That through lenses rimmed with horizons inhabitants of this earth have
seen revelations of other worlds—that atmospheric strata of different
densities are lenses—but that the faults of the wide glasses in the
observatories are so intensified in atmospheric revelations that all our
data are distortions. Our acceptance is that every mirage has a primary;
that in human mind all poetry is based upon observation, and that
imagery in the sky is similarly uncreative. If a mirage can not be
traced to the known upon this earth, one supposes that it is either a
derivation from the unknown upon this earth, or from the unknown
somewhere else. We shall have data of a series of mirages in Sweden, or
upon the shores of the Baltic, from Oct., 1881, to Dec., 1888. I take
most of the data from _Nature_, _Knowledge_, _Cosmos_, and
_L’Astronomie_, published in this period. I have no data of such
appearances in this region either before or after this period: the
suggestion in my own mind is that they were not mirages from terrestrial
primaries, or they would not be so confined to one period, but were
shadows or mirages from something that was in temporary suspension over
the Baltic and Sweden, all details distorted and reported in terms of
familiar terrestrial appearances.
Oct. 10, 1881—that at Rugenwalde, Pomerania, the mirage of a village had
been seen: snow-covered roofs from which hung icicles; human forms
distinctly visible. It was believed that the mirage was a representation
of the town of Nexo, on the island of Bornholm. Rugenwalde is on the
Baltic, and Nexo is about 100 miles northwest, in the Baltic.
The first definite account of the mirages of Sweden, findable by me, is
published in _Nature_, June 29, 1882, where it is said that preceding
instances had attracted attention—that, in May, 1882, over Lake Orsa,
Sweden, representations of steamships had been seen, and then “islands
covered with vegetation.” Night of May 19, 1883—beams of light at Lake
Ludyika, Sweden—they looked like a representation of a lake in
moonshine, with shores covered with trees, showing faint outlines of
farms (_Monthly Weather Review_, May, 1883). May 28, 1883—at Finsbo,
Sweden—changing scenes, at short intervals: mountains, lakes, and farms.
Oct. 16, 1884—Lindsberg—a large town, with four-storied houses, a castle
and a lake. May 22, 1885—Gothland—a town surrounded by high mountains, a
large vessel in front of the town. June 15, 1885—near Oxelosund—two
wooded islands, a construction upon one of them, and two warships. It is
said that at the time two Swedish warships were at sea, but were at
considerable distance north of Oxelosund. Sept. 12, 1885—Valla—a
representation that is said to have been a “remarkable mirage” but that
is described as if the appearances were cloud-forms—several monitors,
one changing into a spouting whale, and the other into a crocodile—then
forests—dancers—a wooded island with buildings and a park. Sept. 29,
1885—again at Valla—between 8 and 9 o’clock, P. M.; a lurid glare upon
the northwestern horizon; a cloud bank—animals, groups of dancers, a
forest, and then a park with paths. July 15, 1888—Hudikwall—a
tempestuous sea, and a vessel upon it; a small boat leaving the vessel.
Upon Oct. 8, 1888, at Merexull, on the Baltic, but in Russia, was seen a
mirage of a city that lasted an hour. It is said that some buildings
were recognized, and that the representation was identified with St.
Petersburgh, which is about 200 miles from the Baltic.
* * * * *
That a large, substantial mass, presumably of land, can be in at least
temporary suspension over a point upon this earth’s surface, and not
fall, and be, in ordinary circumstances, invisible—
In _L’Astronomie_, 1887-426, MM. Codde and Payan, both of them
astronomers, well-known for their conventional observations and
writings, publish accounts of an unknown body that appeared upon the
sun’s limb, for twenty or thirty seconds, after the eclipse of August
19, 1887. They saw a round body, apparent diameter about one tenth of
the apparent diameter of the sun, according to the sketch that is
published. In _L’Astronomie_, these two observers write separately, and,
in the city of Marseilles, their observations were made at a distance
apart. But the unknown body was seen by both upon the same part of the
sun’s limb. So it is supposed that it could not have been a balloon, nor
a circular cloud, nor anything else very near this earth. But many
astronomers in other parts of Europe were watching this eclipse, and it
seems acceptable that others, besides two in Marseilles, continued to
look, immediately after the eclipse; but from nowhere else came a report
upon this object, so that all indications are that it was far from the
sun and near Marseilles, but farther than clouds or balloons in this
local sky. I can draw no diagram that can satisfy all these
circumstances, except by supposing the sun to be only a few thousand
miles away.
* * * * *
If little black stones fall four times, in eleven years, to one part of
this earth’s surface, and fall nowhere else, we are, in conceiving of a
fixed origin somewhere above a stationary earth, at least conceiving in
terms of data, and, whether we are fanatics or not, we are not of the
type of other upholders of stationariness of this earth, who care more
for Moses than they do for data. I’d not like to have it thought that we
are not great admirers of Moses, sometimes.