winter in New England.”  Nov. 26, 1816, was a dark day in London, and is described “in the neighborhood of Walworth and Camberwell so completely dark that some of the coachmen driving stages were obliged to get down and lead their horses with a lantern.”  The famous dark day in America was May 19, 1780.  The phenomenon began about 10 o’clock in the forenoon.  The darkness increased rapidly, and “in many places it was impossible to read ordinary print.”  There was widespread fear.  Many thought that the Day of Judgment was at hand.  At that time the Legislature of Connecticut was in session at Hartford.  The House of Representatives, being unable to transact their business, adjourned.  A proposal to adjourn the council was under consideration.  When the opinion of Colonel Davenport was asked, he answered:  “I am against an adjournment.  The day of judgment is approaching or it is not.  If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment:  if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty.  I wish, therefore, that candles may be brought.”  In Whittier’s “Tent on the Beach” is given a beautiful poetical version of this anecdote.  It is suggested by several authorities that the cause of the dark day in 1780 should be attributed simply to the presence of ordinary clouds of very unusual volume and density.  These instances are, of course, grouped with phenomena of which not a great deal is known, and can in no way be classed with those occurrances occasioned by the smoke from extensive forest tires, volcanic eruptions, or fogs.

THE REMARKABLE STORY OF CHARLIE ROSS.—­Charlie Ross was the son of Christian K. Ross of Germantown, Pa., and at the time of his disappearance was a little over 4 years of age.  The child and a brother 6 years old were playing July 1, 1874, in the streets of Germantown, when a couple of men drove up in a buggy and persuaded the children, with promises of toys and candies, to get in and ride with them in the vehicle.  After driving around the place for a little time, the older brother, Walter Ross, was put out of the conveyance, and the strangers gave him 25 cents, telling him to go to a store near at hand and buy some candy and torpedoes for himself and Charlie.  Walter did as he was told, but when he came out of the store the men with Charlie and the vehicle had disappeared.  It was believed at first by the relatives and friends of the missing boy that he would be returned in a short time, as they supposed he might have been taken by some drunken men.  Time passed, however, but no trace of the child had been discovered.  In a few weeks a letter was received by Mr. Ross to the effect that if he would pay $20,000 his son would be returned, but, that the parent need not search for Charlie, as all efforts to find the abducted boy or his captors would only be attended with failure; and it was stated that if this amount was not paid, Charlie would be killed.  The father answered this and a long correspondence ensued, while the search