280 Aurora Borea lis of November lA, 1837. 



the compass, shot up rays of rich and gorgeous light, spreading 

 and interminghng with a wavy tremulous motion, and exhibiting 

 every hue which the rain-bow can boast. The richness, variety, 

 and delicacy of the colors, were surprisingly beautiful, as was their 

 prismatic brilliancy. 



"The sky itself was remarkably clear and cloudless — and 

 through the celestial phenomena, a full moon and innmnerable 

 stars were, all the while, distinctly visible. We never had the 

 satisfaction of witnessing a display so truly grand and magnificent, 

 and only regret our inability of conveying even a faint idea of 

 the sublime wonder, and beauty of the scene." 



Other persons seem to have observed a greater variety of col' 

 07's than were visible to us. Red, orange and golden yellow, 

 with sometimes a shade of pale green, doubtless an optical illu- 

 sion, as being the color complementary to the first, were all that 

 were remarked in New York. 



Professor L. Obermeyer, of Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmitts- 

 burg, Md., writes to Professor Olmsted, under date, Nov. 18, as 

 follows : " On the evening of the 14th inst., a brilliant display of 

 an Aurora Borealis was witnessed. The first indication of its ap- 

 proach was given as soon as it became dark, by the singular red- 

 ness of the cumulo-stratus clouds, now entirely covering the sky. 

 Those in the north, south, east and west, all partook of the red- 

 ness ; and the reflection from them was strong enough to give a 

 red tinge to the snow, still several inches deep. The heaviest 

 clouds retained their dark color in the centre, but they were bor- 

 dered with red. During the hour in which this state of things 

 existed, there were no streamers, streaks of light, nor merry dan- 

 cers. Indeed, where the sky could be seen between the clouds, 

 there were no signs of an Aurora, but rather a deep, green sky. 

 By seven, the moon being risen, and the clouds having vanished, 

 nothing remained to show that there had been any unusual oc- 

 currence. A little after nine, however, the sky being perfectly 

 clear, an Aurora suddenly sprung up, which, for magnificence has 

 seldom been equalled in this latitude. The streamers from the 

 east, west and north, converged a few degrees south of the ze- 

 nith, forming a beautiful auroral crown, red as scarlet, but inter- 

 mingled with streaks of pale light. There were no merry dan- 

 cers. All the other appearances usually witnessed on such occa- 

 sions were noticed. In little more than half an hour, the grand 



