Daily globe., 1882-09-17
TERRIFIC NATURAL FORCES.

TERRIFIC NATURAL FORCES.
The Phenomena OF Cyclones, Terna-
does, Floods and Such Things.
From the Chicago Journall
Cyclones, tornadoes, heavy and long
continued rains, followed by terrible
foods, hail-storms, unreasonable and
severe cold and frosts, have strewn the
path of 1882. What is the matter with
the powers of the air? While 20 new
forces seem to be apparent in this gen
eral weather melee, il is quite evident
there is an unusual combination of forces
at work somewhere. The kaleidoscope
of nature is revolving rapidly, and send
ing her hidden machinery into new po-
sitions and displaying constantly sue
cession of fresh and varying phenomena.
But high scientific authority declares
that this world, like huge bead, IS
strung upon thread Of law, and if this
be so we must not suspect any element
of chance or eapricloyls uncertainty in
natural forces. Vennor has recently
given out that he bases his observations
and guesses in part on the periodical re-
crrrence OF certain courses or demon
strations OF atmospheric phenomena;
| that about once in SO often peculiar sea-
sons appear, and unusual occurrences
| take place in earth and sea and sky, and
that by a careful study of the past he is
able to predict to some extent the
future. It would thus seem that ID, the
original constitution or arrangement of
things, uniformity and regularity were
to be the prevailing rnles of all natural
movements and sequences, and In addi-
lion to this the law of variation was also
to come in at stated intervals and modify
or interrupt the otherwise -monotonous
procession of events. Just as in skill
fully composed piece of music there is
the central theme of melody running
through the whole, and then, harmoni-
ously mingling with it, an almost-in-
finite number of divergencies and vari-
ations, SO in the grand plan Of the world,
as revealed in the operations Of the ma
terial universe, there is main chord of
regularity and uniformity visible, and,
coupled with these, any number of vari-
able and extraordinary Emergencies
from the usual course.
Many years ago, among the popular
and instructive lectures of the Rev. r.
Starr King-who, as far. seeing and
! subtle thinker, has never had an equal
in this country was one entitled
"The Laws of Disorder" in which he
demonstrated with rare beauty and force
the fact that the most uncertain and ap-
parently capricious of all earthly events
and movements were under the control
of fixed and Interchangeable laws. In like
manner the results of the patient and
protracted studies of all modern scien-
tific naturalists, like Darwin and Spen-
Ger, 90 to prove that the idea of unity
and uniformity, coupled with the power
of variation, forms one portion of the
ground-plan of the world. This is seen
alike in the perpetuation of species or
types of animal and vegetable life, in
, the movements of history and the un-
,, folding of civilization, in the recurrence
: of natural phenomena and in the roll
: ing of the worlds through the infinite
spaces.
It can thus be seen at glance how
erroneous are the views of those who
would attribute all the extraordinary oc-
currences of life to the direct interposi
ton of an unseen and divine hand. The
! conception of Creator and Ruler of this
= and other worlds sitting on hidden
: throne and hurting thunderbolts at His
: own will and pleasure far and near, as
9 Jove was supposed to do from the top o
9 Mount Olympus, may be Grecian ant
= classic, but in the light of ascertainec
scientific facts and laws it can hardly bt
called either Christian Or civilized.
. Another thought IN connection with
. the working OF these terrific natura
4 forces is, that any new light which Cal
!; be thrown upon the times and season:
!, which they observe, or the methods ans
!. laws which they follow, would be a grea
public benefaction. And to this end th'
recent efforts of Gen. Hszsn and th'
!, Signal Service corps to observe more
> accurately the origin and courses of tor
: nadoes in various portions OF this coun
! try are worthy of all commendation. I
. is not much, at the best, which can b.
y, learned or communicated concerning
:. these terrific aerial visitations, but al
:, that can be known should be known ant
- distributed broadcast throughout tn
sections of country most liaOie to suffe
- from their desoiating ravages.