FOLTK DAYS' OBSERYATIONvS AT THE SUMMIT OF MOKT 



BLANC.i 



By M. J. Janssen. 



On Friday, the 22(1 of August, iu the year 181)0, about noon, a sleigh 

 driven, or rather hoisted, by twelve men of extraordinary vigor and 

 resolution, attained the summit of Mout Blanc. 



It was the first time an ascent had been accomplished in this novel 

 style and that a traveler had reached the very top of the renowned 

 pile hardly having set foot to the ground. 



The journey had called for heroic efforts. Slopes of extreme steep- 

 ness had been climbed, broad crevasses had been crossed or turned, 

 ridges like knife edges, with abysses on eitlier hand, had been followed. 

 But triumph had crowned their efforts; and, the feat accomplished, 

 there had been an ex])losion of enthusiasm — congratulations, and even 

 kisses. 



The traveler, having paid his debt of praise and thanks to his com- 

 panions, glanced at the scene unrolled before his eyes and seemed rav- 

 ished with a sort of ecstacy. 



The weather was splendid, and the celestial vault appeared of a dark 

 and somewhat violet blue; but quite unexpectedly, however rationally, 

 that vault seemed contiuued below the horizon, as if the heaven had 

 wished to draw its strings and inclose the observer in an azure sphere. 



The plains, the cities, the valleys, and all the fields which were spread 

 out within the immense circle of that horizon looked as if they were 

 sunk to the bottom of an ocean of heavenly blue. It Avas as if the 

 kingdom of the mermen were revealed at the bottom of the ocean. 



However, from the bottom of that ocean rose here and there huge 

 reefs, whose tops of dazzling whiteness emerged from the surface and 

 rose towai d the horizon. These were the mountain chains at the center 

 of which Mont Blanc presides. 



The traveler did not permit himself to be completely absorbed by that 

 memorable picture. He directed his attention to the conditions ottered 

 by this station for astronomical and physical observations, and after 

 this scrutiny and rapidly taken notes were comj)leted he gave the sig- 

 nal of retreat and the band descended. 



1 Translated from Annuaire du Bureau des Longitudes, Paris, 1894. Read in tlie 

 annual public nieetinu,- of the iive academics, Octdier 13, 1893, by Dr. Janssen, mem- 

 ber of the institute, delegate of the Academy of Sciences. 



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