Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-02-13
Prof. Tice's Almanac.
RESUMED FROM our LAST lssul

NNlauoNS Us 10 weight OF the az
mosphere III certain supposed al
tered electrical conditions. II is
just here that issue is Joined. Show
this 10y the testimony OF magnet
ometersssay the scientists; show and
what supervening agencies there
are entering the field from time to
time to alter the electrical relations
.ofearth and air,
This Prof. Tice undertakes to do
by naming what he styles the four
great meteorological cycles, which
each heavenly body revolving about
a primary, is compelled to pass
thought being understood that
tie orbit Of the planet is at an in
cine with the equatorial plane of
tie sun or primary, so as to cut it
tvice at each revolution; and that
atthe points of aphelion and peri
hlion, respectively, owing to the
Til of the suns axis relatively to
tR ecliptic, the planet comes under
TIN differing influences alternate
ly-now of its north pole, now of
its south pole-the axis, like that
of the earth, being taken to be
magnetic.
Space does not permit us to fur
thtr elueidate Prof. Tice's peculiar
astronomical speculations. Our in
tention has been simply to indicate
the point in argument upon which
they bear. The page ofthe Altman
ao entitled Outlines Of Mcteorol-
pgy," is suggestive Of much that is
connected with the electrical theory
eferred to. The chapter which
pillows II, entitled electro Planet
Try Theory Of Meteorognosy"--a
ord coined in bad taste certainly
"A deserving of attention, perhaps;
W whether, for clearness and
cgency of statement, it will be
accounted to be scholarly is 4 ques.
tbn. A cardinal idea put forth as
neuce, and upon which the Pro-
pssor's whole theory Of cycles
hpends, is, that there goes into
space along the plane of the suns
equator Gas Of every revolving body
inpliedly) n vastly extended sheet
oelectrical influences of exceptional
ptency, which each planet ofcourse
ecounters twice at each revolution.
his frequent encounter by one
pnet and another he makes the
SURGE Of manifold electrical dis
trbances, and herein rests his
Ipwer Of prophecy.
The Professors statement as TO
te generation Of electricity within
Tolving bodies simply by virtue
their being rotating (nothing
i'd about friction) is new, and
eeds TO be substantiated; as to,
lat the suns electricity, supposing
to be SO generated, would be
oecially concentrated along the line
its equator, whether an opposite
Iole were there specially presented
lot. This is to disregard the dis
lnction between free and static
Electricity. The Professor seems
Iimself 10 contradict il, when, in
Peaklng OF lightning rods, he says:
hl electric action is confined 10
he space between the poles" The
Professors views, il is 10 be hoped,
ire more fully and convincingly set
orth in his larger work on meteor
,logy, which we see announced.
Some adduce as negativing the
electrical theory Of storms that the
very delicate magnetometer at the
Observatory at Madison waa hardly
moved by the close approach Of the
tornado Of 1878. This is worthy Of
note, indeed, but after all, upou
reflection, il is what our experience
or the behavior Of the electric fnid
when under high tension, should
have prepared US for. Witness
how the electric spark, when inten-
sifed, as it has been, by aid Of the
Rhumkorf Coil, may be made To
penetrate a glass block, Of some
inches in thickness, boring a narrow
aperture through II, without shiy.
IL y. III III :. ......a. .-..A. . 4