The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1860-01-12

scientific but simple instrument is one of
the common things which should he
carefully taught. The first poirt is to
bring the instrument. itself within reach
and it was with this view that it was bro.
posed 10 set up good barome,crs at the prin
c'pal coast stations, under charge of the
C"as'g"ard, S" L at anybody might con
suit them, m,-and all might learn to under.
stand them,-a plan which has already, we
believe, been partially executed. 1t is no.
to'inuS that the look of the weather alone
will occasionally dccieve even tho most ex
| perIen"cd seameE. But it is now an cs.
tablisheI fact that no gale violent enough
to involve danger ever bIowns on these
coasts withou: warning having been given
10y the barometer. There is no instance
on record of any failure in this respect
To pierce further into fu,uritv, and predict
the quarter from which the tempest is i'm
pending, or the time it is likely to last,
is work "f greater skill, which experts
alone can successfully achieve, but the mere
knowledge of Il coming storm can be nc
quired without difficulty. Ii the facilities
of prognostica'ion were but properly en-.
| loyed, the effect would soon be visible in
the Wreck Catalogue of tie British Seas.
| Another observation which it is desirable
TO make is, that the science Of Mr,erulogy
Is still i'll its infancy, and therefore in need
OF all practical assistance. The truth is.
our progress has not been very considerable
and mary of our most profound leduc-
tons, us We have before observed, NAV be
discovered in some popular rhyme az old
as mans memory. We have arrived at
certain facts respecting the law Of storms.
and we have learnt to interpret the barcme
ter more scientifically than before, but
much still remains 10 lac done, and can
only be done hy general contributions Of
knowledge. We are compelled to proceed
emp;rica!ly in the matter. Fact upon fact
may, Ly and by, conduct us to the govern.
ing laws, but at present we can do but lit
tie more than observe and record. The
Board Of Trade, rs our readers have been
apfri<cd. will thankfully receive any com
munications tending to t.row light upon the
$u,jrct, and will see that the information
SO obtained is thoroughly ,"estc,l At
this moment, too, observations on a more
extensive Scale have been organized, from
which, perhaps. we may derive important
results. Arrangements were instituted in
June last for collecting returns "f the va
riatinms in wind aud weather, over and
around the North Atlantic, through pc
,i"h Of fourteen consecutive months ter.
minab!c in October, 1850, and we have al.
ready seen enough to show that the pc
rlod SO chosen may prove II remarkable
one. Men have been putting sign and sign
tnglher, and cndeavoring to connect one
phenomenon with another. We have had
strongly marked appearances Of the Au-
rora Borealis, spots on the sun, cxtraordn
AIRY changes Of temperature, and storms of
unusual violence. Perhaps the comet is
TOO far back to be intr oduced Into the rcck-
oning Lut not for half century or more
have we had any October like the lust
Features 50 very strong anl decided ough,
TO be favorable for observation, and per-
laps 10y this time next year we may have
: In the interval we cannot DO he better than
promote the diffusion Of that knowledge
which Providence has placed within ou,
reach. Our Danish ancestors employed
witchcraft to tearl, them the chances Of the
weather before they put to sea, and in Ork
ney or Shetland perhaps one might still
find m old wife who would sell n bagfu
of wind. We can now, If we will .bu,
take similar pains TO inform ourselves o.
the future, resort to safer guidance. A lit
tie ins:rumen. set up in a public place, and
daily consulted, will save any boat from
putting needlessly to sea when gale is i'm
pending and the rrecaution is so very simple
that ii never ought to be neglected. Lon
don Times.
The Miser Outwitted.-It was observed
that a certain covetous rich man never in.
yited any one to dine with him. -! I'll
| lay wager. said.a wag, get an invita-
i ton from him. The wager being accept.
ed, he goes The next day to the rich mans
house, about the lime he was known to 81,
down to dinner, and tells the servant tla,
he must then speak with his master, 70,
that he could save him a thousand pounds.
Sir said the servant to- his muster, here
is n man in a great bury wishing to speak
Ewith you, who says he can tavs you {
thousand pounds. on. came the MASTER,
q tWhatis tlatsy on ssaySs sir--that you caI