l)cmc0, Mem Bl0omftefo, 3a. Tho Dark Day In New England, in 1780. BT O. TAVAYLOR. ON tho 10th of May, 1780, the inhabi tants of New England and adjacent parts were the trembling witnesses of a phenomenon never seen before or since, and which to this day romatnsunexplalned. The year was celebrated for Its numerous auroral exhibitions in this latitude They covered ' the midnight heavens with cor ruscations of red and silver, and streamed out lightning, seeming, says one writer, fairly to flash warmth in the face. The winter preceding was marked with extra ordinary severity. Snow lay on the ground from the middle of November to the mid dle of April. In December and January a storm continued seven successive days, and the snow fell to a depth of four feet on a level in this single storm and . with drifts eight and ten feet high. Bheep were bur ied in the drifts for many days, and even men and animals porished with the cold. Long Island Sound was crossed by heavy artillery on the ice. Narragansett Bay froze over so hard that men travorsodthe ice from Providonc.3 to Newport in skating parties, and from Fall River to Newport loads of wood were conveyed on the ice through Bristle ferry. ' Previous to the 19lh a vapor filled the air for several days. There was a smell of sulphur. The morning of the 19th was overcast with some clouds, and rain fell over the country, with lightning and thun der. Scarcely any motion was in the air, what wind there was came from tho south west. By nine o 'clock in the forenoon, with out previous warning, the darkness stolo gradually on, with a luminous appearance near tho horizon, as if the obscuring clouds had dropped down from over-head. There was a yellowness of the atmosphere that mado clear silver assume a green hue. Then a dense, undennablo vapor settled rapidly and without aorial movement over all the land and ocean from Pennsylvania to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the dark ness it caused sinking by degrees until tho sun light was effectually shut out. Ordinary cloud it was not. The rapidity with which bo large an extent of country was envelop ed precludes the possibility of supposing this to have been a natural cloud moving laterally. Besides this, the day was too calm to imagine such a thing. Down came the darkness thicker. By ten o'clock the air was loaded with a thick gloom. The heavens were tinged with a yellowish or faint red; the lurid .look increased; few, if any, ordinary clouds were visible. The sun, in disappearing, took a brassy hue. The lurid brars color, spread everywhere, above and below. The grass assumed the color of the sky, 'and all out doors work a sickly, weird and melancholy aspect, a dusky appearance as if seen 1 through a Smoked-glass. By eleven o'clock it was as dark as night itself, and from this until three in the afternoon the darkness was extraordinary and frightful. ' The extent of the darkness was greater than is related of any other similar phe nomenon on record, not excepting the cel ebrated dark days over Egypt and Judea. It reached south to the northern half of Pennsylvania, and from thence along the coast northeast to the wilds of Maine, cast ward to the Qulf of St. Lawrence, and out at sea 120 miles east of Boston, and un doubtedly much farther; west to the val leys of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River, and north into undefined regions in Canada. Portland, Boston, Hartfod,New York, West Point and Albany were affect ed by it. But the degress of darkness diff ered in different places, the deepest night over New England. A tract of land and sea 800 hundred miles in length and 400 miles in breadth, embracing an area of 820,000 square miles, was known to be clouded, and so far as can be ascertained, a popula tion of 700,000 souls sat for a portion of the day and night in a gloom more or less pro found and inexplicable. : Just bow dark the day was is attested by indisputable evidence.. The hour and minute could not be discovered on the face Of the clock or watch by persons, of unim paired eyesight. Candles became ne cessity both inside and out side of doors, and it was impossible to transact ordinary business without them. Fire on the bearth-stoue shone as brightly as on moonless November even! og, and all dinner tables were set with lighted candles upon them as if it were the evening repast. The keenest eyes in doors could not see to read the common p -int. So far beyond any or dinary fog was the effect that stages on the rood either put up at the nearest hotel dur ing the mid da hours, or carried candles or lanterns to enable the perplexed driver to well see his way. And the brute and feathered" creation seemed puzzled and agitated. The bird ceased to fly, and hid themselves in the branches of the trees. As the darkness incieased they sang their evening songs as they do at twilight, and then became silent. ' Pigeons on the wing took shelter of the forest as they do at night. The whip-poor-' will, as if it were truly night, cheerfully sang his song through the gloomy hours. 'Woodcocks, which are night birds, whis tled as they only do in the night time. Bats came out of their hiding places and flew about. Tho fowls marched solemnly to their roosts as they' .do only at nightfall, and, after cackling for a while over the mystery of so short a day, became still. Cocks crowed as is their custom at nightly Intervals and the early breaking of day. Frogs piped their evening concert, and dogs whined or howled and ran away as on the approach of an earthquake. The herds of cattle on New England's thou sands hills, sought the shelter of the 6hed or barnyard.lowing as they came to .the gate, and sheep huddled around, the i pircle with their heads inward the Invariable token of apprehended danger. On tho human family the effect was still more curious and terrifying. The mechan ic left his tools in his shop, the farmer bis plow in the furrow, and each moved in silent and marveling mood toward the barn or dwelling. On the home threshold they were met by a pale and anxious woman, who tremblingly Inquired, " What is com ing?"' The alarmed traveller, seeking the sympathy of his follow man as one im pressed with a sence of impending peril, put up at the nearest house, and mingled his anxious questions and forebodings with those of the family. Strong men met and spoke with surprise on their countenances and little children peered timidly into the deepening gloom, and then sought the sheltering parental arms. Schools broke up in affright, and tho wondering pupils scampered homeward wuh many expres sions of childish fear. The inevitable candle shone out cf the windows of all dwellings eveiy countenance gathered blackness a'l hearts were filled with fear of no. approaching, unparalleled storm, or the occurrence of a teiTesti ial convulsion; but it was not the blackness of the storm-cloud, such as sometimes, with frightful agitation, breaks over a single city; it was the silent spreading of tho pall-cloth over the eaith by strong invisible hands. Many anecdotes of terror are re'ated. In Boston, from the hours of 11 or 1 till 8 o'clock, business was generally suspended and shops were closed. At Groton, a court was in session in a meeting-hou'-e full of large w indows, as was the old style of worship; at but half- past elevon all faces began to wear a sombre hue, whoreupon magistrate and people began to follow suit wi;U New England, and called for lighted candles. Connecticut wont totally under tho cloud. The jour nal of her Ilouse of Representatives puts on re -oid the fact thai "None could see to read or wiite in the house, or even at a window, or distinguish a pe.son at a short distance, or perceive any distinction of drees,'' &c, in the circles, of attendants, Therefore, at eleven o'clock, adjourned the Ilouse till two o'clock, in the afternoon.!' Amid the deepening gloom that rapped about the city, darkened tho rooms of the State Bouse, and set the lawgivers tremb ling with the apprehension that the day of judgement was at hand, when tho motion for adjournment was made. Colonel Abra ham Davenport, afterwards Judge of Stam ford, Conn., and State Councilor in the Legislative Chamber at Hartford, said; am against tho adjourmont. Either tho Day of Judgemen is at hand or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for ' adjourn ment. If it is, I want to be found in the line of my (duly. I wish candles to be brought.", ' i .i ' The darkness of the day having been succeeded an hour or two before evening by a partially clear sky, and the shining of Uie sun, still obscured by the black and vapory mist this interval was followed by a retjra of the obscuration with great den sity, that rendered the first part of the night hideously dark beyond all former ex perience of probably a million of people who saw it. A Horse with one Fault. A lawyer bought a horse from a traveling dealer, and after the sale had been effected the purchaser asked if tho animal bad any faults. " As I own the horse now, it will not affect your Interest if you state the truth,' continued the lawyer. " You've given me a fair price,"" said the seller, " and I don't mind tolling you that he has ono bad fuult. Ho wont entor the inn-yard at Hicksville." "Oh, that's no fault at all," said the lawyer, " it isn't likely that my business' will ever bring me to that town." ' A month afterward the lawyer chanced to be passing through Hicksville. "Now," said he, as the inn came in sight, "I'll see if that follow told the truth about the horse." He headed the auimal for the yard, and urged him onward. The horse, instead of resisting, hurried forward willingly, and whinnied cheerfully as the owner of the hotel stepped from the stoop and stroked his mane. "Hollo!" exclaimed the inn-keeper " here's my horse Billy back again. Where did you find bim?" " Find htm I" ejaculated the lawyer, " I bought him. The man of whom I pur chased him told me that he could not bo forced to enter this yard." "You've been sold stranger," said the inn-keeper. " That horse was stolen from me four weeks ago, and the thief told you that yarn to prevent you from traveling with the horse in this neighborhood. The lawyer used every argument to re tain possetsiou, but without avail. He had to give up the horse. Table , Manners of 'our Ancestors. O UR Saxon ancestors had some rude are in striking contrast with modern refine ment. To begin with, they had no table, but, Instead of one, ft board ;(ftor4), which was brought for tho occasion from some place of storage, laid on trestles, and when the meal was ended, carefully put away again. This was called laying the board, to which our Bimilar expr essioa owes its origin; and from the game sorucecomct our word boarder" one who sits at tho board to eat. The guests and family Jwere, ummoned by a horn, and after they were seated, the cloth was spread; about this they were ex tremely particular, but of what kind of fabric they were made does not so clearly appear. : It certainly was not linen,' for that was not introduced into England for such use rntil the reign of Elizabeth. For a long time carpets and'pieoes of tapestry did service for coverings for tables. The use of the carpet for tho floor does not seem to have occurred to those easily satisfied individuals, who were' willing to sleep on a straw mat, with a log under their heads, or at best, with a sack filled with chaff or straw for a bolster. Floors were strewn with rushes, occasionly ro- newod as the accumulations of rubbish mode it necessary. Amng the items at the time of crowning of Isabella, Queen of John, thero is a chargo of thirty-three shillings for strewing Westminister Hall with herbs and rushes. It is a custom which Shakespeare refors to in " Taming a Shrew" " Where's the cook ? Is tho sup per ready tho house trimmed, rushes, strewed, cobwebs swept?" and in other plays. Those were the days in which they had oiled paper or thinly shaved piecos of horn in what they called wi.ulows, or the open ings were filled with strips of wickor, in terlaced in chock work; when scarcoly a church could boast of a pane of crystal, and when a nobleman, who had ih'n layers of beryl in bis castle windows, was looked upon as very luxurious in his tastes. After the cloth was arranged - the salt cellar was set on, then the knives (if they were so fortunate as to possess any) were placed, tho spoons, the drinking-horns, and trenchers. : ' , The salt-cellar was the most important article of all; very large, and made with a cover. And it is this peculiarity which Shakespeare alludes to, ' where he makes Launce say: "The cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more than the salt." Where the host could cfi'ord it, it was of solid silver, elaborately chased; often a very subtantial piece of ' plate, as costly as his means would. allow, i And this accounts for the greed with ' which Queen Elizabeth once seized upon ono, on occasion of visiting a certain great official; she had already received valuable gifts from him, and before her departure she "took a salt, a spoon, and a fo-k of a fair gate." Tho salt-collar1 occupied t be placo of honor on the table, and the most distin guished persons sat above it. To sit "below the salt," meant to bo in the position of an inferior. '' Tho meats were brought In on spits just as they were cooked, and in that way pass ed around by the servants to tho guests, who, in the more barbarous; times, tore off a portion as best they' could. Afterwards when they bad advanced a litllo in their ideas, thero was a carver, who held the meat with one hand while he carved with the other ;and the guests helped themselves, using their hands, and after they had de voured what they wished, threw the bones to the dogs and cats that waited under the tablo and scramblod for thoir share among tho rushes. Naturally enough, every ono was expected to wash his hands bo fore coming to tho "board," and certainly it was needful afterward. A few bad knives shaped like a razor, but forks were uoknown. Evon the great Elizabeth ate with her fingers. In her reign, however, commerce was extended, and luxuries began to appear; porcelain and glasses Instead of pewter mugs to drink from, and in her bath-room she bad nili-- rors,and this was considered a great extrav agance. lier immense aim jolty rooms wero meagre and cheerless enough with thoir scant fuioishlngs, and her table, in spite of many pieces of the plate, was not altogether removed from the rudeness of manners of the early Saxons. At first, two persons ate from one "trenche-," as it was called. There were no plates, and these trenchers were made to answer the pur pose. They were, in faot, large slices of bread placed before each one, (or two), to accommodate the (meat. There were two qualities of bread; one fine, to be eaten; the other of llio coarse inferior flower, was mado Into large loaves, then the outer crust was removed and laid Inside for the poor, and the rest cut into very thick and very substantial slices, and thus used in stead of plates. In the course of time some ingenious person conceived the happy idea of having real plates; the wealthy fur nibbed themselves with valuablo ones of silver, and eventually the oommon people were provided with such as their circum stances admitted, made of wood or pewter, and finally earthenware came into use. , But in those days they were well content- wlth the primitive arrangement of the trenchers. The bread thus used soaked up the gravy, and became quite savory In oon sequence; and, when the meal was ended each one ate the plate if ho chose; other wise it was put into the alms-basket, which was. s-ays kept ready, and Into which all the leavings were gathered, and sent out to the poor waiting at the gate the poor were never forgotton in those old Saxon households. '.' 't j ' ' A Man of one Idea. IT has been our fortune, more than once, to encounter men whose minds seem ed so thoroughly permeated and pervaded by one idea, that, whatover topio might be broached in conversation, they would be strong in their pet notion. We recollect a farmer who may serve as an illustration, nis hobby, shange as it may seem, was comprised in the plebeian word "sausage." Of these he used annually to manufacture a large quantity, and with an absence of false shame worthy of all commendation, so far from keeping out of sight the stuff which had aided him to competence, he was somewhat too forward in obtruding it on bis acquaintances. f Good morning, Mr. Jones," , said we, on one occasion. " Fine weather we are having just now." . . , "Yes," said he earnestly, . " capital weather we are naving ; lor making saus ages. If things turn out well, I shall have a hundred pounds to carry to market. You wouldn't like a few, would you ? . . We nastened to inform mm that our lardor was fully supplied, and not feeling particularly interested in the turn he had given the subject, endeavored to broach another topic. " Tho Allios find it a difficult matter to take Sobastopol, Mr. Jones. I suppose you have read tho latest accounts from the seat of war?" "No." . " The Russians have gained a decided victory. It is thought, however, there is a possibilty of the supplies being cut off, so that the garrison will be compelled, by fear of starvation, to capitulate." " You don't say so !" returned Mr. Jones, I wonder he continued, after a pause, his eyes lighting up with a new and ; brilliant idea, " I wonder whether it wouldn't be good speculation to send a cargo of saus ages to Sobastopol ? There ain't nothing more wholesome, and if they are in danger of being starved out they'd be likely to pay pretty well." . . , , We ventured to suggest that , the allied squadrons would be a trifling obstacle in the way of this otherwise feasible plan. The . next time we met Mr. Jones, was alter tue aeatu ot jus wile, 'more was sorrow in his eye, and black crape on his bat. Our sympathies were touched., " Mr Jones," said we, " we have heard of your misfortune It is indeed a heavy cross to bear, but you must summon up all your fortitude." ,..' You don't know," said he, grasping our hand, "how much. You never can know. Such a treasuio as she was." said he, concealing his face in the folds of his red bandanna. "I shall never get anybody that can make tautaget like her never!" Mr. Jones seemed , pvei powered by his grief , and walked sadly away. We felt that we could offer no adequate consolation to one whose sorrow proceeds from such cause, and did not attempt it. . . .,., , , A Scared Clergyman. . They have a clergyman in Clevelard who has introduced a very effective method of rousing' tho members of his congregation who sleep during sermon time. Ho takes up into the pulpit a package of large tor pedoes, and when he perceives one of the deacons nodding, he takes aim at the dea con's bald head, and in a minute the slum bering saint wakes up with a jump from a dream 'about - the battlo of Gettysburg, This was all well enough for a while. But one of tho deaoons whoso scalp had been successfully bombarded for four consecu tive Sundays, determined to organize re sistance. So be went out and bought lot of largo torpedoes, and before church he slipped up into the pulpit and placed a torpedo undor eooh leg of the ministers arm chair. Presently the pastor entered, Tho church was full. He stood a moment and beamed upon the congregation through his spectacles, and then sat down to select a hymn. He sat down hard with a jerk Thore was an explosion a ' tearing out as it were beneath the chair, and a venerable divine might have been seen coming sud deuly down the pulpit stairs with his hair standing on end. The deacon says that if this does not cure him, be will fire back at the olorgyman with a mountain-howitzer located in (he gallery. C3TA traveling Yankee lately put up at a country inn, where a number of louug ers wore assembled telling stories. After sitting some time and attentively listening to their folly, he suddenly turned and ask ed them how much they supposed he bad been offered for bis dog which he bad with him, i They all stared, and curiosity was on tip-toe to know. One guessed five dollars, another ten, another fifteen, until they all exhausted their patience, when one seri ously asked bow much be had been effer ed. " Not a darned cent V ke replied. ST. ELMO HOTEL, (FORMERLY THE UNION,") JOS. M. FEWER, ' . . Proprietory & 810 ARCn STREET, PHILADELPHIA. 817 Terms, $2.50 Per Day'. THE ST. ELMO Is centrally located and has been re fitted and refurnished, ao that I twill lie found as comfortable and pleasant a stopping piocv us tuerv 19 111 1 uuaueipinii. o & Farmers Take Notice. rjIIE subscriber oilers for Sale THRESHING MACHINES. JACKS and HORSE- rUWEH, With Tumbling Shaft, and Side-Gearing, Warrant ed to give satisfaction In siedy and perfect threshing, light draft and durability, on reasona ble terms. Also PL O TJ GHS Of Superior Make. , CORN SHELLE11S, KETTLES, STOVES, scoops and all castings, made at a country Foundry. Also, A GOOD MILL SCREW, In excellent order, for sale at a low rate. I refer those wishing to buv to John Adams. Samuel Shumati, John Boden, Ross Hench, at Ickesburg. Jacob Shoemaker & Son, Klllotts burg i Thomas Morrow, Loysvllles John Fllcklng- er, Jacob Fllcklnger, Centre. SAMUEL LIGGETT. Ickesburg, May 14. 1872. New Millinery Goods At Newport, I'll. I BEG to Inform the public that I have Just re turned from Philadelphia, with a full assort ment of the latest styles of MILLINERY GOODS, " HATS AND BONNETS, KIBBONB, FRENCH FLOWERS FEATHERS, , CHIGNONS, LACE CAFES. NOTIONS, And all articles usually found In a first-class Milt linery Establishment. All orders promptly at tended to. 4nrWe will sell all goods as Cheap as can be got elsewhere. DRESS-MAKING done to order and In the la- test style, as I get the latest Fashions from New York every month. Goilering done to order, In. all widths. I will warrant all my work to give sat isfaction. All work done as low as possible. ANNIE ICKE8, Cherry Street, near the Station, 51613 ' ' Newport, Pa. CARLISLE CARRIAGE FACTORY. A. B. SIIERK has a large lot of second-hand work on hand, which he will sell cheap in order w inane room lor new worn, ... FOR THE SPRING TRADE. He has. also, the best lot of NEW WORK 0N HAND. You can always see different styles. Tho material is not in question any more. lor it is uie Dest used. If you want satisfaction in style, quality and price, go to this shop before purchasing elsewhere, there Is no II mi that has a better Trade, or sella mure In Cumberland aud Perry counties. REPAIRING 'AND PAINTING promptly attended to. Factory Corner of South aim i lit o Streets, 3 dp CARLISLE, PA. PEItBY COUNTY Ileal Estate. Insurance, ' ADD CLAIM AGENCY. LEWIS POTTES & CO., Real Estate Brokers, Insurance, A Ctaim Agent ( New Hloomilell, I a. WE INVITE the attention of buyers and sell ers to the advantages we offer them In pur chasing or disposing ol real estate through our of fice. We have a very large list of desirab property, consisting of farms, town property, mills, store and tavern stands, and real estate of any descrip tion which we are prepared to otter at great bar- fialns. We advertise our property very extenslve y. aud use all our efforts, skill, and dllllgence to effect a sale. We make no charges unless the- Sroperty Is sold while registered with us. We also raw up deeds, bonds, mortgages, andall legal pa pers at moderate rates. - Some of the liest, cheapest, and most reliable fire, life, and cattle insurance companies in the United States are represented at tills agency. Proierty Insured either on the oash or mutual plan, and peretually at 14 and 15 per thousand. reunions, bounties, and all kinds of war claims collected. There are thousands of soldiers and heirs of soldiers who are entitled to pensions and bounty, who have never made application. Sol diers, it you were wounded, ruptured, oroontraet ed a disease in the service from which you are dis abled, you are entitled to a pension. When widows of soldiers die or marry, the mtnon children are entitled to the pension. Parties having any business to transaet In oun line, are respectfully invited toftlve us a call, as we are confident we can render satisfaction In any branch of our business. - No charge for Information. 4201y LEWIS POTTER A CO. JOBINBON HOUSE, ' (Formerly kept by Woodruff and Turbett,) New Bloomfleld, Ftrry County, Pa. AMOS ROBINSON, Proprietor. Thts well known 'and pleasantly located hotel, has been leased for a number of years by the pres ent proprietor, and he will spare no pains to accom modate his euests. The rooms are comfortable, the table well furnished with the best In the mar ket, and the bar slocked with choice liquors. At careful and attentive hostler will be In attendance. A good livery stable will be kept by the proprietor April 8, 1871. tf . , Writing- JFiiiicl! rpHIB FLUID Is warranted EQUAL to Ahwolo's L and is sold at much less price. The money will be refunded to those buying It, if It doe no, prove entirely satisfactory. For sale by F. Mortimer, New Bloomtleld. MILLMR A ELDER. BoleAgeuts, ' ..' 438 ISarket Street. tatSU FiUadelph'ai. '
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