The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-06-13

III We .tiCt ttti 'tliN
:nxza.s-t a.srsss seIgH- Hs..Esz1
lightning and Lightning Rods.
The thundc. storm of Monday night last,
so fearful in its severity naturally turned at
tcntion to the dangers Of lightning ana the
means Of security. SO near us as the prop
erty Of Mr.. Glenn, on the little Elk, BAN
was struck and shiycrcd to pieces. 1t was
one OF those cases where Insurance does not
reach. for il was not set on fire.
The season Of thunder stoims is now conf
ing on, and as it is alwaysa season of danger.
" If there be one time more than another"
SAYS IL late wiitcr on Ouctncity, III which
man feels tlat he is cnti: ely in the hands 0!
Ol.c n.lghticr than hims cir, i'll which all his
personal pride sinks in the conviction Of his
utter hu plcssIcss, it is when the forked
balts Of heaven glare about him with frighttul
brightness, and the dread artillery Of the
skies Stuns him with lis dcalrning realS, and
Shakes The very Garth on which he uead,.
Then, say. 1t is ,hat his conscience tell,
hn how entirely depcmdcn lie is; and how,
III mon,ni, ;lip next Fash might be to l,lln
the instrument Of death. without his hay.
ing the slightest lower TO arrest his fate
In respect to the Other great and lntslStablc
powriS If nature. man. III some sort, seeks
lllvln oul tic lishtninSs flash seeks out
HIM. 1t Is uut, lie may 90 TO shores
where thunder sloimS are less violent, or to
Ii Is wiuc hoy are n.u,h noe violent
tual III his own land but, regarding II gen
ciallY, lightning is no rcSpeclOr of unie or
lace IL WAS as much known 10 the ancl cn )
a. to uul StivvS ii comes To It's, 50 TO speak,
IN season and out ol season its gtrgra.
ll.lcui distribution Is less restricted titan lhat
Of AMY uiher of Natures great l'helIolnena e.
t,m cNt>. ltru"iH, excepted.
''Nlth tins Startling adnonitOn before
linn, let amy enc Of the readers ot these oh
,,tSa ions pause !Cr nutnun! and count the
lrmb,r IF lightning, rods IN his own neigh
I.u,l od. Du,, hu hesitate! lie thinks there
may Jv unc On die village Spllc, and perhaps
anu,Lcr Oh yon tall chimney; but where
tlac, he knows not. Now. hc Is lei TO ask,
u t.at is die cause Of this appal ent neglect
WAY this cpnsulna;c audaci,y III tniling with
1nrctc!liHl laws oi nature 10y erecting noii-
ununS ad nv!lmGy down the five OF heaven,
and GUy!d.nS no licans vi conducting Ii
safely away:
.lthuU-H the extreme magnitude Of accl
dvujs hL Gu;IHi,S cannot bc otherwise liian
r,cug,I::,u U. ala, and INC almost ccr,aIutN
ca SNt 'l't VI lii'Il ilills5 tit
hid VIC ms at cvtiy >caa,li. yet each man
build, wl,i! NE cI!alcu ii his cdlcc not beng
the lalal ORG. AMONGST 50 many, tie chan
cea ,ic 50 n.ucl III ms favor that he Will run
TIC ri,n or else he comes to 10 the still more
u"pnlloaul optical conclusion that, as storm
al "a sio.m has loft him lnscattcI, so will h,
lur ever IL safe. i'lu,vnily, however, hi,
bui!din. is SrUek and knocked to pieces OF
blint 10 inc ground aud he has the satlstac-
lion Of knowing hat 10y saving the ten or
tW,nty collars IA rod would nave cost him,
lac ha, been subjected u II loss Of thousands.
II p,lcuauCr, himself and his family have
not betn Killed.
The use of lightning rods originated with
the great American Philosopher, Dr.. Frank
lin. After many experiments he "crtctcd
all iron rod Oh the top Of his own residence,
having found the influence Of points to cX-
tend further than he had at fist ina Z med
and one end of the rod being conveyed into
his study, he was able at his convenience to
perform, with lightning, all the experiments
# artIcialiy excited c!cvtrcl y. That his
attention uhsht Ut drawn to the apparatus
Whenever lightning was attracted, he at
1ach,da set OF bells to the rod, which BY
the attraction Of the clappcls, gave the sig
la! Sometimes those bells rang 50 violently
as to be heard all over the house.
The application made by FRANKlIN, VI
his great discovery to the protection Of build
ings from lightning, was the first practical
benefit derlv,d from the science Of electricity.
lie inferred, as points, are 50 cilcaciouS in
attracting lightning, that pointed metallic
rod attached to the side of house, rising
some height above it, and descending into
the earth, WoGid diaw Off the electricity Of Il
PASSING thunder cloud, silently, and thus
nyv ut Il sudden discharge: or if a flash of
lgh mig should strike the rod, that The cleo
inc fluid won-d be conducted safely through
the meta; iTs tie Garth. lie consequently
recommended the attachment of such pro-
tccing rods to all buildings and to masts OF
ships.
Experience has proved the correctness Of
his inference and the value of his suggestions.
The plan has been extensively addoptcd and
has been The means OF protecting every bull
ding and ship 10 which such conductor has
b'cn properly applied"
The ;euple of this county and New "a q
county. Del, have now an opportunity ol
having lightning rods of an approved charae-
ter onght to their doors. Messrs House and
Weed are now here putting up the celebrated
..P.arson ",od, nanut, c,urcd by the Bnlti-
more Lightning iod Company. Their advcr-
tsenlent on our INSIDE page sets forth some of
the points in which ,hcy claim it cXcols ter
rods, and from wha said of it by scientific
men we are led to helicyc it to bc constr uctcd
on scientific principles. So far as our kowl-
,dgc of the subject extends, it is properly
Constructed, aud put up in the safest mailer
and under Iii btlicf we have had one placed
II ON 0; own dwelling.
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