The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-30

~ r<ar-Scax 4. ,<-S.~ zssss,.r,. \, 49,
R1CHMJND.
-, Sc.
--
twenty-five years Of examination assert the
tact. '
H0u might as well attempt The, arrest, of
the ball fired from a columbiad with The point
lof o jbayonet as to eattemptsthe, arrest of q
projected ythnnde bolt with half for three.
quarter inch diameter iehtning- rod.
Tns5 scphistseatHd terms OF :. positive and
negative electricity z OF . sftreous and resin.
Gus slectficisy g ot - indnctiVe electricity" !"
Ec.,h not Defined 40 the stubborn logic OF
iacts, or Where IL STANDS ina denniti0n con-
trary 70 ehe facts made manifest By its post.
tive action, are only calculated to confuse The
mind OF the student OF, science and TO mis;
ieaa him fp ,hts deductions. Il. !:
/ There ls 7er hind The throne OF all
science, beyond the compass and comprehaeri- ~
SION OF the human Rind, ZOE which me- ~ we pave
ia no oeIter 9 sRoIa % name i1sn notion. EYen
hynua'fs enVir0nment !, {, ana Huxlley,s
aueomatism fail .to 3exptain 10, ana II y
past nnoing out. molecular motiohs and OF
gahE motlon can De oatyf ffaFiOns 10 ailefen.
Ilatea degree. Ihey are convertible things.
Ahe tuuhoer Det1 IL q pay Oh feieased iorce IN
aggregated molecular I0rD, ana sit oDeys'tne
common law OF proJeetiie forces in. WhateFer
eonditleon I. they appear anu IL, Whatever garo
tney present themselves. rl observations
autnorIze e.,ll me 70 say tnat Wnen metal roofs
snml become tne RUE, instead OF tne excep-
non, INJURY 70 our puitolngs anu tnelr con.
tents by Jupiters arelllery VIII have passed
aWay. as ene apprenended Danger mas passed
away ay.oetere-tnelhento of t fatienai knoWieoge.
The nood OF hgn5 tnat mas neen snea upon
us 10 the yeEcrude science OF the persistence
and coreiiaton Or forces IS in ltset Ell sulncient
to<dispei the deiusion OF tne emeiency OF
DooKln 10 cope WIN steam'nammeT. In.
ponderabie elements, as we term those mat
are 100 nue. lor cruae sensSlDillties t9 take ma
teriai cognizance OF, are not 10 oe nega.eo .oy
homeopathic quantlties Oh cruoe' Lhateiial. !st
ane nnef tne matter Inc tnore potent its ac-
tlen: -.---,--. ,--..,.--.----
Sihat a thunoerpolt Is a4eaesericairs result,
ant from tne shaaeR fefmatien 2ltcip1 anu
rain IS evidenced IN its neyer7laliing a1eno-
amt deposition OF hail or ram Iherej may
be projection OF thunderbo!c Wild put ilttle
deposition efirain on the ear1h, ,and without
any ct all; but never without rapid lorna
ton OF cloud. l'have watched storms from
every possible point-trom below, from
above, from the sides, from within tneir
Vortlcai caldrons, ana ma 1 nave Deen hoar,
frosted in their midst ~ midsummer, ana j
have always found electrical explosions TO
be concomitant with sudden changes of clear
air into cloud and rain.
Like from the Individual grains of gun.
powder, by ignition, greaV amount OF lm-
prisoned force may be released, almost un-
perceived, and harmless as the dust tnat Is
blown against US in the street; but When 1t
is concentrated in the death. dealing bomo- ON
shell, TO be let loose suddenly, u IS 1aF moro
destructive than the heaviest thunderbolt:
The lightning stroke is suddenly.reieased
fores-force transmitted from the cloud to
the earth, To shield our houses from this
OFT projected force we naYe' so ial US ekPe,
rience teaches US, but one barrier, metal
superfces, not less than the superficial
area efa dwelling atfords-tbe greateTthe So
perfces the greater the protection. II must
not be forgotten that Franklin's theory
OF the lghtnlpg:rod was tnas H snouo- pre-.