THE EARTH TO BE LAPPED UP BY FIRE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 49, 28 February 1870, Page 2

THE EARTH TO BE LAPPED UP BY FIRE.

o The sun's atmosphere, say the scientific men, is in a highly excited condition. A column of magnetic light is shooting out further and further from the solar sphere, and it is now stretching over forty-five millions of miles. In other words, it has accomplished half the distance between us and the sun ! The interesting question, and one on which, perhaps, we do not wish any more light of this character is : — How long will it be before it finishes the rest of the distance, and bridges the gigantic chasm between the earth andthesun! Is it a messenger sent out to snatch us up for the insatiate monster that keeps himself warm by devouring planets, and whose fire-eating propensities this whole earth would satisfy for a few days only ? If so, how long will this emissary be in reaching us, and carrying tbe globe away as if we were a gigantic lump of. coal for a roaring furnace? The column of light at intervals indicates its approach by flashing and corruscating with fresh brilliancy. So decided are its effects that two astronomers, one at London, the other at Oxford, and neither knowing the experience of the other, supposed that the dark glass of their telescopes had been broken or put out of range, so strong was the flash of golden light upon the vision. It is predicated that before the end of next year this magnetic light would have got near enough to us to

snake its immediate and actual influence upon the earth distinctly felt. It is announced that in consequence we may expect to see phenomena that have never been seen or known before by the human race. If any of our readers, therefore, are yet disposed to complain of the weather and the earthquakes, let them remember that, by this time next year, they may have an entire new line of experiences to explain and endure, in comparison with which the fitful winter and rough, rude autumn of to-day may seem like a June morning in paradise, and the earthquake's shock and lightning's storm, a placid rocking in the cradle with a pleasant lullaby ■of thunder. — Scientific Journal,

A sort of mid-day paper — a compromise between a morning and evening issue, called the Afternoon Telegram, —is now published in Sydney. The American young L ady.— : A writer in the Daily News who professes to have an intimate knowledge of American manners and people gives the following charming account of the American Girl of the period; — From the age of ten till the day of her marriage she indulges in one long flirtation, although the object of it frequently changes. She neither reads, nor works, nor walks; her whole life is passed in flirting, dressing, driving, and dancing. Her life at a watering place is, I should imagine, somewhat a monotonous one, although she seems thoroughly to enjoy it. She gets up at about ten o'clock, and after a breakfast which would give a London drayman an indigestion, she flirts on a verandah until two o'clock, then she dresses, at three she dines, after dinner she goes out driving with some favored swain; when she returns she dresses again for tea, and from eight to twelve o'clock ■she dances. To all intents and purposes -she is without a chaperone, but she is well able to take care of herself. Occasionally, but rarely, she marries for love, but as a general rule, she knows to a dollar what •every admirer has, and aspires to a house in Fifth Avenue, a carriage, and to be -arrayed in silks and fine linen. 'I had an offer from a man with 20,000 dollars a year and a growing business,' said an ■ethereal being of sixteen to me, 'but I shall fill out more iu a year or two, when I think I can do better."