National Republican., 1881-09-08


when Is there going to be a lct.up in this
weather, Mr.. VcnnorT' was the all.important
question put TO the prophet.
"1 expect that there will be change in a few
days, and when II does occur II will be very sud-
den. The latter part Of the month will be rainy"
What else can you say encouraging about the
weather TO comog'
this year, but there will be warm spell in No
vember."
vESSoRs METHODS.
Mr.. Vennor, tell me something of your
methods That Is a subject of which the public
In this part of the world at least-know nothing"
My methods? That would be long story. II
is story too, that is hard to tell in words. You
ask me to try what have never heretofore at
tempted In brief the basis Of my work is the re-
suit OF observation and the comparison
of cause with cause, effect with effect
season with season. II is q mere matter of
relationships Now all this sounds abstrusc don't
II? And dctcst high sounding phrases and ub.
struscness-detcst them above all things. All my
life an active worker, and ever engaged in out.
door employments, 1t is no wonder that become
interested in the weather and made endcavors to
forecast It," remarked the Canadian after a
thoughtful pause. "l claim 10 special gift
What | do and have done Is the result of per.
sistent study and directing others labors. dis
covered one fact, and proving II to be fact beyond
question or dispute, have bullded upon t-and
built safely, think. What was that discovery E"
Just this that seasons and years rccur u coupcts
and trads, Rules applicable to the first season or
year of coupct equally applicable to the sec.
ond season or year of that couplet, and precisely
so IN the triads. Such is the main supcrstructure
Of my work. But soon found that the system was
not bound down to n mere generality, embracing
only n season or year In It's entirety. Experiments
evidenced that the same calculations could be
made for Il month. and that, too with an exact.
ness that at first appeared TO be surprising And |
pursued my work still further, until now do not
hesitate to bring
NY CALCULATIONS WITHIN A WEEK.
YES have been able to designate particular
days. That is usually my rule In the text of my
predictions. But the public should understand
that, except in special cases. / never risk every.
thing upon any single twenty four hours Ihave not
yet reached that point in my system, although
there is no telling what will he accom-.
plished In the near future. My expert.
cnco long ago impressed me with the force
OF the recurrence of periods of similar weather,
and to my personal experience | have added the
authentic records of thrce.quarers of a century.
Those records cover Canada and the United States
They are practically complete, and they uphold
my theories. Upon them, In fact, to no small ex-
tent, do depend for everything Sometimes
am bothered by my inability to decide whether
llNN uNOuIlGt vi u lIlnu Ol seasons, ana
until that matter is settled l am all at sea and
quite as likely to be wrong as right. Now, an In.
stance OF that was the winter of 1880, when YOU
will remember declined to say anything posi-
lively. i was in doubt upon many phases of the
then occurring weather, and was unwilling to
make any forecast. You will bear In mind the cir.
cumstances There was the strangest of weather
But the instances in which have been obliged IA
forcgo my predictions are wonderfully few. Such
n,tya d la f,,n
"How do you manage with your headquartcrsiu
| Montreal to map out the weather for New York
and other parts OF the United statcs?' asked the
reporter.
"lt is just there that the special virtue of com.
! parisOns comes ill.," was the quick reply
Montreal is my centre as l call IT, From
that centre all my observations are takeI
and all my calculations made. The surround
ings of Montreal and the influences that ex.
tend from that point are my primal means OF dc.
clnring results next to the teachings of the records
of which have told you. The consequences o
the influences reaching out from Montreal are ap
parent to one who knows intimately the influence
themselves. And so far MS those influences extend
so fur can they be traced understandingly ant
made the basis OF calculations as close as any pos
sible at their very point of origin.
| THE BORDER TO THE UNION.
The relation of weather in Canada to weather II
Il
mating studieso Close comparisons, extending
| over q long series of years, have established Ger
| tain facts that not only hamonize with my system
but that support and emphasize 1t. 1t Is the same
story Of cause and effect, present and prospective
This is hard to trace sometimes, but traceable II al
| ways Is Now, here Is m instance of the weather
relations, Midsummer frosts at Montreal signify cy
| clones and hurricanes in the Western and South
western States. To forecast the former for Cnnnds
means II forecast of thclNttcr for the other section
Sec? so certain sorts of weather are sure to pre-
vail In the Middle States, In New England and n
other points, in localities larger smaller as ma,
| appear, in exact accordance with established rule
touching the weather known at my centre
| Montreal. Just now have not the time to recit
those rules-the various relations aud slmilaritie
and contrasts Recently | have given more thai
ordinary attention to the weather Of the States
and no change Of temperature or storm is al
lowed to be passed by unrecordcd in my Office
| ! would like TO have you visit my headquarter
| In Montreal. You would find 1t interesting
Aside from that part of my bureau covering Can
ada you should see with what care / am gatherinI
facts relating to the States. Nearly all Of the prn
cipal newspapers Of the Union reach me, and
have assistants whose special duty II is TO rcOt
these journals and clip out every reference TO tn
weather and connected subjects All this data |
catalogued ready for reference and use"
BEGINNING WEATHER PROPHECY
"When did You first set up In the prophet bust
ness?' questioned the reporter
"That is rather hard to state. For years hat
been associated with the Canada geological survey
and, 10 a greater or less extent always was maxim
predictions. Ihad got hold Of my theory and
was developing II. II was In 1875 that dared /
make my first noteworthy forecast. Early in tn
autumn published in an emphatic manner In
prediction that Montreal society men would max
their next Now Years calls on wheels, and thu
rubbers, instead of moccasips, would be the orde
of the day, Everybody laughed at me-the news
papers held me upas butt for rldicule. The win
ters for several years past had been extremely SC
we're, and my prediction was rated on all sides O
the summit of absurdity But stOlidly stood II al
/ And when New Years came wagons on wheel
/ and men without their moCcAsins filled the street
l was happy; the press became kindlier an
5 my friends began to pat me on the back Later
dissolved my connection with the Geological Sun
yey, and recently, as engineer have been lntei
ested in phosphate mines In the Dominion. But
e have never allowed other business to take IN
5 from my fayorite study, My weather work
Q growing constantly, and has now reached almo
/ startling proportions. Yet 1t brings mo In not
single penny. All is outgo. The expenses con
5 wholly from my private purse"
1 "You said moment ago." remarked the n
I porter, "tbat you as yet claimed 10 forecast on
within week. Do you expect to be able soon
make closer calculations "
. NOT so MUCH oF PoRECAsTER.