The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-07-22
LIGHTNING,

Nearly twenty years ago the writer re-
members turning with smile TO other,
who shrank and cried at the peAls OF q
terrible storm in q country house. The
glare OF bolt coming down the center Of
the room caught the eye at that very in.
slant; the next there was an explosion
that shook tho house, and insensibility
followed. Two men in the same room
were burned by the bolt, though no lives
were lost, but have never been able to
smile at lightning since. To give any idea
OF the terror felt on a nervous organiza.
ton by the shock would involve extrava.
gaBce OF terms.
But, unfortunately, so far from being al
exception, ther Q are too many who suffer
the same harrGssments with me. Nor arc
women alone subject TO this nervousness
] know q school superintendent and csnsl
contractor, a man over fifty, with large
f~..iiJ, wL~ would LiJs g.. ~iosoeia a
storm, and bad been known TO rush from
bis bed with fright at lightning. Many
will remember the professor Of Bowdoin
college, who always retreated TO the cell
lar In thunder storm although his house
wGs bristling with lightning rods. The
strongest man ever knew, who could
throw another man across the street, and
work hand press in printing office as
if be were part of the machine, was dis
charged as a reporter because his desk
was vacant every time there was thun-
der storm. The mother of Washington
was afraid O. 'ightning, and never failed
10 retreat TO her room at the first flash OF
a storm where she staid till the last flash
died away. Tho physical effects OF this
fear are most depressing. One of the
most dauntless young women know was
sick in bed Tor hours after the great storm
at Springfield, Mass, last year. She had
received a shock of lightning years before
and never fails of being i'll in a thunder
storm ever since.
Ii 10 never too Voon TO 20 In the house
when q storm is rising. When the clouds
are charged with electricity they are
most dangerous, and the fluid obeys a
subtitle attraction which acts at great
distances and iu all directions. y wo.
man told me of a bolt which cRme down
her mothers chimney from rising cloud
when the sun was shining overhead. N.
p. Willis writes ofa young girl who was
killed while passing under telegraph
wire on the brow OF hill, while she was
hurryIng home before storm. The sad
accident at Morrisania, when two child
rem we're killed, shorld warn every
mother that It is not safe TO let children
sta1 out OF doors I'LL the last minute be-
fore the storm falls. People should not
be fool hardy about sitting on porcbes or
by open windows, whether the storm IL
hard or not. Mild showers often carry 3
single charge which falls With deadly
effect. II may or may not be fatal to
stay out 1T is safe 10 be In the house with
The windows aud doors closed. The dry
air Ia The house is . reader conductor
than the damp cir outside, and any
drsuRht Of air invites II. A bot fire in q
chimney attracts Il, so TO speak, and II is
prudent for those who would be sure sf
safety to use kerosene or gas stoves in
summer, and avoid heating the chmneys
OF the houses. have ssen girl Of Is
crying with fear of lightning, and run
ming every other moment 10 the window
to see II the storm wss not abating, un-
conscious that she was putting herself ln
danger. II every one would hurry to
shelter - soon As q storm cloud was com.
Ing, and If they would shut the dAfs
and vic dows, and keep away from them
Afterward, and from wires, stovepipes,
mAntels, chimaeys, heaiers and mirrors,
with their sIlvsred backs, which carry eiec.
trieity, and keep away from lightning
rods and their vicinity, and from metal
wsisrspouis, with good rods on their
houGes they might dismiss the fear oi
Lightning from their minds, 20 far A. IL IL
a thing Of reason aud not impression.
-
The Chieago type Of girl has a houpE.
,sif Nasa an = hyeYfer baAy and long