Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-11-22
The Atmosphere.

The miracles Of life attr4ct no atten-
ton, because habit has dulled our sem
sibilities; but they are none the less ex-
traordlnary, none the less cogent as
arguments in behalf of a first great
cause. For an illustration, take the at
mosphere. In this subtle fluid. which
overtiows land and deep, like another
ocean, all breathing creatures live and
move, as fish in the sea. Without the
atmosphere the lungs would cease to
play, the blood to keep pure, pulsation
to go on, existence to continue. IF. by
any strange alchemy of nature, the at
mosphere could be suddenly extirpated,
all created animals would die, like
mice under the exhausted receiver of
an air-pump. To the atmosphere we
are indebted for the vital principle that
! feeds our fires. We cook our food,
warm our dwellings, and drive our loco
motives through the direct aid of the
atmosphere. 1t is the atmosphere in
motion that propels ships across the
deep, or brings us cooling gales in the
heats of summer. Sight is reflected by
the atmosphere, SO that we owe to it the
painted clouds of sunset and the reful-
gent tints of dawn.
The atmosphere is the principal agent
In modifying climate The rains of
spring, the SHOWS of winter, the gentle
dew, the pelting shower, all owe their
origin to the atmosphere. Lieutenant
Maury has felicitously described it as
the mighty pumping machine, drawing
water up from the ocean, carrying it in
/ of To nd
cipitating it over the thirsty fields and
dry brooks in the guise. of rain. The
heats of our southern Pacific tropics
during the winter of our northern hemi-
sphere, evaporate immense quantities
of water from the ocean, which, ascend
ing to the high strata of the atmo-
sphere. are borne on aerial currents to
the northeast, till, striking the Rocky
Mountains, they are condensed by the
greater cold of these enormous eleva-
tons, and copious falls of hail, snow, or
rain are the result. 1t is the atmo-
sphere, bringing us the warm vapors OF
the southern summer, which are, on
their arrival here III winter, converted
into snow or rain, which fills our rivers,
irrigates our fields and secures to us our
harvests. Without the atmosphere the
Mississippi would soon run out, and
even the great lakes dry up into deserts.
To the atmosphere the entire vegeta-
BILE world is indebted for its food. Plants
live on carbon as men on oxygen, and
it is the atmosphere which distributes
both. An eloquent writer has said that
the gas which we breathe to-day was
distilled for us, yesterday perhaps, OF
the rhododendrons of Carolina, or the
palms of the Orient. Animals can &c
and seek their food, but vegetables must
have it brought to them; and therefore
without the atmosphere, which serves
as their carrier, they would perish at
once. 1t is the atmosphere which
softens the glazing light of day, and
thus protects the eyesight. 1t is the
atmosphere which purities pestilential
regions by sending its currents, scaven-
ger-like, to sweep away foul gases. Yet
how little is this all-pervading influence
of the atmosphere realized! Were any
new agent to appear, whose power was
but a 1.-THE as extensive, the whole
civilized world would be lost in anxiety
and wonder; but because men have be
come habituated to the functions Of the
atmosphere, its daily miracles pass
|