setting sun were ex
tremely beautiful. It must be confessed
that the results of scientific Interest are
very meager , but to many of us the occa
sion has been one of much Interest and
profit In every direction. The attempt made
to observe the eclipse has been a gallant
ono , and If so much well meant effort has
not berne all the fruit that we might have
wished , it has , at all events , tended to show
that astronomy was never before cultivated
with the same vigor that it Is at present.
Wo must hope for better luck next time.
Shall I add In conclusion , that the morning
after the eclipse was one of cloudless
beauty ! " ( Such Is the Irony of fate ! M. P. )
FAILURE IN JAPAN.
In Japan the astronomer royal and the
Savlllan professor were In charge , but they
mot with no better success , ncd the philoso
phers 'Were ' exposed to the double disap
pointment of learning on their return from
selected elevation where they had seen
nothing , that the simple folk who remained
In Yokohama or In Toklo , obtained what
they described as a good view of the ecllpso
ono which was , at least , satisfactory to
themselves. Wo fear their observations
would not accomplish much In the way of
removing the uncertainties of the learned ,
and It Is to bo deeply regretted that both
ot the English parties have failed In ac
complishing anything towards the attain
ment of their cherished hopes. However ,
the members of the British eclipse expedi
tion , on Sir O. Baden-Powell's yacht
Otarlo , made excellent and valuable ob
servations of the eclipse In Nova Zembla.
The corona and prominences were clearly
visible , and very satisfactory photographs
were taken. Nova Zembla was also occu
pied by expeditions representing the Rus
sian Academy of Science , and the Kascn
Society of Naturalists , Scientists from the
Pulkova. observatory occupied a station at
OrlofTskoe , on the Amur , but owing to the
state of the weather no observations could
bo made during the ecllpso. The sky was
overcast at the time , but during totality
several stars of the first magnitude were
distinctly visible through the telescope ,
The darkness was not complete. Six photo
graphs 'wcro taken Illustrating the differ
ent phases of 'the eclipse. A telegram from
Ilodo states that a photographer from
Fleusburg had taken eleven photographs of
the eclipse at Bredvlk on the Skjerskad
fjord , where the total ecllpso was elcarjy
seen.
seen.After
After all , tbo success of a few of the
eclipse expeditions has made tbo ecllpso of
1S96 cecape being an utter failure , The
phenomena attending a total ecllpso of the
aun lit beyond all that human eye can ever
Bee ; and Is the most solemn spectacle one
can pleturo to the Imagination , "The Im
pression Is singularly vivid and quieting
for days , " to quote the words of Prof ,
Todd , ' 'and can never be wholly lost. A
startling nearness to the gigantic forces of
nature and their Inconceivable operations
seem to have been established , Personal
ities , hates , jealousies , towns and cities , and
even mundane hopes , grow very small and
far away. "
Whatever the corona may bo , It Is one
the most striking and Imposing of all
the phenomena of the solar system , "It
, " aa iny father expressed It , "a fitting
crown of glory for that orb which swaya
the planets by Its attraction , warms them At
Its fires , Illuminates tt.em by the splen of
dor of Its light , and pours forth on all of ag
them the electric and chemtc Influences
which are as necessary as light and heat ofT
for the welfare of their Inhabitants. " T
MARY PROCTOH.
Aubrey Bouclcault. youngest son of the
late Dion Llourlcault. and an actor and f
comic opera singer , Is engaged to marry
Nellie Holbrook , only child of a latv wealthy
merchant of New York. They will be mar
ried In November and make their home In
England , where Mr. IJouclcault will devote
hliuuelf to literature ,
n \
) J
I
Council Bluffs Friday , Oct. 9 Beatrice Thursday - Oct. 15
North , Platte Monday , Oct. 12 St. Joseph Friday - Oct. 16
Hastings Tuesday - Oct. 13 Leavenworth Satur. , Oct. 17f
Lincoln Wednesday , Oct. 14 KitiiHiiH City , TniicUn , Kurt Scott , So *
ilnllit nnil Moliurly In fi > llou.
i
Col. Cody will positively take part in both
the afternoon and evening exhibitions at all
these points.
. AND .
BILL'S
WILD DIRS
WEST
Ail rxiict duplicate * , mini for mini mill linrxo for horio , of < he oxlillil-
tlonn Klvcn ill thr Columbian AVorlil'K ' . '
I'nlr nt ClilriiKo l ISII. ! , all Hiiiuiiter
til New York lit 1S1M , mill lltO of tin- principal cities of < li > Kant In 181)5. ) If
ORGANIZED ON THE -WITH- MOST LAVISH SCALE , l !
THAN ANY TWO EXHIBITIONS ,
And perfected In all the details that the c omblncd managerial experience and wealth
commanded by the trio of Trl umnhant Careered Caterers to
public Instruction and entertainment ,
* .
Assuring to the public the production of -s.
Aijiefica'sNatiooalEflteflainfiiGnt '
In a colossal manner , equaling If not sur
passing the magnificence of masslvo
magnitude at
Jfcrr York , I.omlon , I'arlN , Home ,
Vienna , llorllii , Ilrm
anil nt
The Columbian World's ' Fair ,
CHICAGO , f'
Where tbo multitudinous millions meted
equal honors to
The White and Tented Cities-
Sen ; UiiliirKdl mill Aunii'eiiteil.
THE ORIGINAL WILD KST
Absorbs Primitive rtnd Civilized
HorBcmanshlp.
READ THE ARRAY
Tlintali ( > iiN I'nriilHli mill IlncfH lire
I vIimiNtcil to Cnrnplvti ; . " * -
All kinds , all colors , all tongues , all nica t ;
fraternally mingling In the picturesque
racial camp. All born
Hereditary Princes of the Saddle
* 1OO l.VDIA.VVAUHIO1I.S. .
fa SSsi
Ogalalla , Brulo , Uncapappa , Sioux , Chey
enne and Arapahoe Tribes. ,
r > ( > American CIM | > O > M ,
; ) .tlcTli'iui VaiiuriiN | mill Kiirallen ,
: ! ( ) outli AiiivrliMin Caiiflino ,
5 ( ) AVcMlrrn KrontlorNineii )
men , n < e , ,
tin lloilnnlii ArnliM ,
X iid IliiNHlnii CiiHNiieUH of ( In * CiiiicnmiMr i.
I ) < -tacliincnt of I ) , ti. Cavalry , f VLi. !
Itoynl IrlNli-lCiinllNli I.nncerH ,
Ueriiiiui Kri'iich VL
ALL UNDER THB COMMAND OP
'
* > COL.W.F. CODY BUFFALO BILL
THE LAST OF THE BUFFALO
O.YIjV IllCltl ) OX n.VIIIllITION.
This enormous outfit Is transported In
Using Its own specially constructed rolling
stock , the largest traveling Commissary.
Dormitory and Kqucrry Accommodations ,
complete In every particular , and equaling
the requirements of the modern methods
of moving
'VwST-w
A fULLY EQUIPPED ARMY
IN' TIM 13 OI < ' IVAIt.
Carrying all the paraphernalia necessary to
Seating 20,000 Persons.
ASSUHIM ; P
Protection from Sun or Rain
So organized and arranged as to camp close
to the city lu an easily accessible location ,
On the II rat day of arrival there will b
given
AFREESTREFFWALGIiDE
At 10 a , m , , by detailed detachments from
each division ( Wild Horsca , Iluffalo , Cattle ,
etc. , being necessarily guarded In camp ) ,
"So that ho who runs may rcsd. " The
M march will bo enlivened by
m 3 MAGNIFIGEHT
BANDS OF
Ity tin ; KiinifilVorJiITrn veleul
kfl.d
night a Brilliant Eltctrlc Display by the Largest Portable Double Klectrlo Plant
250,000 candlepower yet coiiktruck'd for any similar purpOac. Two circuits eusur-
a perfectly reliable Illumination , making night a light aa day.
fwo Exhibitions Daily , Rain or Shine
AI'TIJHXOO.V AT J O'CLOCK. MUIIT AT H O'CLOCK.
loom Open One Hour Kiirllur. Miclit IIH Llitlit 1 > " > ' "ml KM Complete lu
Jlelall.
General Admission 50c. Children under 9 years 25c.
Numbered coupon , actually reserved , ccata will bo eold on the day cl exhibition at
iuhn. & co. ' Drue Store * IStU and Pouglai SttuU. Ulcyclcu checked. -
- r
