The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-09-23

this, aud hbored fully two years be-
fore he arrived at satisfactory conclu-
sion. He reasoned that the maxima of
earthly dinturbances occurred at the
same time as solar phenomena, and
those were synchronous with the pass
age Of Jupiter through particular points
OF tho orbit. SO Jupiter's position
must be at least the proximate cause OF
these erraticisms in the sun, the earth,
aud possibly the whole solar system.
Mr.. lice holds that the influence Of
Jupiter is electric. II his orbital posi-
ton, at any one time, influences his
own electricity, the earth, when IN sim
lar positions, must be likewise in
huenced; and 80 of the other planets.
As we know nothing Of what is passing
in Jupiter, we must take the earth as n
STANDARD and calculate, from anatory,
as to what is passing elsewhere. The
electric condition of the earth is af-
fected by its position to the sun for, if
all earthly phenomena be divided into
equinoctial and solstitial, the relative
proportions Of the former to the latter
will be as three to one. The equinoxes
are especially marked by violent ut.
mosphoric perturbations gales, tor
nadoes, and changes of the periodic
winds. Besides the exposure to the
fnll influence of the suns rays, at the
cquinoctial seasons, of a portion of the
earth which had not previously been
under its influence, the poles Of the sun
is pointed more directly to the earth
then than at any other time, and the
influence is consequently greater.
The appearance of the spots on the
surface of Jupiter, which coincide in
time with the intervals OF his equinoxes,
and the variations in the belts which
surround the body Of the planet, which
changes take place at the periods of
greatest disturbance, also lend their in
fuence to the confirmation of Mr..
Tice's theory. Moreover, at the times
of greatest perturbation, the sky of the
planet is much more clouded than at
any other period and this fact, added
to the change in color and appearance
of his belts, and occasionally their en-
largoment and increase OF number,
gives additional testimony to the fact
of his participation in earthly dibtur-
Dances. Mr.. Tice does not claim in
fallibility for his theories on this point,
and does not- pretend to fix the exact
date of Jupiter's dist,lrban 3es, since he
asserts that they extend over period
of three years F.; but in regard to Venus,
Mercury and Vulcan, he alleges that
more particularly can be used, and the
period known to day, since the planets
revolve with 50 much greater rapidi'y.
CONCURRENCE OF EQUIHoXgs,
Whatever may be the force OF the
disturbance on the earth by a single
Jovial equinox, the perturbation is much
increased when the equinox of Venus
or of Mercury comedies with that of
Jupiter, but no less violent terrestrial
phenomena are displayed when Venus
and Mercury or Vulcan unite their
forces. In general it may be stated, as
a rule, that the energy OF any planet is
greatly intensified when the equinox of
another occurs near the same time
Mr.. Tice has carefully collected o num-
ber of terrestrial phenomena, some of
which occurred six or eight centuries
ago, and in every case he found the
date to concur with that of conjunc-
tion of equinoxes. Now, the length OF
Jupiters wrath is three years, and
there is, of course, more or less pertur-
baton all the time T.; but during these
three years the earth furnishes ak cqui-
noxes Venus, nine; Murcury, twenty
four, and Vulcan about forty. eight
Each OF these equinnoxes are times of
special excitement, but, as several OF
the equinoxes Of Venus coincide with
those of the earth, we have from seven
to ten seasons of strong paroxysm.
The year 1871 was remarkable for
disturbances, and was Olso the time OF
considerable number of planetary
euuinoxes. Besides the Jovial, which
was operating in full force, there were
tho Venusian and the Terrestrial, botl
occurring in March, and, between
August and October 25, thero we're nc
less than nine one each of Mars, Mer'
curry, the Earth, Jupiter and Venus,
and four of Vulcan. The violence Of
terrestrial phenomena in that year viii!
therefore be very readily accounted
for. Auroras and sun spots were con
tinuous throughout August-one of the
latter was 1000 by $1,000 miles II
dimensions. Earthquakes were very
violent in the east and West Indies, IL
South America, and in some parts ol
Europe and Asia. Magnetic distur'
Dances were felt all over tho globo
cyclones, rain storms, and the most
dreadful hurricanes ragged in all the
tropical, and throughout much ol
the temperate zone. Typhoons and
earthquakes simultaneously swept the
southern parts of Asia and America
causing the loss Of lives. Nor did these
manifestations cease with the close o!
August, but continued throughout
September and October.
The excitement of Jupiter is fre
quently prolonged by Saturn, wheI
their equiuoxes correspond, as happens
once every fifty-nine years. The Satur
nian disturbance continues about s1
years, and Mr.. Tice states what he be
iieves to be q rule. that the period o
each planets influence asts about {
fourth of the time of its solar revolu
ton. Hence the period of Vulcan
revolution not beirg exactly known
his time of disturbance cannot be calcu
lated the phenomena caused by Mer
curry lasts about fifteen days those by
Venus, ffty.six days; by the Earth
three months; by Mars, five moths
by Jupiter, three, and by Saturn Blk o
seven years. AS earthquakes are tn
most noticeable natural phenomena
and from their distinotiyeness the mos
likely to be recorded by historians, MI
Tics takes them for examples, and wit
q commendable degree of perseverance
and vast amount of labor, traces bac
the equinoxes Of thu different planet
in almost every case to within fe'
months Of the occurrence, often to tb
exact time,