Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-15
AstrO-M -MeteOrology--Its Present Relation Ito
Mankind.
TFor the SPECTATOR. I

| ASLr0-MeteOf0l0gy--ItS Present kelau0n ITO
Mankind.
(F0r the SPECTATOR
| Mr.. Editor:-During the present year, or
| at least since the establishment of the astro-
meteorological association in this country,
the SPECTATOR has been most free and out
spoken in its opinion with regard to those
who undertake to unravel the mysteries
that are supposed to be connected with the
weather, its advice to all being: "Put not
your trust in weather prophets, &C."
| In the preparation of this article we do
not attempt to make proselyte of the edi-
tor to this new faith, but in the name of all
justice and fairness it is deemed not more
than right and proper, that the many intel
| ligent readers of the SPECTATOR be allow
ed, occasionally, to hear from the "other
side" of this important question.
There is, perhaps, not another subject in
all the departments of science that is more
closely allied with the social, moral and
| physical interests of mankind, than thor
ough knowledge of the laws and forces that
| control the weather for every season of the
year.
| The idea of deriving any practical benefit
| from study of this kind has long been
looked upon with dsfavor, and its advo-
Gates, even in this our enlightened day, are
pretty generally classed along with those
who profess to deal with supernatural
things; it being we'll known that there are
among our ablest theological writer's and
thinkers some who candidly believe that
he who attempts to forecast the weather for
any given date ahead is simply prying after
and searching into one of the ''hidden
things" that it has not pleased God to re-
veal to man.
1t is to be presumed, however, that the
same God who regulates and controls all
the forces of the universe has also endowed
man with that faculty of reasen which we
call ''common sense''-a faculty by which
he becomes able to judge and think for HIM
self, and also to reach certain conclusions
with regard to the manifold phenomena of
nature going on around and above him and
| which is ever inviting his attention and in
vestigation.
Hence, the profound thinker who takes
up the problems of the weather, soon dis
covers in the various aspects and features
of our atmospheric movements, the chains
of cause and effect $50 strangely and won
derfully linked together" that the more he
comes his desire to continue his investiga-
tions.
To the casual observer, who sees and
comprehends nothing outside the circle of
his own horizon, our changes of weather
"appear obedient to no law-being tickle
in all their movements and subject only to
chance" To the intelligent and persever-
ing investigator, however, the most sudden
| reverses of temperature, or the slightest
changes in our atmosphere are by no means
capricious or accidental in their nature, but
| that they follow certain laws, all of which
are founded upon natural principles.
| Far back in the annals of time, we read
of the ancient philosopher Thales, who
by careful study and investigation success
| fully foretold the character of the seasons,
and in more modern times, We read of
Kepler the illustrious discoverer of the
laws of the universe, indulging in the prac-
| tice of weather-forecasting. In this our
own day, we have the earnest cooperation
of such men as Raphael, of England, De-
launay, of France, Smith, of Canada, and
Mansill, of Illinois, who are now studious-
ly endeavoring to revive this interesting,
though long-negl ected branch of natural
science.
| In October, 1884, the ro-meteorologi-
cal association was founded at Montreal by
a number of students of astronomy and
meteorology, with the view to examine in
to the presupposed influences of the heav-
emily bodies upon each other, and thus to
formulate system of rules for simplifying
the science of weather -forecasting not only
for hours or days, but even weeks and
months ahead.
The movement has since been taken hold
of in the United States and branches of the
association are in process of formation at
various points, and its general aims are be-
| ovfo anA 70 hlu ln0xUn
all over the continent
The various weather phenomena of the
past few years having conceded so har-
moniously with the theory and law already
established by this method, its followers
have become filed with hope and inspira-
ton over the results attained, which doubt
less have been built upon the solid ground
of nature and will in time be universally
acknowledged as the sure road to success.
i. tits pretty generally known that Prof. Edi-
, sons latest move is to make experiments
: with the earth's electric currents, hoping by
this means to reach the possibility of fore
, casting the weather to nicely. Currents
/ of electricity are known to be constantly
passing out from the sun, and this being
taken up and absorbed by the planets, it is
by watching the different positions and re-
lations that they from time to time bear to
electric lines exist not only between the
planets and the sun, but also between each
other The earth in crossing these lines
becomes unduly affected and her atmosphere
more or less disturbed, Prof. Mansill, of
Illinois, sums up the whole matter in the
, following formula
"For periods of the worst earth disturb
ances and greatest storms and changes in
atmospheric temperature, the press and
public should watch the perihelions, aphe-
lions, oppositions, inferior and superior
coniunctions of the planets, and the peri
gees and apogees of the moon with the
planets at the times of their oppositions and
. coDjunctions.
We now live in an age Of progress, and as
civilized and enlightened people, we need
to be aroused to deeper and keener inter-
est for the general welfare of mankind.
Suitable measures need to be urged and
adopted for the prevention of that whole
8 sale loss of life and property SO common in
6 this country at almost every season OF the
4 year. :,
Such are some of the broad and tenable
q facts that underlie the science of weather
. forecasting-a science which is as yet only
9 in its earliest stageof infancy.
L. J. HEATwoLE,
!. Vol. Obsr. o. s. Signal service.