138 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



Bright and early that morning the elements of nature which 

 envelop our own planet w^ere earlj' astir, as though jealous of the 

 spectacular phenomenon which the other planetar)^ bodies were 

 about to give us. 



And for one short half hour it seemed to outdo all that sun 

 and moon in conjunction could possibl}' bring to scientific ob- 

 servers. The vast expanse of the heavens seemed too restrained 

 to contain the mountains of clouds. Nimbus, Cumulus and 

 Stratus rushed forth in their angry mood and seemed to link arms 

 till the heavens fairl}^ groaned beneath their weight. Then thun- 

 der and lightning, as though jealous, came to demand their 

 supremacy in this great drama. 



Suddenly, as a flash of lightning" alone can do, the electric 

 fluid passes from east to, west, thundering its presence from cloud 

 to cloud, and the great canopy of the heavens fairlj^ trembles with 

 its explosions. Never could the scene be more dramatic ; it was 

 almost tragical. 



The stage upon which this great drama was performed had the 

 heavens for its dome and the earth for its footstool, while the 

 actors, more skilled than human genius, were the elements of na- 

 ture. So realistic were they that fire and brimstone fell within a 

 few miles of us and burned before our eyes a large building 

 across Hamilton Bay. 



I shall never forget this great prelude to our eclipse, which in 

 itself was one of a lifetime. Now deep darkness, then sudden 

 flashlights, with peals of thunder, then a conflagration reflecting 

 upon the placid waters of Canada's most beautiful bay ; all while 

 you were waiting for the eclipse. 



