152 Aurora and Sunset. 
the State of Illinois, the radiations are described as being even 
more beautiful and splendid than in this part of the state. 
From two individuals in distant parts of Illinois, I have received 
particular notices of the brilliancy of this vision, as compared 
With our own, by those who have admired it in both states. On 
the evening of July 4th, 1839, the sunset was splendid here, and 
more so in Illinois. An engineer in the middle of the state says, 
“the radiations like those of July 4th were not uncommon, at 
least in the summer of 1838. I noticed the appearance many 
times, and called the attention of others to it. . Some facts are 
obvious. It never occurred before sunset, but from three to ten 
minutes after, and generally about five, and lasted from three to 
ten minutes—perhaps none of it ever remaining fifteen minutes 
after the sun had gone down. ‘The radiations differed in breadth 
when compared one with another, and each increased in width 
with the distance from the sun, being one, two, or three, and 
perhaps four apparent diameters of the sun in breadth at the 
lowest visible part of the horizon. The color is generally pale 
yellow or straw color. Sometimes three radiations lie nearly 
along the horizon, diverging but little from it, of a reddish or rose 
color, and the more central radiations violet or bluish, not very 
vivid, but well defined, for the background seems always wht 
tish. The central radiations sometimes extend nearly to the ze- 
nith, pale and diffused at the upper part, and generally from 30° 
or 40° to 60° long. Sometimes they occur on three successive 
days; when there has been little of storm for months; atmosphere 
very clear, and few clouds, and the sky too blue and brilliant to 
look at. The whole is beautiful. The sunsets are the most gor- 
geous that I ever beheld, and the hues upon the clouds are brilliant 
beyond description or comparison.” No reflection from waters 
can account for these splendid appearances of nature. 
