On the evening before a solar eclipse the colonel of a German regiment of infantry sent for all the sergeants and said to them:
There will be an eclipse of the sun to-morrow. The regiment will meet on the parade ground in undress. I will come and explain the eclipse before drill. If the sky is cloudy the men will meet in the drill shed, as usual.
Whereupon the ranking sergeant drew up the following order of the day:
To-morrow morning, by order of the colonel, there will be an eclipse of the sun. The regiment will assemble on the parade ground, where the colonel will come and superintend the eclipse in person. If the sky is cloudy the eclipse will take place in the drill shed.