The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-12-17
THE WEATHER

THE WEATHER
Is an e7er-fruitful topic of comment.
If friends meet and have nothing in
particular to say, but feel in duty
bound to say something, lest they ap-
pear gruffy, they comment on the
weather. If strangers meet, the wealth
er can be discussed as an introduction
to further sociability and acquaint-
ance. 1t is a subject which is ever
present, hence it's ever being a subject
of comment.
A few weeks since, some wiseacre
in IOWa--sOme Professor of billiards.
and neutrality-suspicious. terrible
storms and billiards from the 9Th to
the 18th of this month (December)
that the storm would be general and
reach the DIST meridian on The 9th inst.
The 91st meridian at this latitude is
few miles east of the Mississippi River,
or about 100 miles west of the lake
shore.
Now what are the facts2 From the
18th to the 18th, inclusive, was unusually
mild and pleasant for the season, the
18th was rainy but still mild, and at
this writing -13th-no signs of bliz-
card have appeared.
On the 9th cold wave was to sweep
over the Western States, with high
winds, to be renewed on the 18th.
On the 9th the mercury ran up to
As . and on the 18th to 49,, with
scarcely breeze.
We confess to our ignorance of the
theory on which these predictions were
based, for it is too obstruse for the
common understanding; but as nearly
as we can comprehend it, the weather
is influenced by electricity engendered.
or set in motion, or excited by the con-
junction of the superior planets OF our
solar system with the earth. A query
arises, that since the earth turns differ
ent portions of her surface towards
these planets consecutively, why does
not the storm equally affect the whole
surface? We do not know the exact
prescribed limits of the predicted
storm, but it would be an unheard-of
event, if single storm should spread
itself over the surface of the globe at
once. We are not aware of any dis
turbing influence exerted by con-
junction of the planets to affect the
earth, unless that their united force of
attraction, being exerted in one direc-
ton, might occasion the earth 10 devi.
ate an infnitesimal part of degree
from her true orbit, but we are not
sure that it is sufficient to produce
even that effect.
Farther, this distance is too great
to produce any effect on our atmos.
pheFe. Mars, the nearest of the supe-
rior planets, at its conjunctions is more
than 100000 miles distant, with a |
volume of matter for attraction of only
about fifteen one .hundredths of that of |
the earth.
Next in order, emitting the asteroids, |
comes Jupiter, with a volume more |
than 1900 times that of the earth, but |
counteracted by distance of 100000
900 miles. Third in order comes Sa-
turn, with volume of 100 times, but |
also counteracted by distance of near.
ly 90,000,000 miles. Uranus then fol- |
lows, with volume of only 80, but at |
the incOnceivable distance of more
than 100000 of miles. That the
weather on portion of the earth's sur
face is affected by these planets is
theory too absurd to be entertained by
a school boy. The prediction is based |
more Oh astrology than astronomy-a
snperstitious theory. which was ex-
ploded ages ago.
Devastating earthquakes were also
predicted Old the 4th and 5th of the
month, but nothing of the kind has yet
been heard of. AS earthquakes are the
result of internal commotion of the
earth, we cannot see how the planets
are to affect it.
Apopular belief prevails among GER
tain classes, that the weather and vege-
tation are affected by the moon, but by
records and tables of weather statistics,
which have been kept for series of
years, it has been found that if it does
exert any influence, it is so small and
uncertain as to be inappreciable. 1t
has not been uncommon to look for a
change of weather at the change of
the moon either from wet to dry or
dry to wet-or warm to cold, or Uice
rerSa, not In accordance with any fixed
rule or principle, but the moon was
expected to produce change of some
kind. If the crescent of the new
moon lays SO fat that the Indians
powder horn could be hung upon it, that
was a dry moon if more upright, it
was a wet MOON. Perhaps it never oc-
CURED to thOse who look for these signs
and wonders that the position of the
Observation-Disclosures more or less inclined
to the horizontal or upright-was oc-
casioned by the relative position of the
sun, moon and the observer; that in
certain portions of its orbit the moon
receives the light of the sun, and reflects