21 OCTOBER 1899, Page 14

THE RAINBOW—A DECLARATION OF WAR.

[To THE EDITOR or THE "CPFCTATOR."]

SIR,—On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 11th, at 3 o'clock—by Transvaal time 5 o'clock, and so at the very moment when the Boers declared war on us—I observed what few of your readers I believe will have ever seen. Almost directly over the sun, and high up near the zenith, in clear blue sky, was a portion of the arc of a rainbow. Its colours were vivid, while below, in a slanting line, a faint reflection was seen. Several others, countrymen of Hertford- shire, were looking up at the same time, and I heard the words: "Never saw such a thing as that in my life before. It must be the war."—I am, Sir, &c., Bushey, Hertfordshire, October 16th. B. C. DURRANT.