The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-12
POPULAR SCIENCE.


circumstances appeared also to be of some
important interest, Will. The immense
distance to which the series of detonations
was heard over ON area of more than 100
miles in width, incomparably surprising the
distance to which the longest claps Of thunder
or the discharges of the largest cannons can
he heard. IT, moreover the statements of
tbe majority of the observers may be trusted,
the interval between the bursting of the me-
teor and the sound of the report was so great
that the phenomenon must have taken
nlace at a prodigious height. Less than five
minutes cannot be allowed, on the most mode
rate estimation, from the explosion of the
meteor to the sound of the report and this
would imply distance of more than 60 miles.
Takinp into account the direction of the
meteor as seen by the observers, it would be
difHcult to admit height of less than 4S
miles This height is confidently within the
limits which it would be necessary to assign
to IL. when the greater number OF exact de-
scriptions of the meteor, gwen by competent
observers are taken into the account. Ihe
meteors of the 14th of November, 1868, were
,rol observed in the United States on the
morning of the nth of November last. 2. Prof.
Newton has selected several instances of me-
teors of conspicuous brightness, which were
simultaneously observed by observers at dis
tant places The results lead to the supposi-
tion, from the observed motions of transla-
ton and distortion of some of the streaks
that a northward current of the upper air pre-
vailed at an altitude of about 81 miles, and
that above this level, to height of about 60
miles a current of air existed, moving IN
northerlv direction. The double appearance
of the streaks observed with the telescope, in
some of the meteors in the shower, suggests
the probable conjecture by Prof. Newton OF
an actual duality in the meteor itself; and
very possible analogy, it is thought, may thus
be recognized among the November shooting
stars, to the double or multiple character
which is common among the detonating and
stone-producing meteors.
New FIre-Measurer.
NJ Lamy has invented pyrameter which
indicates the exact temperature of a red-hot
furnace, and transmits the same TO considera-
BILE distances. The manager of porcelain
manufactory, for instance, will be able, by
means of this new invention, to ascertain, at
any time, the exact temperature of all the
furnaces of his establishment, without being
obliged to leave his bureau. As for the appa-
ratus, it is simply q retort containing white
marble, the neck of which, by means of a
tube, is connected with q needle that moves
dial plate. Under the influence of the heat
the marble is decomposed. and the carbonic
acid set at liberty. Each temperature is
vigorously characterized by the tension which
the gas takes when produced; the result of
the entire series of experiments proves that
it is sufficient to measure this tension, in
order to obtain with precision the tempera-
ture sought for.
The DnrwinIan Theory.
At the list meeting of the British Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science, several
papers were read upon the Darwinian Theory.
Some of the writer's handled without gloves
this hypothesis of the descent of species, with
notifications through natural selection The
most striking of these papers was entitled
''Man vs. the Animals; being a Counter Theory
to Mr.. Darwin's as to the Origin of Species,
by Archdeacon Freeman. The author sale
that the question raised by Darwin was
already an international one. In England
great names ranged themselves on either side
in France, Ee Quatrefages, Langel and others
disallow the theory; while in Germany, Fritz
Mullen and Fraecllel warmly espouse it. But
what is wanted is q compact counter-theOry,
accounting for all the phenomena on which
Darwins rests, while free from the diff
culties which beset it. 1t is not enough to
allege objections, however serious. Mr. Darwin
confesses to them, but believes them to be not
insuperable. Now, there is a very ancient
view, entertained by Plato, and countenanced
to say the least, by Scripture, as to the pro
cess or order according to which the produc
ton of the world, the animal world included
took place in the Divine working. 1t is tina
certain ideals pre-eXlsted, and that after thes
the creatures we're formed. Man certainl,
was created after pre-eXisting image, tina
of God himself. And of the higher animals
the lion, the OK, the eagle, we seem to be dis
tinctly told that the ideal existed before il
the form of the cherubim. And man is ther
exhibited as on par with them, and the,
with him. Especially, it is said that the,
were, in certain respects anthropomorphous
They all had the likeness of man, and tn
face and the hands of man ezekiel i.
s. 8, 100. And their employment is de
scribed in the Revelations, iv., ", as tina
of conformity glorifying God. Now, thi
mysterious representation only shadows fortl
with marvellous accuracy what science anC
observation teach us about the higher ami
mails. They are anthropomorphous their or
ganization, limbs digitation, eXpression IN
telligence, emotions, all are intensely human
But, whereas Darwin would account for thi
by supposing common descent and SLOW
graduation of the species with each other
we are thus helped to widely different view
The purpose of all being to unite with maj
in glorifying God, whether by the exercis
of common powers of action, feeling anC
intelligence, or by aiding him, it is pei
fectly natural that they should have had i'm
pressed on them from the first commo
type, both of bodily and mental organization
1t is an ennoblng badge of brotherhood bt
tween creatures serving in their degrees th
same purpose. The sum is then, the specie,
or great orders however, were created e
once, as the Bible tells us, but with a
affinity and uniformity of which very suh
cent account cannot be given. And tn
view does not exclude but welcomes I'll
observed phenomena of "natural selection
IL -. 6. -. L.