The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-07-26
THE ATMosPHEREANn LIGHT.

L
| dent from our daily experience Every one
| has noticed that distant objects appear less
i distinct 10 proportion as they are removed
| fl ON the eve their colors become fainter, the
| ntrast between light and shade is less mar
| ked, aud they seem as If covered with q pale
| blue veil. This effect, always noticed on dis
| tant mountains, is owing to a partial ebsorp-
ton of the light while passing through the
atmosphere; for, were the passage of the rays
wholly unimpeded, all objects, although re-
| duced in size in proportion to their distance,
would appear equally distinct, and their CO.
lors equally brilliant
This diffusion OF the suns rays is the cause
of that wonderful effect which we term day.
light. Although this effect is so familiar it is
one OF the most remarkable results of skill
full adaptation and infinite wisdom. The very
! daylight which streams in at the open win
dows of our houses, filling them with cheer
fulness, and penetrating to their, Utmost re-
cesses-- which enlivens the whole landscape
and which bars aud bolts cannot wholly ex-
clude even from the prisoners DUNGEON is
another evidence of the adjustment of the at,
mosphere to the constitution of man. What
would be the effect of the suns light if there
we're no atmosphere, assuming, for the sake
of illustration, that man could exist under
such conditions While al objects directly
l liantly as to dazzle the eye, everything else
would be in complete darkness. The interior
| of our dwellings would be at midday as dark
as during the darkest night; and the con-
| trast between light and shadow would be
stronger than that between the most brilliant
sunlight and the BLACKLIST darkness now
known. Our eyes, as little fitted 10 such cons
ditions as our lungs, would be blinded by the
sadden alterations, and distinct vision would
be rendered impossible. 81
Thus it would appear that the atmosphere
10 as much an essential condition of our sees
ing as of our breathing. But more than this
the Unreasonable pleasure which we derive
from our sense of vision depends upon the ex
act adaptation ofthe density OF the atmos-
phere to the organization of the eye. SINH
lar effects to those just noticed, although on Il
greatly diminished scale, would result were
the density OF the atmosphere materially d-
minished. This is not a matter of theory !;
for such effects have been frequently noticed
on the SUBMITS of high mountains, where
the air is much rarer than at the sea-level ~
On the top of Mont Blanc the sky as black
ish hue and the stars are seen al midday
The glare of the direct light is indispensable
to the eye and even reflection from the snow
blistefs the unprotected skin, while, at the
same time, the contrast betw cen light ard
shade, unnaturally increased, gives to all uear
objects, peculiar and CHASTITY aspect This
effect results from very great diminution ia
the density of the air. but when you reflect
upon what delicate contrasts of light and
shade the beauty of o landscape depends-the
clearness of the foreground, the gray of the
middle distance and the tender purple of the
distant hills, a. blending into one harmonious
whole-yoo can appreciate how slight a
change would disturb the result and deprive
ha sapsa of haaufv of ito nurnol op;ovruan+.
The atmosphere has also, under certain
conditions; the power of decompesing the
suns rays, and thus, producing, not only those
displays of gorgeous, tints which We witness
in the sunset clouds, but also the pure blue
color of the sky appears to result from changes
in the white light OF the sun caused by reflec- |
ton, it is equally probable that the sunset |
tints arise from changes in the same while |
light, cansed by an uoequal absorption of its |
different colored rays during their transmits |
sion through the creation of organtic life, |
every pointed lead, every twig, and every
blade of grass, have been silntiy disarming |
the clouds of their destructive weapon. 1t is |
difficult to improve upon nature aud man con- |
stantly finds that il his best Inventions he |
has been anticipated from eternity by great |
or inventor than he. So, a OF long after |
Frankie had discovered the efficacy Of NE
tallic points in dissipating charge of cleo |
tricity, and had applied the principle in con. |
etrueting the lightning-rod, it was found |
that q common blade of grass, pointed with |
natures exquisite workmanship, is extremity |
etfectual TOR this purpose and that single |
twig 10 capable of carrying off very large
quantities OF the atmosphere electricity When I
now, you reflect how many thousand OF these
Vegetable points every large Tree directs to
the sky, and consider what must be the agen-
cy OF single forest with it's innumeruble
tWigs, OF single meadow with its countless
blades OF grass; and then, when yon remem-
Der that these are only subsidiary to those
vast ightening~conduetors, the nouniain
ehans, whose cragey submits pierce the
clouds themselves; and still further, when YOU
learn that the rain drops and snow fakes have
have been made good conductors, so that |
during storms a bridge for the tightening is
thrown across from the clouds to The earth
you will see how abundant thu protection
is, and with what care Providence has guar
ded US from this Obstructive force
From the facts that We have now adduced |
it will be seen that the atmosphere is sustain.
ed in proper working Of all it's parts only by |
the exact balancing OF d thousand conditions |
We may study and become familiar with some
OF those conditions, but to form ii conciptinu |
OF the Simultaneous working of all in their |
their varied relations, far transcends mans |
mental power. The more our powers OF |
thought and observation are developed, and |
the more our experience is enlarged, the
more The field of possible knowledge expends |
before US The larger tainmsnts the |
less We can see to know Sir Isaac Newton |
after spending a long life in the Investigation !
OF nat re aud with success unparalleled in The |
art of science uttered this moratle sentime Mt
shortly before bis death: al do not know
what may app ar 10 he world, but to my self
seem to have been only Ikea boy playing