Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-04-27
MR.. ARBOGAST's LECTURE.

We were so unfortunate as not to be pre-
sent at the opening of the lecture By the Rev
Mr.. Arbogast, on Monday evening last, but
the reverend geutleman's thorough, exhaust
i've and pleasant way of dealing with the
subject that he undertakes, is we'll known to
all in this community, and secured to him at
that time, as it must undoubtedly do at all
times, good assemblago of our people. His
highly appreciated and valuable lecture at
Washington Hall several months ago, on the
subject of ''Water-its forms and uses"
replete as it was with the ripe fruits of lAbo>
rious scientific Investigation, raised him at
once into favor, and the bare announcement
that Mr.. Arbo CAST had kindly accepted an
Invitation of our Good Templars to visit our
tendance of a fine audience Tho subject
chosen for that evening, "Meteors," is one
about which most of US may plead pardona>
BILE ignorance, and laudabIe curiosity. In
the dark ages, regarded with a supcrstitious
eye, and considered always as the harbinsers
of some great calamity, even at this day, they
are subject of much apprehension by tho
unscientifc. The lecturer, with the aid of
several blackboards, demonstrated many
facts with reference to comets, meteors,
aerolites, or air stones, which he said were
different names for similar bodies.
He showed to the audience the method by
which astronomers calculated the height Of
these meteors, and their average distance
from the earth, which was about 63 miles.
The human eye can detect them 105 miles
distant, and of these st any time person if
he could SEQ, like the tabled monster of old,
on all sides, might discover in the horizon
Thousands per hour. Besides these, were what
is known as telescope metcors, visible only
by aid of the telescope; so that wo may as
sert beyond doubt that in the infniiude of
space, aud conceded from mortal vision, ore
countless numbers beyond human calculation
He said that the theory that heat is but
a mode of motion, has been successfully de-
monstrated, and universally accepted. Take
for instance a wheel, and place it near .
thermometer. If the wheel revolves I25
feet per second, it will raise the thermometer
one degree. Raise the rotatory motion OF
the wheel to twice the celebrity, aud you
raise the thermometer to an amount equal to
square Of one degree, and this rule is es>
tablished as far as you may extend it. and
when meteor comes into our atmosphere
the motion of the earth, together with its
own motion, SO increases upon the same
principle the motion of the molecules of the
atmosphere, that it produces an intensity of
heat hardly imaginable, and causes these
foreign bodies very frequently to explode.
Hence, the oft recurring fall of mcteoric
stones, which are generally found Scared
and sometimes Iiven by the great heat We
most frequently see these metoors, he said,
In August, and explained to tho audience q
table which fixed their average appearance
during the year. For instance, commencing
at the month of January and going up to
August, you will sec about twice as manv
any clear August evening as you will SEQ in
January and the number decreases from that
month until the end OF the year, and so with
any particular night, you can see more at six
In the morning than at any earlier hour lie
told some anecdotes Of the effect of falling
stars upon the beholders, which elected much
laughter in the audience, and which, lilo
condiments at dinner, gave to his lecture
flavor which all seemed to relish.
There are a certain class of these heavenly
bodies which known as the November
meteors, which are visible about every 53 wears.
which some will remember having observed
in 1888, and the five years Immediately sue
oceding, and which appeared again in 1866
and '67. They are moving bodies with
regular orbits, which cross those of the earth
and other primary planets, and the earth
passes through this platoon once in third
of a century, it taking about five years before
it leaves them entirely, and they vanish
from sight. The lecturer concluded by say
ing that he made careful preparation of his
subject, aud had endeavored by SO doing to
requite the kindness shown him by second
Invitation, and hoping that the audience had
derived some information from it. as he had
undoubtedly dono in preparing it, would
say, good night.
The following named gentlemen, appointed
at the last Senatorial Convention held in the
District, now compose tho Democratic Sena>
torial Executive Committee:
Berkeley-COI. j. @. A. Nadeubousch,
b. +. Brady, Decatur Hedges.
WEN yJ!eherSson-Capt. George Baylor, s. F.
White, George Mckinney.
MorganoJ: s. DuCkwall, Matthias Am.
brose, A. R. Unger.
The Virginia Republicans held a stormy