144 SCIENCE IN" SHOET CHAPTERS. 



confirmed " is a message so important that if the expeditions 

 had done no more than this, all their cost in money and scien- 

 tific labor would be amply repaid in the estimation of those 

 Mho understand the value of pure truth. 



A few more fragments of intelligence respecting the Eclipse 

 Expedition have reached us, the last Indian mail having started 

 just after the eclipse occurred. They fully confirm the first 

 telegraphic announcement, rather strengthening than otherwise 

 the expectations of important results, especially in reference to 

 the photographs of the corona. 



I have read in the Ceylon newspapers some full descriptions 

 by amateur observers, in which the general magnificence of the 

 phenomena is described. From these it is evident that the 

 corona must have been displayed in its full grandeur ; but as 

 the writers do not attempt to describe those features which 

 have at the present moment a special scientific interest, I shall 

 not dwell upon them, but await the publication of the official 

 report of the chief, and of the more important collateral 

 observing expeditions. 



The unsophisticated reader may say, "Are not one man's 

 eyes as good as another's, and why should the observations of 

 the learned men of the expeditions be so much better than 

 those of any other clear-sighted persons ?" This is a perfectly 

 fair question, and admits of a ready answer. All that can be 

 known by mere unprepared naked eye observation is tolerably 

 well known already ; the questions which await solution can 

 only be answered by putting the sun to torture by means of 

 instruments specially devised for that purpose ; and by a skil- 

 ful organization, and division of labor among the observers. 



There is so much to be seen during the few seconds of total 

 obscuration that no one human being, however well trained in 

 the art of observing, could possibly see all. Therefore it is 

 necessary to prearrange each observer's part, to have careful 

 rehearsals of what is to be done by each during the precious 

 seconds ; and each man must exercise a vast amount of self- 

 control in order to confine his attention to his own particular 

 bit of observation, while he is surrounded with such marvellous 

 phenomena as a total eclipse presents. 



The grandeur of the gloomy landscape, the sudden starting 

 out of the greater stars, the seeming falling of the vault of 

 heaven, the silence of the animal world, the closing of the 

 flowers, and all that the ordinary observer would regard with 

 so much awe and wondering delight, must be sacrificed by the 



