The plot of my upcoming book, Mail Order Blythe, revolves (no pun intended) around a total solar eclipse that took place in 1878.
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| 1878 Solar Eclipse |
A solar eclipse takes place when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, temporarily obscuring the image of the sun from the view of those on the earth, which creates either partial or total darkness for a short period of time. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s apparent diameter is larger than the sun’s and thus, for its duration, which is normally two to three minutes, it blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the earth. The areas on the earth where complete darkness occurs is called the path of totality. In areas surrounding this path, the celestial event will appear as a partial eclipse.
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| Path of Totality - 1878 Solar Eclipse |
Not only was there a solar eclipse that would be seen on the lower portion of the North American continent, but its seventy mile wide path of totality—the time of total darkness created when the moon fully blocked out the sun except for a faint solar corona circling the dark orb visible—crossed the dry, high altitude peaks and plains of the Rocky Mountains. The path started in southwestern Canada, moved through Montana and Wyoming Territories, Colorado, Texas and a bit of Louisiana, and ended on the western tip Hispaniola.
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| Draper Expedition in Rawlins, Wyo., Edison second from right |
One of the most famous people of the day to come to Rawlins, Wyoming to view the eclipse was Thomas Edison of Menlo Park, New Jersey. He was thirty-one years old and already the world-renowned inventor the of phonograph which he patented the previous year. In recognition of his achievement, the national press called him “Professor Edison.” He traveled to Rawlins with the Draper Expedition, which hired a special train passenger coach for the journey. They stayed at the Railroad Hotel, a small inn that barely had enough room to accommodate the expedition members.
While most scientists traveled to the expected path of totality to view the eclipse, Thomas Edison joined the Draper Expedition which traveled to Rawlins, Wyoming, for other reasons than the astronomers in the party. He brought with him a device called a tasimeter. It was his intention to test it by measuring the infrared heat that came from the sun before, during , and after the total eclipse.
Thomas Edison designed the tasimeter, or microtasimeter, or measurer of infinitesimal pressure. It is a device to measure infrared radiation. At that time, other American scientists in addition to Mr. Edison needed a highly sensitive instrument that could be used to measure minute temperature changes in heat emitted from the Sun's corona during the total solar eclipse.
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| Tasimeter invented by Thomas Edison |
In 1878 great advances were being made in electric arc lighting. Although he had not done so yet, Edison already declared to the press he was inventing the incandescent light bulb, a safe, mild, and inexpensive electric light that would replace the gaslight.
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| Another view of the Tasimeter |
During the solar eclipse expedition which Edison accompanied, the men discussed the practicality of subdividing the intense arc lights so that electricity could be used for lighting in the same fashion as with small, individual gas burners. The basic problem seemed to be to keep the burner, or bulb, from being consumed by preventing it from overheating. Edison thought he would be able to solve this by fashioning a microtasimeter-like device to control the current.
Edison decided not to patent the device. He felt it was only of interest to scientists. That allowed companies in London and Philadelphia to manufacture tasimeters royalty-free. The scientists who tested it found it too erratic to be of use for quantitative measurement purposes. The device was soon abandoned.
However, Thomas Edison knew none of this at the time he traveled to Wyoming to test the device. While the astronomers and other scientists—and the newspapermen who trailed them—climbed to the heights surrounding Rawlins for an unobstructed view of the eclipse, Thomas Edison sought refuge from outside sources of heat and infrared radiation in a chicken coop on the hotel property.
Does my retelling of this story involving Thomas Edison in which I insert my heroine, Blythe Greenly, move my plot and romance forward? No. For some writers, they would declare this unnecessary fluff, a chapter that should be cut. However, I wrote it and added it for my own amusement and, hopefully, the entertainment of my readers. Like Nancy, a secondary character in the book says to her boss during the other scene involving Thomas Edison, “I know, sir, but this is too good to miss.”
Here is the chapter for your reading pleasure:
The members of the Draper expedition had spent the previous ten days surveying the surrounding countryside to determine the best place to set up their telescopes and cameras. Like Eli’s friend, Dr. Poechet, one member also brought the most advanced camera to date so he could photograph the eclipse when it reached total darkness. Even the townspeople who had no particular interest in the science behind astronomy waited anxiously for the event that would throw their world into total darkness during the middle of the afternoon. After frequent warnings to look through a piece of smoked glass instead of directly at the sun, many town residents had prepared so they could stop work long enough to witness the spectacle.
Starting the day after the expedition arrived, Mr. Draper arranged for a photograph to be taken of all the members of the party in the fairly open lot next to the hotel. There they were able to set up the telescopes they would be using for their research. Then, all of them, dressed in their best, lined up against the wooden fence.
Taking care to stay unobserved that day, Blythe peeked over the fence at the scene. She smiled at the thought that, between the clothesline, the chicken coop, and the pair of necessaries in the yard where she worked, such a photograph behind the hotel would not have been desirable.
Today was a different matter. The telescopes were now scattered on the hills behind the town so that they could capture the event unimpeded by trees or buildings. The two wives waited anxiously in the hotel lobby for the arrival of someone to transport them to the site where their husbands had labored to get everything ready. Even Mr. Fox, the newspaperman, followed the crowd out of town. The only one who remained close by was Thomas Edison.
Blythe found him outside wandering around the yard. Upon seeing her, he strode toward her and pointed at the portion of the yard fenced in by chicken wire. “Do these chickens stay outside during the day?”
Her lips parted, Blythe’s gaze scanned the fenced-in portion of the yard full of chickens. “I believe so. Frankly, I’m not well-versed on their habits.”
Inside the wood fence to the north that separated the hotel property from its neighbor, the other three sides and top were constructed of a wood framework covered with chicken wire. A chicken coop, where she knew the fowls entered to spend the night, took up almost an eighth of the space. Nancy had taken her inside the hutch—twice—to show her the nests where the hens roosted and how to gather eggs. However, after living in the city all her life, the entire process of caring for chickens and collecting eggs struck her as being alien and uncomfortable. She encouraged Nancy to do the feeding and egg-gathering while she stayed outside the wire fence and washed the outside of the egg shells before taking them in to Mary.
“Hmm.” Edison unlatched to gate and entered the chicken run.
“Be sure to close the gate behind you, sir. And watch where you step. Chickens have a way of…ah…”
“I see what you mean.” Edison bent one knee and twisted his ankle to inspect the sole of his shoe. With lips pursed, he shook his head. Tip-toeing gingerly across the short distance to the chicken coop entry, he stuck his head inside and twisted his neck side to side. He brought his head outside once more and stood up straight. After he stepped several feet away, he inhaled deeply. “It is definitely aromatic in there, but no chickens.”
“No, sir. Miss Howard says we don’t have any setting hens, so in the daytime, all the chickens spend as much time as they can outside.”
“This will do. I’ll watch the eclipse from in here.”
Blythe wrinkled her forehead and she canted her head. “Would you not wish to be out in the open so you can see the full effect, Mr. Edison?” Those of us at the hotel, upon hearing where in the sky the eclipse is expected to take place, have been searching for the best spot to view it. Mrs. Hayes said we also want to be able to see as much of the sky surrounding the sun and moon as possible. It should be a wonderful celestial display.”
“I appreciate that, to the average man and woman, it is a marvelous spectacle worth seeing, Mrs. Greenly.” His hands on his hips, Edison looked off to his side, and then he returned his gaze to her. “However, as a scientist, for me, this is a rare opportunity to test the capacity of the tasimeter I invented. Depending on how sensitive this instrument proves to be in measuring the infrared radiation coming off the sun before, during, and after the eclipse, this experiment will determine how useful it will be as I invent my incandescent light globe. Therefore, I need to eliminate, to the greatest degree possible, outside heat sources, such as direct sunlight on the instrument. I also need to stay away from heat coming off of living bodies and heat-generating fuels, such as a kitchen stove. The empty chicken coop appears to be my best option. I’ll be able to see the eclipse and take my readings from inside while standing in the shade.”
“I see.” Except, Blythe did not really understand everything he spoke about, especially something he called an incandescent light globe. “The eclipse will take place in the heat of the day, so I imagine there is that you must take into account—”
“And mitigate as much as possible. You are picking up on this rather quickly, Mrs. Greenly.”
“Oh…um, thank you.” In response to the praise, Blythe felt heat rise in her face. “I believe it is a good thing Miss Howard cleaned out the coop this morning. She tells me the waste from the chickens creates heat, which is why she turns it over in soil not currently planted so it will not burn the roots of those vegetables that are growing.”
Edison, his eyebrows raised and an expression of disgust on his face, turned and placed his hands on either side of the doorjamb to the coop. He stuck his head inside. After he briefly studied the interior a second time, he again stepped away and turned to Blythe. “That is a clean coop?”
“Yes, sir. If there is anything I can do to help you get ready, Mr. Edison, please let me know.”
“No. I think I’ll leave my feathered friends behind until the eclipse is ready to begin.” He kicked out with one foot to dislodge a hen that sat on top of it. The motion sent the bird squawking and flapping her wings as she scurried several feet away. He turned to face Blythe. “Perhaps, if you have cool water available, that would be appreciated.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll bring a cup out to you. Either that, or I can meet you in the lobby. However, before you come into the building, please wipe your feet really well first.”
“Make it the lobby, please. You may be sure I’ll clean my shoes thoroughly. I have no desire to track this into my room. After I drink my water, I’ll make sure all is ready with my equipment.”
After serving Mr. Edison his cup of water, Blythe returned to the kitchen to find an ecstatic Nancy and a pursed-lipped Mary—hands on her hips—facing each other.
“Please, Mrs. Hayes, just this one time.” Her fingers interlaced and held before her in an attitude of begging, Nancy leaned toward Mary. “I know it is a weekday and a workday, but it’s also a special day like no other we’ve ever known. Herbert—I mean, Mr. Walker—said he made a special trip all the way into town so, for the rest of our lives, he could say that he saw the eclipse while standing at my side. Blythe and I have already emptied slop jars and refilled the water ewers in all the rooms. I promise I’ll be back in time to help with supper and take care of the chickens.”
Mary rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh. “All right, Nancy. Go spend the afternoon with your young man.” She raised a finger and wagged it. “But, no shenanigans with him. I don’t want rumors of anything improper getting back to me and people warning me I’ve hired the wrong kind of woman.”
“Maybe one kiss, Mrs. Hayes.” Nancy held up her forefinger and demurely batted her eyes. “I’ve been hoping for weeks that he’ll kiss me. But I promise, other than that, I’ll see that we behave.”
Mary rolled her eyes. “All right. One kiss. Go view the eclipse with your sweetheart.” She made a shooing motion with her hands, and then stopped. “Wait! You do have your smoked glass with you, don’t you?”
“I sure do.” A wide grin on her face and with eyes that appeared to sparkle, Nancy pulled an irregularly-shaped piece of smoked glass from her pocket. “I’ll see everyone later.” She again tucked the glass in her pocket as she spun around and almost ran out the back door.
Several hours later, a spirit of anticipation still in the air, people had settled into wherever they selected to view the eclipse. For most businessmen in Rawlins, they continued working as the sky grew darker. The few Blythe had overheard while sweeping the boardwalk in front of the hotel or while shopping at the mercantile indicated they intended to step outside their places of work long enough to view the darkened sun for a few minutes before they returned to their labors.
Fortunately, the Hayes’ had decided that, with all their present guests long gone and busy with viewing the eclipse and recording whatever findings they found important, it offered all who worked at the hotel the opportunity to take an hour or so away from their usual tasks to view the entire eclipse. The couple chose to view it from the street in front of their hotel so they could visit with fellow business owners on the block, as well as be available in case a potential customer approached.
On the other hand, Blythe chose to view the eclipse from the alley behind the building. She found a spot away from the clothesline, chicken coop, garden, and necessaries where, from peeking through her lashes at the daytime sky, she could tell she would be able to see the overhead sun about the time the eclipse began.
Shifting from one foot to the other, Blythe waited impatiently for the eclipse to begin. Unable to see the moon in the light of day, she had no idea how close its position was to the sun. She repeatedly closed her left eye and held her smoked glass over her right for several seconds. She sucked in a breath when, finally, she saw a thin crescent block out one edge of the sun. The eclipse had started.
Blythe kept her eyes on the ground, noting the gradual darkening. Periodically, she raised her glass to see how much of the sun was covered by the dark globe. Before long, the sky grew as dark as dusk. She watched in awe as stars appeared, as if they celebrated the meeting of the two celestial bodies that dominated earth’s skies. I wish Eli were here to see this with me. Then again, she knew Eli, along with Prof. Sewell and Dr. Poechet, had traveled to the mountains west of Rawlins where they had set up their telescopes and a base camp to observe and record their findings. She recently learned the bulky black case Dr. Poechet carried onto the train and babied during the trip west was a camera. He had taken photographs of the region and planned to take some of the sun and moon during the eclipse.
Blythe immediately felt a stab of guilt. Why did I wish for Eli Morgan, and not Sgt. McGilvey, to be here? She tightened her lips. Deep down inside, she knew why, even though she had been forcing herself to avoid thinking about the matter. It had taken two weeks for her letters to turn around between Chicago and Ft. Steele. Now she was in Rawlins, Ft. Steele was only thirteen miles to the east. She sent her letter informing him of her current location over a week ago, but she had yet to hear from him.
Then there was the other issue she dared not look at too closely, especially considering her plans to marry the sergeant. She felt drawn to Eli. Even after months of correspondence, she never developed those feelings about the sergeant. She knew deep inside her, she wished it was Eli, not Sgt. Peter McGilvey she had agreed to marry. How wrong it was of her to be committed to one man but yearn for another. Yet, she found it difficult to control what her heart wanted.
A male shout of annoyance followed by an indignant squawk from at least one chicken prompted Blythe to turn toward the chicken coop. “Mr. Edison, is everything all right?”
“No, everything is not all right! Somebody get these chickens out of here.” Thomas Edison’s demand rang across the yard.
“I’m coming, sir.” Blinded by the darkness akin to that of a night with a new moon, Blythe carefully stepped in the direction of the voice. She raised her arm to be sure she did not strangle herself by running into the clothesline. Once her forearm made contact with a length of rope, she paused long enough to turn around and raise her smoked glass to watch the progress of the eclipse. She sucked in a breath at the sight of the blackened sphere surrounded by a glimmering circle of light. The eclipse was total, and in her lifetime, she had been able to see it.
“Get away from my tasimeter, you blasted fowl!”
Edison’s voice snapped Blythe’s attention back to the struggling scientist. Using her free hand, she followed the line to the pole to which it was attached. Using the two as a guide, she faced the direction she must walk in order to reach the chicken run. Her hand outstretched once more, she carefully stepped forward until she felt chicken wire give beneath her palm. “I’m almost there, Mr. Edison.”
“I can’t believe this is happening. Off! I am not here for you to roost upon.”
A new series of squawks and clucks assaulted Blythe’s ears. Allowing her hands to guide her along the outside of the wire fence, she sidestepped and rounded the corner until she reached the gate that opened into the chicken run. After entering, she latched the gate behind her and turned toward Edison’s voice. “Sir, I’m almost there.”
“What are you doing here?” A note of panic entered Edison’s voice.
“As you requested, I came to help you with the chickens.” Blythe bit back the frustration beginning to rise within her. What is the matter with this man?
“No! Stay away. If I asked for help, it was a figure of speech. The heat coming off the bodies of these chickens is bad enough. No offense, Mrs. Greenly, but you have a larger physical mass than these hens. The heat radiating from you will throw off my readings even more.”
“All right, sir, I’ll wait right here. I don’t see anything that looks like it could be a chicken moving around outside the building. I can do nothing to help you with the ones inside if I must stay outside the coop.”
“No, I doubt there are any outside. They’re all in here with me.” Edison’s voice dripped with acid. “Just stay where you are, Mrs. Greenly. If possible, please move so you are nowhere in front of the door to the coop.”
“Yes, sir.” With her hand held behind her, Blythe stepped backed until her fingers encountered the chicken wire. From there she side-stepped away from the opening to the coop.
Sensing a smidgen of light now filled the sky, Blythe raised her glass once more toward the eclipse. With a sinking heart, she realized the moon had crossed the sun and it now began its journey away. Soon it would disappear in the daytime sky until later tonight after the sun sank below the horizon. And, here I am, stuck in a chicken run. She decided to stay where she was until it was light enough to see what was below her feet.
Several minutes later, Thomas Edison, with a piece of equipment tucked beneath his arm, emerged from the chicken coop. “Waste of time. All this money and effort spent, and my experiment was ruined by a bunch of chickens.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Edison.” Light enough that Blythe could faintly see the ground, she carefully walked toward him. “You were unable to get the readings you wanted?”
Grim-faced, Edison shook his head. “I was fouled by all these fowl. They kept getting in my way. I’m pretty sure most of the heat signatures I picked up came from the chickens, not the rays of the sun.” He narrowed his gaze at her. “Why didn’t you warn me chickens would do that?”
Her lips parted, Blythe shrugged her shoulders. “I had no idea. I was raised in Chicago. We didn’t have chickens.”
“Chicago, huh? That explains your accent.”
Blythe blinked. I was unaware I had an accent. “I guess, when it got dark, they thought night was coming on and it was time for them to find a place to roost.” She forced herself not to laugh as she noticed two chicken feathers sticking up in his hair. Without thinking, she reached forward and, without touching him, plucked one feather from the side of his head.
Edison jerked his head away. “What was that all about?”
Blythe held up the feather. Even in the light which had not returned to its full strength, the white fluff almost glowed. “I didn’t think you wanted others to see you wearing that. In fact, there is another one on top of your head, if you’ll allow me—”
“I’ll get it.” Edison rubbed his hair until his hand came away holding the other feather. He glanced down at his dark clothing and shook his head. “It appears my hair is not the only part of me that had acquired feathers. I need to return to my room and give my suit a good brushing. Then again, if it is only feathers that ended up on my clothes…”
“I’m sorry, but there’s more. On your left sleeve, you have a spot of…um…it came from one of chickens. There’s another streak on your…” Knowing it was impolite to speak of a man’s trousers in mixed company, she pointed at his pants leg and waggled her pointer finger. “That’s all I can see for now. If you’d like, I can bring a damp rag and a brush so you can repair your clothing before the others return.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Greenly. I have my own clothes brush and soap. However, the damp rag will be appreciated. If you’ll excuse me, I’m headed for my room.”
“And, Mr. Edison—”
“I know, I know!” Without turning to face her, Edison waved his arm as he made his way out of the chicken run. “Watch where I step and wipe my feet extremely well before I enter the hotel.”
Mail Order Blythe, Book 8 in the Secret Baby Dilemma series, is currently on preorder and will be released March 19, 2021. To read the book description and find the purchase link, please CLICK HERE.
Sources:
Wikipedia: Tasimeter, Thomas Edison, 1878 Solar Eclipse
https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/edison-light-bulb-and-eclipse-1878
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