Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-25
Oran IaIe~ant Assortment OF
80 Under Kings Opera House.
| STRIC TLY At COST!
4Heayenlv BANQUET.

The extraordinary phenomenon OF \
shower of quivering flesh reported from
Sterling KY, has puzzled the natives OF
the whiskey State beyond measure. Ac-
cOrding 10 the special telegram, the Oc-
Currence took place while the sun was
shining brightly ia the clear sky, aud n
large area was covered by the precipita-
tion- The hogs and chickens rushed 10
enjoy the heavenly banquet and devOuTed
the substance with evident relish. II
would appear that the centennial year L.
TO become famous in our annals for more
than the mere political associations
which surround IL, aud Dountiful nature
showers down the fOoh for the hogs and
chickens in the West 50 as To allow the
farmers OF that happy region more time
fOr the contemplation of their country's
greatness II Is an unthaniful Office 10
spoil mystery, and to rob the quidnuncs
of their right 20 discuss its wonderful de-
tlils, and compare iotes regarding the
relation it hears 20 the duration OF the
worlds lifetime. We feel a kind Of COM
junction in forcstalling the wonderful
deductions Of the village debating sOcie-
ties, and are In despair at spelling the
gossip of the husking parties; bat duty
10 "a mass OF our matter-of-iact readers,
who have no time for researches into the
mysteries of the aerial world, compels US
TO explain.
At different periods in history there
have been recorded such strange occur
rences rs showers of live fish over con-
siderable areas of land, and all bearing
the evidences of having been but lately
transferred from their natural elements
TO the aerial heights whence they fell TO
the earth. Vast numbers OF small frogs
have also been known 10 fall during rain
showers, and in the middle ages the In
habitants of Europe were stirred 10 re-
pentance for their manifold sins by an
ominOus shower OF blood, an event which
Was promptly turned TO account by the
religious teachers Of the time, and point
ed u as an evidence OF Divine displeas-
ure at the wickedners of men. But skep-
tical philosophers discovered that atmOs-
pheric whirlpOOls, such as that recently
experienced at st. Charles, Mo-, could
suck all the water out of ponds, aud even
create water spOuts that raised vast bO-
dies OfWater from the sea- and of course
frogs and fishes went upward with tbe
element they inhabited. The shower Of
blood was proved 20 be caused by the red
pollen Of certain plants growing IN East
cru Europe. and which being borne
fiirqugh the upper air hE force ~ The
Winds necnlne mixed ufil Size laI1IUE
rain and impaired to IL all the .appeai'-
auce Of blood. II the story from Stsi.-
ling, Ky, is true, the shower of quiver-
ing flesh was nothing more than mass
OF the Larvae OF insects, which, having
been caught up by whirlwind and car
ried TO an Immense hight, returned TO
earth again in the form OF a shower Of
bruised and wriggling worms. Many Of
the lonely Western lake shores are sur
rounded with vast accumulations Of
these larye Of flies, which present a most
disgusting spectacle by the quivering
crawling movement OF the little red
worms that compose the mass. The up
ward centripetal motion Of tornadOes is
favorable for the raising of heavier OBJ
jects than worms TO a great elevation,
and there Is no doubt that the deposit al
Sterling, Ky, is due 10 this cause. Ths
quivering motiGa observed in the sO-
called flesh Is either due 10 the ''lasl
kicks of the worms in their dying strug-
giles or 10 the shrinkage OF their Tissues
when exposed 20 the action of a dense at
mosphere. In the far West the Indians
dry these larvae in cakes aud use thsn
for food Innumerable birds diet on
them also. IL is, therefore, not 20 be
wondered at that the Kentucky hogs and
chickens regarded rs high living what
poor 10 considers n delicaey.-N. Y. Her
aid