THE AURORA AUSTRALIS. 33 



nor conld we at any time perceive an odor, both of which have been 

 reported in connection with the northern lights. 



A phenomenon which displays its glories in skies so remote and 

 under conditions so mysterious cannot fail to excite popular interest. 

 This interest generally suggests the question, 'What is the aurora?' 

 This was the inquiry of ancient, as it is still the query of modern 

 students, and oui answer is the repetition of the old question, 'What is 

 it?' We are still far from a solution of the problem. We have, how- 

 ever, advanced far enough to put aside many old theories, and we hope 

 that we are now on the train of inquiries which will eventually solve 

 the mystery. 



The similarity of auroral light to that generated in a vacuum bulb 

 by the passage of electricity, it is now believed, lends support to the 

 proposition, suggested long ago, that the aurora is of electrical origin. 

 It was expected that that great mystery-solver, the spectroscope, would 

 help us in this matter, but it has only served to add further mystery to 

 the subject. For the line which it sifts from the aurora is not matched 

 by any other known substance. A similar line is found in the zodiac 

 light, but this does not elucidate the matter. The zodiac light, though 

 better studied, is still as mysterious as the aurora. When electricity 

 passes through rarefied air it exhibits a luminous stream which seems to 

 have the characteristics of the aurora, hence it is quite probable that 

 this natural phenomenon is the result of currents of electricity passing 

 through the upper regions of the atmosphere, particularly by an ex- 

 change of celestial and terrestrial electricity. 



The question is, however, one of the problems of the future. 

 Though many exploring expeditions have penetrated the icy polar 

 solitudes, very few men have given the time and patience necessary 

 for a systematic study of the aurora. No travelers should enter the 

 realms of the polar lights without being prepared to record, with the 

 accuracy required by science, the plays of this heavenly mystery. I 

 believe that, when men shall have penetrated a little farther south- 

 ward into the unexplored area about the south pole, the aurora australis 

 will be found just as brilliant, as varied and as frequent as the aurora 

 borealis. With our present marvelous strides in uncovering the accu- 

 mulating mysteries of past centuries, we ought, ere long, to look with 

 pride and understanding into the dark vault of the polar night and 

 read the flaming letters which must there reveal a thrilling tale of 

 Nature's most cherished secrets. 



VOL. MX.— 3 



