RED SKIES. 403 



from moisture. ^^ A fact is of no value in an argument unless it effects the evi- 

 dence. How nicely these two facts support the water rather than the dust theory. 

 Seen in " foggy England," but only seen when there was no fog in the air I When 

 it was clear atmosphere. Now they cannot have a clear atmosphere even in fog- 

 gy England without the presence of high-barometer. 



This redness may also be produced partly from artificial source. Let the 

 air of an evening be quite thick with moisture; like what it is when the " Low " 

 centre is off to a great distance; not thick enough for a fog but a shght presence 

 of suspended moisture. Let this be over a city or where there is considereable 

 light. The light shining on and through this mosture will produce the same 

 general effect of redness. 



The evening of June 12, 1884, in Washington we had a peculiar effect of 

 red sky, only a part of the sky, a space of about 30° was of this delicate pink 

 color, while the rest of the heavens was a delicate green. In the first place it is 

 very queer if this pink or redness is caused by dust that the dust should be so 

 peculiarly suspended in the air, and again that this dust should remain so many 

 months thus suspended. 



This peculiar line was evidently caused by the formation of the clouds below 

 the horizon. We cannot prove this but it is the only reasonable cause, and is 

 most reasonable. 



Again on the evening of June 28, 1884, ten months from the time of the 

 volcano at Java, we had in Washington, D. C, a most brilliant and magnificent 

 display ; the sky was clear, without a cloud ; no grander display have we had 

 than this. On all of these occasions the area of high-barometer has been over 

 us. In addition to all this another important fact must not be overlooked. 

 Even when it is quite cloudy, when "High" is upon or near us, this delicate 

 pinkness will occur whenever there is a piece of clear sky, between the heavy 

 cloud patches. This coloration is from the same cause as produces the extended 

 coloring with a general clef.r sky, wherever there is clear sky, whether in patches 

 or in mass, between clouds, or freedom of clouds, the effect is the same. When 

 in small patches the effect is local, when in mass it is general. When this effect 

 occurs, as to time, its strongest and best exhibition is when the Sun is some dis- 

 tance below the horizon ; it shines up and illumines underneath the vault of the 

 grand dome of the heavens above us. The further the Sun is down, until it has 

 passed beyond the limit, the higher up on this vault, or underside of dome, does 

 throw its light. This is conclusive proof in itself that it cannot be the dust from 

 afar ; from distant meteoric-dust. If it was from near dust, and if dust could 

 produce such an effect, the amount of dust that it would take to produce it would 

 be of such a quantity as to leave its mark upon the earth, a mark that would not 

 be overlooked or slighted. 



In opposition to all these facts and impossibilities those who advocate the 

 dust theory have only one point of importance, and that is they say that they 

 have gathered some of the dust and that on examination the particles agree in 

 formation with the particles from Java. 



