The New York herald., 1871-10-30
LITER AT U R E.
CRITICISMS OF NEW BOOKS.

~~>~~->~>>>o,,~.S,,~~>-,-,cs- - f'i
| TI0N or RAIN. by Edward Powers q n = r.
Griggs Co.: Chicago. "
The object OF the publication OF this little book ls TO
AL attention to an idea that has long existed In the
plar mind In almost every country In the civilized
, and yet which appears never TO have attracted
49,. ., attention OF the scientific world. The
49,. ro. ard BY Mr. Powers his work that the
.ss" aH.s -. :, oa produces rain, has no claim to
..As p,. = ~. entleman has taken the trouble
=. 49,. a,,,,anoa !, support OF the theory which
,.,,, =, ,ho ronr, r notion an importance 1t
a., 80 .o,or oossa,s this moment the discus
~ Ass rs..a. 49, %. produce rain has an
interest for the whole populatio. .,., W ."'
cult to overrate in view OF the a .sa.," ,.'s na'
have fallen on portion OF our Aolu
continued drought. Indeed 1t h
all clear that the dangerous theo. 80
forward some years ago by Professor Espy
the lighting OF large fires would produce r. 80
has not been the primary cause OF the disasters
which have fallen on Michigan and Wisconsin, by
inducing some OF the farmers to set fire TO the
woods as an experiment. This perniclous and
foolish theory is now, however, set at rest forever
for, had there been any truth In 1t, sufficient
must have been disengaged to have extinguished
the fires long before they took the terrible proper
lions which they finally assumed. In the work
before us there is not much advanced with which
the general reader Is unacqHainted; beyond the
mere logic OF facts which tile author has collected
and imperfectly arranged is there much demon
stration OF the truth Of the theory propounded The
author Is thoroughly conscious OF his weakness and
confines himself to pointing to facts which call for
further investigation. He feels (and he Is
right that the subject is OF sufficient importance
to call for action the part OF the authorities. As
he very justly observes the Storm Signal Bureau
is for the benefit cheny OF the mercantile body, but
the whole population Ia indirectly Interested In Its
operat0n. In the same way the experiments, which
ne calls for with the object OF establishing some
system to produce rain al pleasure, would princi-
pally De Of importance to the agricultural popula-
t0n, but then the interest OF the nation is closely
bound up with the prosperity OF this class Of pro-
ducers In support OF his theory that II is possible
to compel rain at VIII by the disturbance caused in
the atmosphere BY heavy discharges Of artillery, he
cites great number OF instances In which rain has
followed battles in seasons OF great drought, when Its
fall could only be accounted FOR by atmospheric dis
turbance due to neavy cannonading. The most
noteworthy instance adduced Is ut the battle OF
Buena Vista, in Mexico, in 1s47, where, after the
engagement OF the first day, several heavy
showers fell, the same result happening
the second day, though rain had fallen at the
place for several months previously nor did any fall
for some months afterwards This Is but one exam
pie among many with which Mr. Powers supports
his case, ana certainly the facts. as laid down in
his interesting little work, deserve the utmost atten
ton.
In approaching the question why the firing OF can
non produces this effect Mr. Powers no longer
speaks with decisive autharlty and at best offers
put speculations, some or which are, no doubt
well founded, but still require the confirmation
which only an extended course Of experiments can
give them. Mr. Powers advances his opinions mod
erately, and carefully avoids drawing exaggerated
conclusions. lie holds that electricity acts an i'm
poltant part the production Of rain and that this
force Is produced by the explosion OF the gun
charge. He says
Electricy Is regarded as one OF the forms or force
and certainly IN the discharge OF a battery OF arti
lery immense force Is brought into action. Frtc-
into ana ON made % 70 produce eiecricty and two
batteries OF artillery are placed opposite each other
ne0usly, it be doubted that friction win be
duced by the particles OF the air moving over each
other and that electricity Will be deve0pedW
Further on he argues from the effect Of artillery
discharges in causing water spouts to dissolve that
similar effect can be produced on the clouds in the
upper regions. To quote his own words:-
"These considerations suggest that the effect OF
artillery arlng on a. horizontal current m or moving
being directly above the place where tie firing
rum with the air above and below It, would Yield
to the slightest force, anu 1t may easily be consd
fred @ simultaneously, would cause it to sway
upward, and finally, If the firing were |
en' be worth the trouble and expense u to set this
important question at rest. II indeed nature he
compelled 70 weep sweet lertiMng tears a. the 6li,
wrath Will have before 1t o nobler destiny than |
belcning death on armed battalions, and the voice
crime VIII become sweeter to the ear than the COO
Many objections might be urged to the theory ad-
vanced and the most powerful one is the fact that
rain does not always fall after battles. The expana
tOn offered by the author on this point Is decidedly
weak, put though he may not have been able to i'm
agine the proper solution OF the difficulty expert
ments properly conducted would be abe TO- settle |
the question satisfactorily. At all events It is or
SUFFICIENT importance 10 merit the attention OF the
government and our thanks are due to Mr.. Power |
Tor the careful manner in which he has worked out
his subject.
edition. Philadelphia: ]. u. Peterson Brothers.
This new edition OF the late DR.. Andrew Com
stocks well known system Of theoretical and prac-
tical clocutioD comprises "a Complete Speaker and
Reading Book" by Professor Philip Law renee, OF
Philadelphia The selection OF 'gems by the best
authors In prose and verse; seems to have been
carefully made. DR.. Comstock's BOOK Is illustrated
by 263 engravlngs. The part relating 10 gesture is
extracted principally from Austins "Chlromania,"
o work too bulky, expensive and rare for ordinary
students. Like all compilers OF similar publications
DR.. Comstock drew largely upon Lavater and Rush,
and In particular upon Sidd0n's translation OF
Engels Gesture and Action" which Is full Of good
things, but has no principle OF classification
Nearly every treatise on elocuton is merely en-
prical What is wanted Is not q collection OF en-
pir,cal rules but system OF positive principles,
rounded upon profound study OF human nature. |
The manuscripts OF the late lamented Delsarte !
doubtless contain such a system, and Its publlca-
ton by Mr.. James Steele MacKaye, or some other !
favore pupil OF the celebrated French elocutionlst,
would be heartily welcomed by the public.
LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.