THE CLIMATOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES. 3 9 



gists have as a general rule refrained from considering 

 with the exception of some of the phenomena resulting 

 therefrom. We may consider that somewhere about the 

 years 1880, 1881 or 1882, we entered a cycle of astro- 

 nomical disturbance, and this fact has manifested itself in 

 the unusual terrestrial and atmospheric phenomena which 

 we have witnessed in this period. The climatic changes 

 occurring in various localities have been noticed and com- 

 mented upon, but no general explanation has been given 

 by the leading meteorologists to whom people look for in- 

 formation in such matters. Local changes have been at- 

 tributed to local causes, and peculiar phenomena like the 

 "Yellow Day" have been explained to the satisfaction of 

 many, but not in a way to comply with the conditions in 

 the case. The "Yellow Day" occurred in New England ill 

 September, 1881. I was at Marblehead Neck at the time 

 and had a fair opportunity of observing the phenomenon. 

 When I awoke on that morning I discovered the harbor 

 and the surrounding landscape bathed in a most peculiar 

 yellow light. This continued throughout the day. The 

 grass appeared blue and all colored objects had a strange 

 appearance and the atmosphere was very still and oppres- 

 sive. People were at first unable to give any explanation 

 or form a theory in regard to it. Men who went to their 

 business in Boston returned with accounts of the peculiar 

 aspect of the city where gas was used in many places 

 throughout the day. The papers gave descriptions of it, 

 but no adequate explanation. The superstitious believed 

 the end of the world was near at hand, and the members 

 of one religious sect prepared to ascend, and waited pa- 

 tiently all day. More practical people, particularly those 

 who had been in tropical regions, expected that an earth- 

 quake or a hurricane would follow, but nothing of the kind 

 took place ; and when the sun had set, the strange light 



