The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-23


paper and go by WIRE"
'By telegraph"
ayes"
"Dear mel" said Mr.. Virgins, interest
edly. "Would it now, really? What did
you wish TO ask me, for instance2"
"IIow soon," / asked, "may the yellow
fever sufferers in Jacksonville expect
frost ?"
The professors face came to a sudden
resolution; lamps were lighted. charts
brought out and notebooks opened.
ON tell it all to you," he said, briskly.
'Tve been doing some very hard work,
which is Just completed, and / feel like
giving my observation publicity"
"By telegraph" l observed.
'By wire" said the professor promptly.
"Well, them" he continued, jackson
vile will certainly have frost between Oc-
tober and 8, and not before. The au-
tumn will be cold all through September,
and very cold weather will occur from the
81 10 the 9th of October throughout the
whole Of North America. This lowering
OF the temperature will be caused by the
moons junction when in perigree and the
peculiar position OF the planets Mars and
Jupiter. The cold weather will wipe out
the fever in Jacksonville. have a strong
suspicion that serious seismic disturbances
may shortly occur on this continent, but
on account OF the alarming results which
have followed other predictions OF mine
| on this subject, refrain from giving my
predictions to the public. My system, ]
may tell you, is based upon GER
tain meteorological data that have
arrived at and largely upon the
| position of the earth relative to
| the planets. Hero is one conclu-
| sion | have come to in regard TO scientific
matters: The old theory that the nearer a
planet is to the sun the greater amount Of
heat II enjoys is incorrect. On the con-
trary, the nearer planet is 10 the sun the
| colder il is, owing TO the increased solar
| attraction. The GOODNESS OF the last few
seasons is really due to this cause, for the
| injunction OF the planets on June 49,
1881, forced them, in a small degree at
least, near TO the solar orb. Hence the
cyclones. storms and earthquakes, almost
unprecedented, that the earth's inhabi.
tants have experienced since that period
The planet Mars seems TO have suffered
equally with our own, for ii its continent,
Libia, has not actually disappeared, il is
evident that the atmosphere OF that planet
has become more condensed, more capable
OF holding vapor, and therefore presents a
more cloudy area, causing objects on the
surface TO be obscured.
That is the reason" continued Mr.
Virgins, why Libia can no longer he
seen. The planet is too far from the sun
TO permit OF any cataclysm causing the
submergence of n continent. Besides, |
am doubtful If there is a sufficient guam.
tity OF water on Mars 10 submerge aconti-
nent, as his oceans must be excessively
shallow. | am strongly Of the opinion
that tine canals recently observed by the
Italian astronomers are really the work Of
human beings much more intelligent and
capable than ourselves, and Tor the pur-
pose Of navigation and irrigation. For
their steam power must be comparatively
greater than ours on account Of the greater
density OF their atmosphere. In addition,
the soil Is more easily removed on account
OF the smallncss OF the planet and its dis.
lance from the sun, which, Of course, in
| crcases the lightness OF all substances on
| his surface"
"You SAY that the earth is slightly APP
| preaching the sun since June 10, 1881?
What Is likely TO be the effect OF this de-
rangcmont2'
"Ihe effect will be that in q very few
I NfNn lllt fiAllN Will ltNNNlf lltT hlu lN-l-
| ton in her orbit, and this IA true OF all the
| planets. The fact u, the earth is con-
stantly reccding from the sun and always
has been since its creation. The huge
bones Of the great saurians that lived in
the oolitic age clearly indicates that objects
on our planets surface In these early ages
were much more powerfully attracted than
now, while the glacial periods OF the past
| plainly indicate that the cold was then in
| tense. The astronomical proof that the
| earth Il rcccding from tho sun IL the
moons secular accclcmtion--that Is rs.
| ironomcrs In all ages have perceived that
| the moon Is constantly increasing her
| speed in the orbit As the earth reccdcs
| rom the sun the moon approaches the
| earth, thus increasing her orbit motion.
This idea Is now presented for the first
| time, and Is my peculiar discovery. The
earih's orbit, he continued, ''is therefore
constantly enlarging human life Is bccom-
| ing longer and longer, anl cyclones, storms
and earthquakes are gradually but surely
| decreasing, ~ that In time even our great
mountain chains will disappear, which
means that the temperature Of North
| America will become "a salubriouH as that
Of Italy and the south Of France
"When will that happy time arrive?"
asked.
~ cannot at this moment tell YOU"
! answered the sage. Indeed, II We were
b. sink or blow up the Rocky mountains
] land anything can be done nowalaysl our
| climate would become similar 20 that Of
Great Britain, only purcr and clearer"
| Wediscussed ior some time various ideas
Of Mr.. Virgins Tor the lcycling OF what
arr now the Rocky mountains. Then,
after rclighung his cigar, lac said: "But Il
would cost lot Of money, perhaps, aud
the States are poor, very poor. can give
YOU n novel idea worth recording. and a
fact In which all the people on the Amcri.
can continent are interested. | refer TO
the erection Of the telegraph and lolc-
phone wires, and especially wire fencing.
which are really one OF the chief OCCASION.
Oi rain, at least on the northern continent
! A thunder cloud consists OF isolated cleo
tuCiy. This, when moving over dry
surface, y enabled 10 retain is electricity,
and thc cloud will water the land probably
for hlty or 100 miles before il has parted
With its electricity aud becomes broken.
The Dry surface, you soc, b. a non-condnct.
OF. Telephone and telegraph wires, cspr.
cially wirC fences are CONDUCTORS They
conduct OFT the electricity from the cloud
aud the cloud h broken.
"IhCrc - another brand new fact
may mention. Tho clouds arr disposed
20 run toward the center where their clec.
trcity h. conducted and hence when ap-
preaching city they arc ~ suddenly de.
priycd OF their electric energy that they
| COLLAPSE, producing CVclnupa and Vnttf