New-York tribune., 1891-09-25
main corresponds with that of the distinguished
seminary professor.
RAIN-S7OPPING.


III. Tribune has already suggested that with the
success of making, and with rain-maKers ah
o,,o, tho country. there would shortly be de-
mand for some plan to stop the raining ih"ee''
,,ithout any artificial storms it frequently rains
300 much in some places at certain seasons Of the
vear-notably during harvest-and some way oil
stonnino this would often be welcome. When we
| mt forward the idea, however, we scarcely eN-
nected a prompt response, but correspondent now
writes us that a certain Mr.. Doolittle, OF Boone
| burg Ky has devised way of drying up tne
| heaviest rainstorm and driving the clouds far
| away. =.
We learn that Mr.. Doolittle first became in
terested in rain-producing, but so many Others
including the Government. went into this, that ne
gave il I'D and turned his attention in the opposite
direction His idea in rain-making was 10 get up
Sunday-schoo picnics. long series OF oDserVatlohs
| ho,,;ro shown him that only one Sunday school
| picnic in a hundred ever escaped a heavy shower.
| His plan was TO organize big Sunday-schooi
| nicnic and send it about the country wherever
| rain was needed, but, as we have said' nc mas
| abandoned the project for scheme 10 pre'ehp
rain. The success of the explosive plan Oh rain
producing gave him some valuable hints on the ma
ture of clouds. He observed that anything OF an eA-
plosye or disturbing nature whether on the grouhu
or in the air, tended TO attract CLOUDS. lhls mas
of course. long been observed in the heavy rains
after battles. 1t was clear to the logical mlnd oil
Mr.. Doolitte that clouds, unlike policemen
and some other folks, enjoyed trouble and
trmult. A man like Professor Doolittle naturally
did not have to lie awake nights to conclude that
what clouds did not enjoy was serenity and har-
mony. The Professor crystallized the whole
tbinq into this: Explosions, rain; music
hlpe sky His first experiment was to
send I'D kite with q fine Swiss music-ooN tea 10
its tail during a light shower AT the third tune
the cloud rolled away and the sun came out. Inc
professor was enthusiastic. week later it fe-
gan to rain heavily. At the end OF two days IL
was still raining. The farmers were much mn
dered in their fall work. On the morning OF the
third day it was still raining hard with pros
pect OF its keeping up for week. The weather
bureau predicted continued rain, and hinted OF
cloud bursts Professor DoOittle determined to
make his grand experiment Everything was in
readiness and at nine O'Clock he sent three brass
bands into his back pasture. He also put an
Italian organgrinder on the roof Of the barn ana
sent the best violin player In the neighDorhood
up tall tree near the well. He then sent up TWO
large balloons, each containing a fine string or
chestra of six pieces, and half dozen kites with
music-boxes. At half-past nine every instrument
was pouring down in torrents. At ten o'clock it
began TO stop and the clouds grew brighter At
half past the rain had ceased and blue sky was
seen in the northwest. At eleven there was not
a cloud in sight, the sun was shining brightly and
the birds were singing. The professor was al.
most beside himself with joy he hauled down
the balloons One Of the brass bands began 20
play selection from Wagner opera when. to
Professor Doolttles astonishmcnt he saw the
clouds hurrying back. He stopped the band and
started it on some other music and the clouds
treated. The only accident was the filling with
rain water Of one Of the big brass horns which
wound around large German in one of the bands.
The musician was nearly chOlled to death but
finally recovered.
If we have not been imposed upon by an un-
scrupulous correspondent, Professor Doolittles
experiments in rain-stOpping to be highly
successful. We hope to hear more about his eff
forts in the future. duel between General
Dyrenforth, with his high explosives and Pro-
fessor Doolittle, with his string orchestras, would
be an interesting atmospheric novelty.