The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-08-05

From the Fourth Number of DIR. Lardner's
Popular Lectures on Science, which has Just
been published, we make the following ex-
tract. The influence which the changes of
the Moon are generally supposed to exert
upon the Weather, we think, are very clearly
shown by the Doc,or'to be falacious:
"kmong the-many influences which the
Moon is supposed, by the world in general,
to exercise upon our globe, one of those
which have been most universally believed,
in all ages and in all countries, is that which
it is presumed to exert upon the changes Of
the weather. Although the particular details
of this influence are sometimes pretended to
be described, the only general principle, or
rule, which prevails with the world in gene
raj is, that change of weather may be look
ed for at the erochs Of new and full moon:
that is 10 say, if the weather be previously
fair it will become foul, and if foul will be-
come fair. Similar changes are also, some
times, though not so confidently looked for,
at the epocs Of the quarters. ,..
What, then, let us see, is the present ques-
ton? 1t is asserted that the moon produces
such an influence on the weather as to cause
it to change at the new and full moon, and
at the quarters. But in this mode of stating
the proposition, there are implicitly included
two very distinct points, one of which is a
simple matter of fact, and the other point
of physical science, r.
FrSt-It is asserted that at the epochs Of
a new and full moon, and at the quarters,
there is generally change ofweather. This
is mere statement of alleged fact.
Second.-It is asserted that the phases Of
the moon, Or in other words, the relative posi-
tion of the moon and sun in regard to the
earth is the cause of these changes.
Now it is evidently necessary to settle the
first question before We trouble ourselves
with the second, for if it should so happen
that the first statement should prove to be
destitute of foundation the second falls to
the ground. .. .......
The question Of fact here before us is one
most easily settled. In many meteorologi-
cal observations throughout Europe, regis
ter of the weather in all respects, has been
kept for long period of time. Thus the
height of the barometer, the condition Of the
thermometer, the hydrometer, and the rair
guage; the form and character of the clouds
the times of the falling of rain, hail and snow
and in short, every particular respecting the
weather has been duly registered, from day
to dav, and often from hour to hour.
The period of the lunar phases, it, is need
less to say, has also been registered, and it
is, therefore, possible 10 compare one set oi
changes with the other.
This, in fine, has been done. We can
imagine placed in two parallel columns, in
uxtaposition, the series Of epochs of the
new and full moons, and the quarters, and
the corresponding conditions Of the weather
at these times, for fifty Or one hundred years
back, so that we may be enabledto examine
as mere matter of fact, the conditi ons o
the weather for one thousand or twelve hun
dred full and new moons and quarters. The
result of such an examination has been, tha
no correspondence whatever has been fount
to exist between the two phenomena. Thus
let us suppose that one hundred and twenty
five full moons be taken at random from tht
table; if the condition Of the weather a
these several epochs be examined it will bt
found, probably, that in sixty-three case
there was change OF weather, and III sixty
two there was not, SO that under such cir
cumstances the odd moon in this division o
one hundred and twenty-five would favor tht
popular opinions but if another random col
lection of one hundred and twenty-five ful
moons be taken, and similarly examined, il
will probably be fonnd that sixty-three are
not attended by changes of weather, while
sixty-two are. Withits characteristic caprice
the moon on this occasion opposes the popu
lar opinion; in short, q full examination of the
table shows that the condition of the weathe
as to change, Or in any other respect, has, as
matter of fact, no correspondence whatso-
ever with the lunar phases. ....
Such, then, being the case, i: would be
idle to attempt to seek for physical canse
of an effect which is destitute of truth
MORALS OF FV1cKsBURGH-The Vicksburgt
Constitutionalist makes confession of strange