Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-14
Why the Msteors Failed to Strike a
Light This MOrning-some-
thing Scientific Regard
ing the Matter.
How Pure Air Makes Us Healthy
The Present Warmth No
Cause for Alarm, Etc.

larity, leather medals and ovations
therefore no names are given.
Reporter-What about this meteor.
ic shower that Professor Tice pre-.
dicted would occur this mernins
between midnightAnd daylight
Scientist-Well, on last Saturday
[ made a test of the atmosphere IRE
membering Professor It's prediction,
and | came to the Conclusion that VIC
would be deprived OF the pleasure Of
witnessing Professor Tice's promised
display. As l told you last Saturday
morning, the atmosphere was sur
charged with electricity, and we
would either have stormy weather
within t~hirty-six hours from the time
we had the conversation or it would
turn suddenly cold. Between mid
night Saturday night and daylight
Sunday morning we had the electrical
storm, but no cold weather. The at
mOsphere was so heavily charged with
meteoric properties that it was bound
to give either thunder, lightning,
wind and rain, or else turn suddenly
cold and favor US with a meteoric
shower. The temperature was SO
high on Saturday and Saturday
night that the meteoric properties Of
the air were forced into an electrical
storm, as it were, whereas, if there
had been a sudden fall of temperature
caused by winds from the north or
northwest we would have had a most
beautiful shower Of meteors. l have
noticed from my childhood that the
greatest number Of meteors fall be-
tween one o'clock in the morning and
daylight on very cold mornings, but
very few can be seen during the sum
mer mornings. As we had an %electri-
cal storm between midnight Saturday
night and daydawn Sunday morning
We will have no meteoric display to-
night. The sheets Of flames which
lit up the heavens at the time men
toned was nothing more nor less than
the burning by wholesale Of the me-
teoric properties with which the at
mosphere was surchargcd. Those
who sit up tonight may sec a meteor
now and then dart through space, but
as regards a general shower of meteors
emphatically assert there Will be
none. The temperature remains too
high for q meteoric shower in this
latitude.
RepOrter-Don't mention high tenn
perature to our returned refugees. it
frightens them.
Scientist = Yes, l have met some
persons within the past few days who
were so badly scared that they could
not talk intelligibly. Why, do you
know, sir, that the atmosphere ou
side Of houses is as pure in Memphis
to-day as it could possibly be. Some
houses have been thoroughly venti-
lated and are kept open that the pure.
frosty air and sunshine may sweep
through them and carry all the nox-
ious yapOrs far out into the swamp
where they belong, but there are some
people who insist on keeping the poi
son in their houses by hermetically
sealing them as it were. so that the
pure air cannot get in. They insist on
shutting themselves up in their
houses TO engender and create disease
that will destroy them, and, while de-
stroying themselves, destroy their
neighbors in this manner.
Reporter-Bat do you not believe
that the high temperature Of the past
few days has destroyed all the frost
properties with which the north winds
that swept oyer Us 4 week va sur
charged the atmosphere?
sqieBtist-Sot q bit Of it. The
north and northwest winds were 50
heavily laden with frost, and the hui
midityof the atmosphere vas 10 small
that the process Of publication was
more rapid han / have ever known.
On that cold morning q allude to
Tuesday morning, November 4th).
land / suppose many others noticed
the same thing found great difficulty
~ hFe7ihing. This was caused by the
small quantity Of moisture IN tho air.
attended by the very low temperature
Of ~. AsI told you a few days ago.
! sat up % that occasion till after
midnight TO test the temperature. Al
midnight On the q af IBIS month the
thermometer recorded a temperature
OF ~ ] took a cup Of water, and
dashed it broadcast over a metal roof
and 10 less than two minutes | scooped
y OF the roof 10 is concealed state.
which was lee. The north and north.
Eest Winds which prevailed on that
d'y killed the yellog fever 30 dead, a,
Tar a. Memphis i concerned q mean
30 DC outside atmosphere, person.
continue ventilation and disinfection
4nf eze'q'e ~ ne open air) that VIC
vii bot H. iClicrrd yL.L Il L,.