The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-08-12

pendent, an article, which, for "geodestic,
electrical, barometricaI, meteorological, topo-
graphical" nonsense, for ''conglomers ate" pc.
dantc display of unmeaning jargon, indus
irious and laborious ignorance and for learn
ing in distress, excels anything of the sort, it
has ever been my affection to peruse. And
IS clear transparent clue idation of the sub
ject, not to mention the evidences Of the liter
airy excellences Of the essay exhibited in al
most every sentence, the production in ques-
tions is rare gem, emitting its author nos
only to the title of N. D.. but also L. L. d.
Whether we have among US many learned
gentlemen, who can justly claim the above
ma med titles, know not. but that there are a
few erudte scholars, 10 our gcodly city, who
should, without unnecessary delay, have ap-
pended to their names, A. 8. s., is not with
me q question. 4.3
I seriously Doubt whe Their among our var-
Gus distinguished literati, there can be I'M
earthed another person, besides the writer OF
the nondescript lucubration, who could con-
centrats in the same number of words, more
condensed unintelligibls tribulation, CT finer
specimen Of the quintescence Of nonsence
1t is presumable the article was written
with view to the enlightea ment Of common
people-for the edi6cation of the unlearned
masses, yet much question whether there is
asolitary reader of your paper. Mr.. Editor,
who, on close and diligent perusal Of the
learned essay, can give any rational account
Of the mystery, submitted for explanation.
And yet, we are told with q flourish. that the
reasons for our exemption from tornadoes,
when fully elucid ated in accordance with the
"natural geodistic. scientific" laws, involved
will be made so plain BY our n. D. that
way.farring man, though fool can not fail to
understand and fully comprehend them 81!
more than doubt whether our NJ D. phil
osopher, himself, has any clear comprehen-
sion Of his uwn tbeory-at least such a con-
ciusion 10 inferable from the very isose, un.
warrantable way in which terms are en-
ployei. *-s .s..H.
Where the gems are 80 profuse, it is diff
cult to make selections:
This great geodistic ridge is siasner, or
girder, to the central plain of our country.
Hence our almost total exemption from earth
quakes, as well as from other meteorological,
excuses. The electrical currents sre not SO
easily disturbed as the greater attractive in.
fuences are from within, and not from with
out. Electrical disturbances are always great.
est when the earth 8 surface is weakest" &c
The bean. pole, stifener in question is in a
line with say the Indiana Central Railroad
So, Mr.. Edit,r,it is a. Transparent as mud
why We can not be favo . with an occa siena
exhibition Of "me:eno osical exc ,ss -" in
the shape Of . gentle earthquake--how con
solitary this reflection is II
I rather fancy this new nomenclature
meteorological excess" for earthquake-st
poetical Land We common barbarians neel
fear no such catastrophe so long as the 'stiffen
er Of the backbone" remains istact!
"The earth is the great terrestrial Leyde,
jar, charged or sur charged as tho case may
be, from the great central reservoir. Thes
central forces approach the surface, are
course westward upon the very lowest valley
as the strongest electrical currents is Away
in contiguity with the surface. Hence tn
l
in Prehls county. Ohio, and follows the loves
surface, with and south of US, and again meet
west Of Indianapolis some twenty miles, thu
| leaving US to enjoy the current in genti1sf,
while our neighbors suffer from its most an
cry ravings."
Gentility is good--but our N !. D don't teac
us how these electrical currents originate
nor even what they are. He assures US, how
ever, as meteorological axiom not enly tbs
nearly all cur ,aerisl currents come from th
west and northwest, but that however Zero
they may be, they are alike the willing an
obedent servants of this all powerful geode
tic elsctr cal fire current. Let these aeri;
messer gers be freighted with whatever the
may, whether rain, hail, snow ,or even pest
entail miasm, they yield hom lge to this earth
ly king and potentate, and do his biddin
NEST obsequiously,' &c., and mors Of sue
bosh ad nauseam. II is ready difficult 1
realize that the perpetrster of this STUFF,
not trying to play on the credality and gull
hility OF his readers. One more quotatit
must close ny Excerpts FROM this fraasce
dental, abortion.
Terrestrial electricity belongs to the cart
only SO far as it possesses metallic qualit
for electricity i only the spirit of the meta
not of other terrestrial substances. Ele
tricits is not . general charaoteriatic OF t
earth, nor of the whole solar system, only
far - its component elements are electric I
ceptives, that is, metallic bases II" There y
have it!
defy more scientific heresey Injected il
the sale number of words.
Among all scientific men--of All countr
what 10 termed electricity is consoles
simply mode Of notwithstanding stro
} analogy to heat and Light. 1t bears ct.
r ing resemblance to heat. go
In other words, mantle stat ionsof electric
appear when certain peculiar motions {,
place among the particles or atoms Of all %
ters. 1t Is the opinion received by all n
. having any just claim to knowing apyth
, Of the subject, that all obj ects, without exc
ton. are pervsded with slectr lefty, or %
properly speaking, that every material 8,
} stance IN the universe, is capable of mantle
ing that peculiar mode Of motion am ong
particles, known as electricity and that 81,
of it arc manifested not only in all ch emf
changes-but in all changes, whether orga
! or inorganic-and yet we are told by
: learned N. d. that electricity is the esprit
{, metals not Of other terrestrial substance
7 When the fact is that the atoms or 0
e ticles composing metals are simply susce
e BILE, to q greater degree than any other s
J, stances, as class, Of the peculiar motion
h force, termed, for want of better word, 81
J. tricity. ......
Heat and electricity are convertible