Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-12

WIND-SOUNDs IN THE DEsERT.-The
travellers tales of sounds like the ringing of
bells, which they have heard in the deserts
and lonely places, are familiar. Some OF
them are too we'll substantiated to admit of
serious dispute. Among them is that of the
noises heard at the Gebel Nakus, in the
Sinatic Peninsular, which the Arabs say
proceeds from a convent of damned monks !;
the musical cliffs of the Orinoco, told Of by
Humboldt; and the sound which the
French savants Jollois and Devilliers de-
clare they heard at sunrise at Karnak,
Egypt, and described as comparable to the
sounds are not always exactly like the
ringing of q bell sometimes they resemble
the music Of a string, and may be generally
described as of an intermediate character
between the two classes. A characteristic
of the sound is that no one can discern
where they come from. NJ. Emile Sorel,
fills, in order to determine their origin, mas
made some successful experiments in repro
ducing them artifcially. Taking his gun
into an open field, he placed it an angle of
As degrees against the wind, when it gave
forth sound. Then moving it around, he
caused it to utter the exact tone he sought
The sound could not be localized. Address
ing peasant, he asked him, ''Do you hear
lily gun dluOll3 ~ Id liS
bells Of" a similar answer was got from
noise It was believed to come from about
two miles and half to the windWard. NJ.
Sorel believes this experiment authorizes
the hypothesis that the ringing is the result
of the blowing of the wind over a slope at
the foot of which is something that may act
as q resonator. What is done on small
scale in gun may be done on a large scale
in nature, on the face of a mountain OF a
rock which is backed by a valley or ravine,
or which is itself elastic enough to give the
resonant effect. The sounds are apparently
not as readily given when the vibrating SUR
faces and media are moist.
PRAIsING THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
The capital of the Republic is not unWor-
thy Of the great and prosperous country in
which it occupies the first place. Washing
ton is an absolute creation OF the Federal
Congress. Other cities have grown, but
Washington was made. The site chosen
for the seat of government was well adapted
for the purpose, though some of the lower
ground is said to be conducive of malaria.
Large ideas pervaded the founders of the
city. They provided for a development
commensurate with the development of the
nation. Hence they placed the public de-
parIIuenlS SO ldF away HULL cttCl olllcl lli'o
Washington was happily designed the City
of Magnificent Distances. The distances are
still magnificent; but the intervening spaces
have now almost all been filled up with
handsome residences. The streets and av-
enues are all broad, all planted with trees,
and nearly all asphalted. 1t is said that the
average width is double that of the streets
and avenues of Paris and Berlin, Pennsyl
vania avenue seemed to me even finer than
the Champs Elysees. The management Of
the thorougfares is placed in the hands of a
parking commission, which has done its
work so we'll that upward of $1,000 trees
have been planted under its direction.
Trees of the same variety are placed in each
street and avenue, regard being had for the
surrounding conditions. For instance, pref
erence is given in the lower locations to the
California poplar, which, in its power of
absorbing miasmatic eXhalations, bears
strong resemblance to the eucalyptus, which
cannot be successfully grown SO far north.
The result of the Parking commissions Op-
erations is that 130 miles of shaded walks
are provided for the use and enjoyment of
the citizens of Washington. Many of the
public buildings are splendid specimens of
architecture. The capitol, however, over
shadows them all. Situated on al elevation
in the center of the city commands clear
and unobstructed view on every side Moth
ing can be finer than the prospect from the