STORIES OF THE IMAGINATION.
By Editor
Such may be called many of the wonderful things told about in the press. For instance, here is what on the face of it seems to be a detailed story of a wonderful mirage, which was sent to us by some friend the first of the year. Toledo, December 22.—A mirage appeared over Lake Erie, near the lower bay shore, to-day, which was witnessed by a number of reputable citizens. A large city appeared, in which the streets, buildings, and many people could be seen distinctly. It lasted fully thirty minutes, during which time the citizens saw flames burst from one of the large buildings and then saw fire apparatus, horses, and people pouring out of different portions of the city. The buildings were remarkably plain, and the entire crowd stood in amazement for about half an hour, when the haze seemed to lift, and slowly the strange sight faded away. The men who witnessed this strange sight said that fully 2,000 buildings were very plainly to be seen, but that only for a few minutes, when the fire broke out, did the people and horses show distinctly. None of the party could recognize what city it was whose reflection was shown. But the facts indicate rather a wonderful story of a common mirage. The Signs of the Times, in order to ascertain the truth, wrote to the Toledo Blade, and Mr. Knabenshue, the editor-in-chief, kindly replies as follows:— My dear Sir: The account is absurdly overdrawn. It was simply a case of "looming," in which, by refraction, distant shores appear much higher than they really are. Such phenomena are common on all the lakes. I have frequently seen them. There was no "city," no fire, no firemen. What really was seen on that occasion was the shore of Cedar Point, the eastern cape of Maumee Bay, some six miles from the point of observation; through looming, it appeared higher, and the Cedar Point clubhouse and a half-dozen summer cottages were plainly visible. Ordinarily they are not, owing to the earth’s curvature. These are the cold facts in the case. It happens so frequently that this paper made no mention of it. Some enterprising correspondent, anxious to earn a dollar, drew on his imagination for the details with which he embellished a somewhat frequent natural phenomenon. Yours very truly, S. S. KNABENSHUE.