The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-18
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

TIE meteorological records Of the world
chronicle several incontestible instances of
black rainfals, to say nothing of the more
startling phenomena of showers of blood"
Prof Barker in April 1885, laid before the Royal
Society of Dublin some observations on a
shower Of black rain which fell around Carlow
and Kilkenny. extending altogether over an
area OF about 400 square miles. During the
course of his lecture Prot Barker exhibited to
the society specimen Of this uncanny shower
which had been sent him by friend. The
specimen shown in the vial was of a uniform
black color, much resembling common black
writing fluid. Dr. Barker found, however, that
after allowing 1t to stand for short period the
black colorinR matter separated from the
water with which it had mixed, render
ng the color of the rainwater much lighter.
but still dark enough to be called black rain"
The shower, which was in broad daylight was
preceded by a darkness so dense as to make it
impossible for one to read without the aid of
candle. After this darkness had continued
some time hail storm set in, attended with
vivid lightning, but without the least sem
blance of thunder. When this hail storm was
over the black rain began to fall On examina-
ton OF the rain Immediately after the storm
fetid smell, as well as very disagreeably
taste. All Light colored animals and all articles
of clothing exposed bore dark spots and
stains, and cattle refused to drink the water or
eat the grass until after q shower of real
rain" had washed off the black poisoning mat
ter.
W Hal 10 LLc hCtu6l uOdI Oh bno SIN =
Various estimates have been made. says the
St. Louis Republic. but as they vary from 1000
and q fraction to millions Of degrees there is
little prospect Of an immediate and reliable an
swer 10 the opening question. Secchi gave 1t as
his opinion that the temperature could be but
little, II any, short of 10 eco 00)o OF the cent?
grade thermometer Sporer thought that 10
mig BIT be 81, 600, while Pouillet brought down
to so mewhere between ] 400 and 1862 of the
same scale. NJ. BecQuerel, Prof Langley and
Sir William Thompson all agree on about 1900
degrees OF centigrade, making their deductions
based on solar philosophers According to NJ.
St Clair Devilie the Temperature of the sun's
surface does not exceed z, 5000; this also agrees
with experiments made by both Bunson and
De6rsy. Sir Robert Ball, tee astronomer
royal OK Ireland. in hls STORY OF
the Heavens" page $50. says: I'VE shall
probably be well within the truth If We
state the effective temperature Of the sun to DO
about 49, 000o Fahrenheit" That some of the
above estimates are placed too high and others
too low there is little doubt. Take that OF Fec
chi for an instance What instrument or sys-
tenn OF reasoning would give a man an insight
into what 10 900 ,0000 of heat really means? On
the other hand We have every reason to beieve
that NJ. PouIllet placed the degree of actual
temperature II the solar turface far too low.
Prof. Young argues from an original and logical
standpoint. He says: when heat is concen-
trsted by buTning-gle the temperature at
the focus cannot rise above that of the source
OF boat; 90, IL We do not count on the loss OF
heat BY its transmission through the glass, the
temperature at the focus SHOULD be the same as
| Sn&t OF q point plaCoU eb eOcn q distance from
the sun that the solar disk would SOON just as
large the lens itself viewed from its own
focus" II this 10 the true explanation, py-
! rometer and burning glass would give the
auns actual surface heat.
IT may DO said without fear Of contradiction
that at least two thirds Of the nations and races
, of the globe have some tradition lin many cases
very faint OF what We call the deiuge or flood
Of Noah, says the st. Louis Republic. In India
| these myths or semi-eacred legends appear in
forms. nad IN ho
| Hindoo Mahabhsrata, agreeing with our bibIi-
cal account in all of its main details. Brahma
did not speak with a voice of thunder from
cloud" but appeared to Manu-, the Hindoos'
Noah, in the form of a fish. this on the River
Wirini. From thence he was transferred to tbs
Ganges, having grown too large for the Wirini.
and, after an astonishing increase of bulk
| from disporting in the sacred river, he was
transferred to the Indian ocean. But even
here Manu- Noah) was In speaking distance, and
| 1t was from that oceans depths that Brahma
| gave orders for the building of a great life
saving vessel ark, Manu- did as Brahma di-
rected, and on the approach Of the great flood
as well as the living creatures OF the earth.
Last OF ali he provided quarters for the seven
Rishc Of holy beings which where TO outride IL Q
storm Then the food came. much IN the same
way that that of Noah did, but the account does
| not say in as many words that "the fountains
of the great deep were broken up and the win
dows Of heaven were opened" When the flood
| was well on" and "the whole surface of the
earth was covered in water to a depth of $50
cubits" Brahma appeared to Manu- in the form
of great fish swimming alongside the vessel
This Brahma fish was an enormous creature
| with q gigantic horn, and TO this horn Manu-
dashed his vessel with q stout rope of virgins
hair. Then began series of wanderings that
throw Ulysses and the Flying Dutchman's"
feats into the shade For years the great vessel
plunged hitler AVID thither now on this side of
the globe and then on that, but always at the
mercy of the goldfish. the horn and the hair
rope After an age of aimless plunging over
| the great sphere Of water the outlook at last
! catches s. glimpse Of land; or, more properly,
rock, for it was the very apex of Mount Him
arat (probably meaning highest peak OF the
| Himalayas,) and TO that point the fish
| pilot steered the great craft. God now
! appears on the scene and gives orders for the
| HAIR rope TO be removed from the Brahma fsh'e
horn and its transference to a solid column of
stone on the mountain peak. God also com.
manded that the mountain would ever after be
known as Mount Naubandhana which means
mountain of ship-bIndinR." ter the sub
sidence of the waters the powers OF God
Brahma and Manu- NOAH seem to have been
strangely interviewer, for, we are told, after
| the flood, by favor of Brahms, Manu- created a
new race of people. which. from that time for