21 DECEMBER 1901, Page 17

THE SPECTRE OF THE BROCKEN.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR." I Sin,—With reference to the "Spectre of the Brocken " mentioned in correspondence re Tennyson's "In Memoriam," the following may be of interest to your readers. While riding back to camp one evening across the veld I noticed the same " luminosity " mentioned by your correspondent, Henry Latham, in your issue of September 21st. It was seen round the whole of our shadows. The conditions were as follows. We were riding across a wide and shallow dip, the ground rising on our left hand to a low ridge or slight elevation; the sun was on the point of setting behind this ridge ; our shadows were, of course, very long, and the " luminosity " was most distinct. There was no perceptible mist, the glass was burnt dry by the sun, and as far as I recollect there had been no recent rain ; there was a chilly feeling in the air, however, and there may have been an un- noticed haze of dust.—I am, sir, &c., Gr. E. E.