Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-31
Biographical Department.

V2Eka2RSa|fBF' F'
HENRY G. VENNOR.
! THE CANADIAN WEATHER PROPHET.
| For some years public attention has been
challenged by the audacity and presump-
tion of certain persons who have claimed
the power of foretelling the condition of
the weather. Some of them base their pre-
dictiOns upon certain scientific therOries,
others lay claim to a supernatural skill in
phophecy. The most famous of all the
! weather prophets, and one whose attain
ments in science give him some claim upon
our credence, is Mr.. Henry G. Vennor,
whose portrait we present herewith.
Mr.. Vennor was born in Montreal, in the
| Province of Quebec, Canada, in the year
1910. We are informed that his youth was
spent in search after knowledge which
soon became both serious and laborious.
This statement can hardly be doubted since
he appears to be a gentlemen of 'many-
sided accomplishment" having acquired a
thorough knowledge Of all the branches of
natural science. In acquiring this know
|
has '.roughed it'' in nearly every part of
Canada, profiting by experiment and obser-
vatiOn. He has, we are also informed,
written a very admirable and exhaustive
work, entitled "Our Birds of Prey" which
has been received with favor not only in
his own country, but in Europe. This work
J unfortunately, we have not seen, as all that
| has reached US Of Mr.. VennOr's authorship
| from which we are enabled to form an opin-
! ion of his scientific knowledge or his ''skill in
divnation," is his almanac-a neat little
saws" much useful information, and large
and preponderating amount Of selected
matter.
One can scarcely arise from a perusal OF
this almanac, however, without having per-
ceived that Mr.. Vennor has fought shy of
the calendar; not having committed him
self in it to the prediction of any specific
sort of weather for any day or three days
or week from the first to the last hour OF the
year. True, he has generalized in relation
to each month, and supplied the place of
more pertinent information in the calendar
with quaint Saxon proverbs, and miscel-
laneous extracts embodying the opinion of
others; but not sentence in !he usual le-
gitimate manner from his own pen.
In making some of our almanacs we are
too prone to accept English weather predic-
tions and quaint proverbs as applying to
our months and seasons here. Take, for
example, that which persists in alleging
that when March comes in like a lion it
goes out like lamb. Certainly in the
State of New York, this is SO far from be-
ing fact, we almost incline to the belief
that the reverse will be found to be the case
in large majority of instances. a dry,
gusty, English March that expires in sun
Shine showers and calm, is as widely differ
ent from ours as our spring is from that OF
the British Isles. Hence English stereo-
typed expressions in relation to the differ
ent months Of the year, should not be found
prominent in any of our almanacs.
Forecasts of weather affecting large areas,
are not so difficult of management as those
applying to small and sharply defined To-
calities. There is a very clear distinction
and difference between the prediction that
the State of New York will be visited by
heavy showers of rain on the 25th of July,
and the assertion that on that day torrents
Of rain will fall in the city Of Albany. In
one case the means of detection are embar-
rassed by the possibility that it may be
pouring down rain in one part of the State
while it is bright and fair in another part,
but in the other case the value of the pre-
diction can be ascertained at once. Hence
the unsatisfactory generalizations which we
draw their inspiration from an aggregate OF
past or usual occurrences rather than from any
profound or scientific source. 1t must not
be supposed, however, that what wenoW say
here is intended as applicable to Mr.. Ven
nor's weather predictions; for had he not
made some extraordinary and clean cut sue
cesses in this relation, he could scarcely have
attained to such celebrity. Still as a test OF
these is not before U.S. nor the means OF OBJ
tanning it at hand, we must content our
selves with hoping that they are the verita-
BILE triumphs of genius and a thorough
mastery Of some of the occult phases OF
meteorology rather that the fortunate, hap
hazard predictions of the astute observer and
bold specuator who trusts to chance and
adroit phraseology for his success.
IRRESOLUTION.-IrreS is a fatal
habit; it is not vicious in itself, but it Leads
to vice, creeping upon its victims with ia
tai facility, the penalty Of which many a
fine heart has paid on the scatfold. The
idler, the spendthrift, the epicure, and the
drunkard are among its victims. Perhaps
in the latter its effect appears in the most
hideous form. He knows that the goblet he
is about to drain is poison, yet he swallows
it. He knows-for the example OF tnou,
sands has painted it in glaring colors--that
it will deaden all its faculties, take the
strength from his heart, oppress him with
disease, and hurry his progress to dislon-
ored grave, vet he drains it. How beautl-
full, on the contrary, is the power of resolu-
ton, enabling the one who possesses it t.,
pass through perils and dangers, trials ana
temptations Avoid the contraction of the
habit of irresolution. Strike against it to
the end.
Aeayn A man who is able to employ him
self innOcently is never miserable. 1t is
the idle who are wretched. If | wanted to
infiict the greatest punishment on fellow
creature, / would shut him alone in a
dark room without employment.
~" With good humor and kindness, Il
man is more agreeable in the world than
with a superior intellect devoid of gaTety