Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-08-13

discharged from the clouds. Electric
ity exists In all matter, but is often in
latent state. Friction disturbs 1t
and brings it into active operation.
Friction, therefore, develops electric
lty. ELECTRICITY, like heat, is in itself
Invisible, though often accompanied
by light and heat. Experience has
shown that conductors are bodies
whose molecules have the power of
communicating their electricities TO
each other at low tensions, while nom
conductors are those whose molecules
only acquire this power at high ten
sions. Electricity is sometimes &C.
companied with an odor, as near an
electrical machine in good action
there is always a peculiar odor, re-
sembling sulphur and phosphorus;
this odor is called ozone, and has
been observed in thunder storms.
Sometimes the sulphurous odor pre-
walls, and sometimes the phosphoric.
ELECTRICITY is produced in the clouds
by day. The clouds are often four or
five miles above our heads, but the
average height of the clouds is from
one and one-half to two miles.
lightning is sometimes forked be-
cause the cloud is at a great distance,
and the resistance Of the air is so
great that the electric current is d.
verified into zigzaG course. AS the
lightning condenses the air in the inn
mediate advance OF its path, it flies
from side to side, in order to pass
where there is least resistance. In
very severe storms the flash will di-
vide into two or more parts, each of
which will assume the zigzag form.
Sometimes the fash Is straight, be-
cause the cloud is near the earth, and
as,the flash meets with little resist
anCe it is not diverted.
Sheet Lightning is the reflection Of
distant flashes not distinctly visible
or beneath the horizon, or several
flashes intermingled, The reason
there is no thunder to what is called
summer lightning is because the
Lightning clouds Are 70 far distant
that the sound of the thunder is lost
before il reaches the ear. There is
more lightning In summer and su-
tumn than In spring and winter be-
cause the heat Of summer and autumn
produces greater evaporation from the
esrths surface by the chemical changes
which take place on the earth's surface
and by currents Of air Of unequal tenn
perature, which excite electricity by
friction as they come in contact with
each other. lightning sometimes ex-
hibits remarkable "fresks," darling
about from place to place, but is con-
trolIed by an immutable law, alwaya
taking in its course the best conduc-
tors, and will fly both right and left
to reach them. For instance, last
summer lightning struck large oak
near Eagle Mills, and before re4ch-
ing the ground darted off to a metal
lie clothesllne, along which it ran
about fifteen feet, and then, leaving
the line, entered a small building sew
eral feet distant through a window,
making a circular hole in pane Of
glass, and, after plainly making cir
cult around the walls inside, left with
out indicating the point Of exit.
An electric cloud is discharged
when one cloud overch4rged with
electric fluid approaches another
which is underQApgged. The fluid
rushes FROM the lormer to the latter
till both contain the same quantity.
ADother cause Of Lightning is that
sometimes mountains, trees and
steeples will discharge the lightning
from cloud floating near; and some
times the electric fluid rushes out Of
the earth into the clouds. The light
nlng clouds are sometimes elevated
four or FIVE miles, and sometimes &C.
tuaIly touch the earth with one Of
their edgea but they are rarely DIS
charged in a thunder storm when
they are more than seYen hundred
yards above the surface of the Garth
On fair day evaporation and the
conversion OF water into Sapor always
develops electricity,
g-n'.s. .elslNs.gp4g..sssa.as