Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-12
dor the Dispatch.)
tF-OT tUb DIhpdINIII
HE that is weather wise,
Is seldom otherwise"


Is seldom otherwise"
says the proverb. and the saying IS not
without a shrewd amount of truth. For,
perhaps, nowhere can we find more
striking combination Of imperfect obser-
walton and inconsequent deduction than
in the saws which form the stock-in-trade
Of the ordinary would-be weather pro-
phet How common it is to find men
fun Of the conviction that the weather
must change at the so-called changes
Of the NOON" forgetful that
'If we'd no moon at all
And that may seem strange
We still shoula have weather
That's subject to change"
They say. truly enough. no doubt, that
they have known the weather TO change
az new" or "full," as the case may be
and they argue that II, therefore, must
ALWAYS do so. But, in fact, they have
,nly noted few chance condolences,
and have let the great number Of dis
cordances pass by unnoticed.
But, observations OF this kind seem
scientific and respectable compared with
those numerous weather proverbs which
are based upon the mere jingle Of a
rhyme. as:
"If the ash is out before the oak,
You may expect a thorough soak,
n uroverb which is deity inverted in
some districts by making coax rhyme
10 choke"
Others again are based upon a mere
childish fancy, as, for example, wher
the Young moon lying on her back Is
supposed 10 bode spell OF dry weather
because II looks like a cup and so nigh,
be thought of as able 10 hold the water
During the present reign, however, q
very different method of weather study
has come into action and the founda'
,ions of a true weather wisdom have
heen laid. These have been based, not
on fancied analoges or old wives
rhvmes. or a few forechosen condolences
hut upon observations carried on fol
long periods OF time, and over wide
areas of country, and discussed in then
entirety without selection and bias
Above all. mathematical analysis ha:
been applied TO the motions of the air
and ideas, ever gaining In precision anC
exactness have been formulated or tnC
general circulation of the atmosphere.
AS COmDaJe0 WIN IT'S SiSlNT SSlciSC
astronomy, meteorlogy appears to bS
still In a very undeveloped state. There
is such a difference between the power
nj the astronomer 10 foretell the precise
position of sun. moon. and planets FOL
Gears even for centuries, beforehand, anC
the failure of the meteorologist 10 pre-
dict the weather for single SCISSOR
ahead. that the impression has beer
widely spread that there is yet no true
meteorological science at all. 1t is for
gotten that astronomy offered us, in thu
movements OF the heavenly bodies the
very simplest and easiest problem OF re
lsted motion. Yet for how many thou
sands OF years aid men watch the planets
ond speoulate concerning them before
fhe labors OF Tycho. Kepler, and Newton
cul,ntnafed In the revelation of thet
meznine7 For co1ptless generations 4
Was supposed that eleir movements regu
,ateA the lives, characters. and private
fortunes Of individual men; just as quit
recently Il was fancied that the new
moon falling on a Saturday. or two fnl
moons coming within the same calenda
month, brought bad weather.
IL Is still impossible 70 foresee IN
weather change for long ahead. but 4
some countries. especially IN the Unite
States, Il has been found possible 10 pre
dict the weather OF the coming Ionr-and
twenty hours with very consideraDl
AxsetnAes. and often TO foreeaal Ia