Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-11-13
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Mr.. ulJn3Tu "A TOttpT IcptIts ti-as
the total lunar cell Sc of October 4th pre-
sentcd to Lin very unusual appearance
At the time Of greatest obsc ration the
moon was barely visible as an ill-deined
ring of sickly green hue, while its ordi-
nary appearance at such time is that OF
huge glowing coppery red ball hung uI
in the sky He thinks it probable that
the earth's atmosphere was laden with
something which acted as dense screen
to the suns rays, which are pretty GER
taiuly known to be refracted through our
atmosphere into the shadow cone to such
a degree as to produce the usual rudy
tinge Of the moon when totally ec!ipsed.
He asks whether We are here once more
brought face to face with the cause Of the
persistent haze in the suns ncighborhood
and Of the late wonderful sunrises and
sunsets.
A Preach savant, Mons. Forel, affirms
that during the months Of July and Aug
gust last red halo or corona surrounded
the sun, which, though difficult to see at
low attitudes, became quite brilliant at
C,OOO feet above the sea. He witnessed
the phenomenon several timesf from heights
ranging from 5000 to 10000 feet.
One of the remarkable things which
botanists tell us is that we have more
plants Of the japanese fora than Europe
has, and that even the Pacific coast OF
America has fewer than ever found on
the Atlantic slope. A few American plants
may have reached Europe by natural
means; but in the main the course Of plant
migration has been from the Old World
to us-from west to east.
Mons. Trouvelot, the eminent astrono-
mer Of Meudon Observatory, has sug-
gcsted that the brilliant light Of the facu.
lac, and possibly the entire light Of the
sun, is generated at the solar surface, the
coronal atmosphere being perhaps neces-
sary for its production.
The international Committee Of Weights
and Measures, whose work is chiefly to
test the standards Of measurement used
10 the different countries, was established
at Paris in 1875 by convention Of ma
tiona, but has osly just received the ad-
hesion Of England. With the further
accession Of Roumania and Servia the
Committee now represents an aggregate
population Of 42l, 40, 1896, distributed
over Germany, England, Austria, Hun.
gary, Belgium, the Argentine Republic
Deemark, Spain, the United States, Italy,
France, Peru, Portugal, Roumania, Rus
sia, Servia, Sweden, Norway, Switzcr
land, Turkey and Venezuela.
Tho French astronomer, Mons. G.
Flammarion, has received anonymously
the sum Of 5000 francs, to be given as
= prise 70 the author of the best project
for the reform Of the Calendar. Papers
must be sent in by Oct. l, 1885. A com.
mittee win make the award, and propose
the reform to an international congress.
A bridge at Lyons, France, has stone
parapet, pierced at intervals for light
forming . passage which plays the part
Of : gigantic flute, The rush Of the air.
currents through the openings causes the
bridge TO emit such sounds Of music a,
different parts Of ito course that "ons
might believe il haunted by legions of in
visible naiads pursuing the passenger
with their plaintive melodies"
In this and other countries there ar,
said to BE- 1000 scientific societies. The
two great and leading bodies Of such
character % to embrace al the scientific
mon Of = nation are the British and
American Associations for the Advance
nent Of Science, both of which have me,
this year on American soil. The British
Association is 81 years old, the Ameri
can 80.
Experiments with the electric light in
forcing plant-growth are showing les.
effect than was expected.
Tho clothing reform proposed by Dr.
Gustav Jaeger, Of Stuttgart, is said t.
have been already approved and carried
out BY thousands Of Germans, not few
Russians, and some Englishmen. Dr.
Jaeger contends that clothing made ex
clusively from wool, q natural covering
for animal bodies, is the safest and mos,
healthful for mankind to wear, and ht
urges it, use for all purposes Of men and
women. Not only would he exclude every
every article made from cotton or othc,
vegetable fiber from the apparel in use
BY day, but he would also reject them
from the beds nm which VIC slaa,, a. ,,;,-l.