Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-13


sun. so after ali il would only be neces-
sary for the ether to vary in density
and not actually be lacking at any
time. However, this theory is not very
well received. Tromholt tells OF wild
theory impaired to him in letter, IN
which the author states he thinks that
the aurora is the glow from the interior
molten matter Of the globe shining
through the thin crust Of the earth at
the poles. this thinness being caused by
the diurnal rotation. Two gigantic
volcanoes, one at either pole. assist the
author out Of the worst hole theOrist
ever got into. Before leave the theory
department Of my subject ] will speak
Of that advanced by the Esquimsux Of
North Hudson's bay, among whom my
travels were cast. and which Is remark
able more for the fact that it Is a
physical theory 10 account for physi-
cal phenomenon than that it really
throws much light on the subject,
and not some supersttious tradition or
Wild flight Of miraculous fancy 70 &C
count therefor, so common among saw
ares. and even with some people whom
this word would insult. And this SIM
ple theory is that it is caused by the
wind blowing Cd the clouds. And
singulaily enough, most students Of the
northern lights speak Of the part played
by the clouds in these displays. from
holt writes that be had often an oppOr-
tunitv Of confirming in the most striking
manner the theory held by some saraHts,
/ that the aurora borealis affects the state
I Of the clouds. The sky might be ever
so clear, but after an unusually vivid
/ burst Of aurora in the zenith II always
/ became at once covered with clouds.
These dispersed, however, generally
Immediately afterward.
Simple as their answers always were,
/ | was often surprised to find the Esqui-
maux making some attempt, in all cases,
to account for natural wonders around
them by theories based on the very 1t
tie they knew regarding natural laws.
and at the RISK Of depression from my
main topic for a short time will briefly
give another instance of the same kind.
The Netschilluk and OOkioolik Esqui-
maux around King Williams Land and
at the mouth Of Backs Great Fish
river have never seen OF even heard Of
growing timber. and the large
drift logs which are occasionally
thrown upon the beaches Of their
country. washed there by currents that
must have brought them from more
favored climes. naturally give rise TO
speculations regarding their origin. IN
stead Of ascribing this TO miraculous
power or supersu,iOus origin, a. al
other savages would have done, their
iheory. though not correct. IS inceni-
GUS. They suppose these trees grow
from tie bottom Of the ocean, making
,he most rapid progress IL the summer.
when all other plaDt-liie around them Is
50 doing. At this time the ice on the
ocean channels AID bays is broken
W and drifting around IN packs 50
as TO leave many areas Of open
water where the trees can force
themselves nearly 10 the waters
surface, and when the new ice again
forms il the fall and early winter these
topmost branches are entangled therein
a. u desceuds. and when the ice breaks
W again next summer the entrspped
tree j. pulled up by the ROOFS an Is
cast upon the beach. when IL topmOst
branches are melted Qua or broken OF
N attrlu0n against the shallow shore.
The large number Of limbs cat and
ground of by the moving pack a the
drift timber Is carried III its icy Gasp
is sufficient reason for them 70
add THIS idea 10 their theory
Of It's origin. The deeper the water
the taller the trees before they are
pulled W. while many escape destruc-
ton by the breaking of Of the top
branches year by year. The water
logged trees. projecting like Mississippi
river snsgs from the shallow beaches
where the ice-cakes have left them after
many years OF Imprisonment, bear out
their theories well, and, taking il alto
ceiher. il cannot be doubted that II
looks more sensible than the average OF
our own theories that have crept into
PRINT regarding the aurora borealis.
which brings u back TO our main sub
ject.
I have spoken Of the suroral theory,
which Is based Oh the ether Of space
occurring in unequal densities. and,
might add. there Is another not Ear re-
moved from il ID ideas, and about as
generally accepted-that is. By the
originaiors. Here we find the ether re-
placed bv clouds or bands Of ferrugi-
nous cosmic matter or ferric dust. and
as these are entered by the earth 10 its
fight. terrestrial magnetism. acting Oh
this molecular matter. forces il into the
most fantastic shapes, somewhat similar
10 iron dus, on q glass plate acted Oh by
different magnets above or below, and
these il turn rejecting light, produce
the varied aurorAl displays Is they
change from one shape 70 another. One
Of The best accepted theories by the
students OF the subject Is that OF Ed
lund, Swedish electrician. who gives
il as the effects Of electrical unipolGf
induction, an explanation Of which de-
pend. 50 upon a knowledge Of some Of
the lesser known laws Of electro-mag-
netsm. probably undressing 10 re-
hearse here ID detail. Il assumes
close analogy. OF. better speaking,
identity Of the aurora and the light
ulng Of ihunder-storms that Is, our
lightning Of tropical and temperate
chimes becomes the northern lights OF
the polar regions very sudden relief Of
electrical tension in tie former zones,
yery gradually in tie north. Flee
tricsl discharges either auroral or
lightning are supposed by this idea TO
take place much easier and more
gradually ID the direction Of the dip
needle about horizontal On the equator
and nearly perpendicular c, the pole,
and therefore in the equatorial regions,
the electrical tension must become so
great that II IS suddenly relieved By q