Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-02-17
Some Natural Phenomcaa.


L f%t~A HtN 80
EDITOR BEACON: The second ques-
iioa 10 the series submitted for dis
cussiop 10, "Wby il 1t Rthat there IL
more Warmth ID the lower than In the
uppef stmosPtcro aud Iofty aiountaiu
tops are covered with perpetual snow
| in the warIncst latitudos1v
Concentration pfAbc snn's rays aud
radiation OF heat from the earth. Trio
atmosphere, like the globe II cnvelops,
is spheroidal IN form; like other trans
parent bvdics II refracts light, aud
presenting, as il does a convex sur
face 10 the sun, convcrgcs its rays and
would bring them TO n locus and cause
intense heat at distance cqual-to the
radius of circle VI which that part of
the outer surface of the atmosphere
looking 10 the sun always describes ali
urc Hence il Is that an object placed
on the surface OF the earth receives
more of the suns rays than that same
object would receive II placed at any
given alatiludc above the earth, where
the rays of the sun are less convcrgcd
and where terrestrial radiation of heat
are lneasurably lost by dispersion
III tAUcTliliCbt HIS utCu ttlCN WIN
balloons and the fact asccrtained that,
tor certain distance. the thermometer
falls as the balloon nscends, but at an
elevation aboye the reach of tcrres-
trial radiations of heat and where the
suns rays are less concentrated, the
thermometer again rises as the balloon
asccnds. In attempting to account
for tho phenomenon in question there
should, perhaps. be more stress laid
upon radiation of heat from the earth
than has been done In the above sketch.
Third. "The equatorial diameter, of
the earth being greater than the polar
diameter, why is Ii that tlr larger
water courses flow towards tie Equa-
tor, whereas according to The laws of
equilibrium they should grayitate in
another direction?"
One factor in The case is centrifugal
force, for that force which holds the
tropical oceans above n common level,
and that, too, in regions where evapo-
ration IRON the ocean is greatest, must
certainly exercise much force iu caus-
ing water courses To flow towards the
Equator, The attraction of affinity
also, to some extent, aids tho larger
water courses in the direction in
which they flow, but the chief factor.
in the premises is gravitation. am
aware that some geographers assert
that the source of the Mississippi
River is lower than its outlet, which
seem TO be an opinion based on the
imperfect spherociiy of The globe and
is correct only SO tar as il relates to
the general form Of the earth. that il
TO say rs 1t relates to the difference of
the equiornl and polar diamrtrrs of
the earth. Take an arc of the cartb's
surface from tue. Gulf of Mexico TO
Lake Michigan and The source of the
Mississippi River would be found
above the line OF the arc, aud if tried
by the plumb line from source TO out
lei II would be found that gravitation
has much TO do with the current Of
the Mississippi River and the same
thing is true with regard TO all the
water courses that flow towards the
equator.
Fourth "Why is it that the waters
of the Pacific Ocean along the west
coast of Central America are higher
than the waters OF the Cult of Mexico
OH the east coast"
That the waters of the Pacific Ocean
are not higher at the place mentioned
Mexico on the opposite coast, is too
plain case for discussion, and how
such an assertion could ever have
gained credence is hard 10 see Water
ALWAYS finds its level in any latitude,
so far as ii relates to that latitude. 1t
is true that the Pacific Ocean is higher
on the const of Central America than
on the shores of Washington or Pat
agonia, brit chat is in a Longitudinal
direction, and the wafer il held in
sitti by the cartll's centrifugal force,
IA stated
In prnning The above the reflection
occurs that there is nothing in :he uni
verse still, that nothing moves by
chance and nothing moves in obcdi-
encc to any special Almighty fat. that
everything moves by its own inherent
and proper moter power. or abates by
its own proper inhibitory force, oil
governed bv laws immntable: and
inevitable: fiat whence and where
fore natures forces and the laws that
govern them were decrced and es-
tahlishcd is IL subject too profound for
human ken. and this train OF thought
leads the mind onward. from system
to system. up TO the contemplation of
futuritv. and into many conjcctures.
both theological and psychological
which. however rational they may APP
pear ms viewed from human stand
point, are but conjccturcs after all.
and suffice II 10 say that. born in
medas res and given no data beyond
the scope Of its own finite vision, the
human mind can never, in this
life comprehend the aim and end of its
being. Al NAV be revealed to us in
the great beyond.
"Hope humbly then, or trembling pinivrs
soar,
Wait the great teacher, Death. and God
ADORE
J. PEBBLES.