268 Aurora Borealis of November 14, 1837. 
observers more favorably situated, were here in a great degree 
concealed. The veil of snow clouds, which, at sunset, and for 
some time afterward, covered the sky, was nevertheless exceed- 
ingly thin; and it was through this, and even through the falling 
snow itself, that the first visible indications of the presence of an. 
aurora were discovered. It is impossible to state the exact time 
at which the action commenced. There is no doubt that it had 
been going on for a while, before the intensity of the light be- 
came sufficient to penetrate the screen. The first evidence of its 
existence consisted in a strong rosy illumination of the entire arch 
of the heavens. In a communication prepared by Professor Olm- 
sted, at the time, for the New Haven Herald, this appearance is 
described as follows :— 
“The snow of yesterday, which at sunset had covered the 
earth and all things near it, with a mantle of the purest white, 
closed, early in the evening, with a most curious and beautiful 
pageant. About six o’clock, while the sky was yet thick with 
falling snow, all things suddenly appeared as if dyed im blood. 
The entire atmosphere, the surface of the earth, the trees, the 
tops of the houses, and, in short, the whole face of nature, were 
tinged with the same scarlet hue. The alarm of fire was given, 
and our vigilant firemen were seen parading the streets in their 
ghostly uniform, which, assuming the general tint, seemed in eX- 
cellent keeping with the phenomenon. 
“’'The light was most-intense in the northwest and northeast. 
At short intervals it alternately increased and diminished in 
brightness, until, at half past six, only a slight tinge of red re- 
mained on the sky. It is presumed that places favored with a 
clear sky, enjoyed a splendid exhibition of the Aurora Borealis, the 
light of which was transmitted to us through the snowy medium 
and a thin veil of clouds, and was thus diffused like the light of 
an astral lamp, covered with a red shade of ground glass. ; 
the stratum of clouds was very thin, was inferred from the fact, 
that before half past six, a few stars were discernible as when 
seen through a fog; and such was the appearance of the moon 
which rose about the same time.” 
‘The memoranda of Mr. E. C. Herrick, recorded at the time, 
correspond very nearly with the account given by Prof. Olm- 
sted. Mr. Herrick says: “The sky was overcast and snow was 
falling in small quantities, when about twelve minutes before six 
