sirius" writes:—The eclipse of the moon, which took place on the! morning of August 15, was well visible at Shanghai and throughout Eastern China. The commencement of the totality began at 3.22 a.m., local standard time, the northeastern corner being at first slightly shad-Jowed. The dark veil then extended gradually south and at 4 am. nearly the whole disc was lost to view. At 4.30 nothing could be seen through the telescope. The phenomenon ended at 5.10 a.m, the moon setting some 20 minutes later, and still in the shade. everywhere set up a terrible din of bombs and fire-crackers, intended. to scare away some fanciful monster who endeavoured to devour the bright orb. One wonders why the University of Peking, or some other of the scientific institutions of the country, has got explained the phenomenon to the people and prevented such a vast waste of saltpetre, which would have better helped the warring factions of the country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.