The times., 1899-10-22
NEW WEATHER PROBLEMS
Meteorological Conditions and Man
kinds Behavior.
q WashingtOHian Holds Wind aud
Temperature ReaponsibIe for Many
of the Peculiar Acts of Human
ity - His Predictions Regardiug
This Branch OF the Science.

This Branch OF the Science.
a Washingtonian who takes an extTaor-
binary interest in meteoroIogy in all of its
various phases is a champion of the asser-
tion that weather conditions have more to
do with the temperament and acts of hu-
man beings than is admitted nowadays
This theorist declares that one day in the
not far distant future. weather bulIe-
tins, predictions concerning temperature
and wind changes and probable variations
in atmospheric conditions will possess
much greater significance than at present
According TO his notion of the probabili-
ties in the matter, the public will watch the
] weather bulletin, not simply to discover
whether some engagement is to be upset
by rain or TO discover in advance a rise or
fall in temperature that viii necessitate a
change in apparel but 10 secure cIew TO
The probable conduct of his fellow beings
to whom he is more or less closely related.
The behavior of men and women, according
to this psychological weather expert is to
a large extent influenced by variations in
humidity rising and falling OF the mercury,
and the shifting in the direction and We
ocity Of the wind.
On this interesting topic, the msteoro-
gist talks very entertainingly. when the
relations of atmospheric conditions to the
human mind are truly understood" said
be. certain changes Will mean to the ply
! sician warning in regard to his patients
| Iu-bn he
To the teacher these changes will indicate
that her pupils Will be stubborn and un-
| ruly; to the chief of police they viii indi-
cate a day of assaults murders, and sui
cfdes to the keeper of a penitentiary or
insane asylum, d time of extra watchful-
ness over his wards to avert fractions out
| breaks; to the banker, a change in the
weather may bring anxiety lest serious err
rors creep into his accounts or a1ect IL
nancial calculations; and to the ordinary
citizen the prevalence of certain weather
conditions viii indicate that mental or
| physical operations should be Curtailed or
that a decision as to some momentous af
fair Of business should be postponed TO
season when the intellect shall be clearer
and the judgment less clouded
THAT climate and weather influence
feeling and conduct is universally admitted.
The fact is recognized in popular tradition
and in general literature, and the princi-
pal theories concerning it are familiar 10
the public Everybody understands eli
matte effects upOns character. The differ
ences between tropical races and those liv-
ing in the temperate zones, the depressing
influence of a damp rainy day, and the
stimulating effect Of bright, sunny wealth
er. are large facts in meteorology that are
common knowledge That spring causes
revival of human energy, that more sui
a;I ,taT tba4
extremes Of heat and cold kill OFF hu-
man beings like a pestilence-these are
some of the scientific conclusions as to me-
teorologicaI influence that seem to be gen
orally accepted.
But We are on the eve Of a refinement
of the science that will extend its scope
very materially. Past investigations have
been concerned with the larger effects Of
seasons in which certain weather COHdi-
tions were prevalent. Recent inyestiga-
tions have been concerned with the ef-
fects upon the conduct Of human beings of
daily variations In temperature humidity,
and the velocity OF the wind. The Wealth
er Bureau has a small fund at its disposal
for making Investigations of this character,
but has done little more than outline some
Of the elemental features of the complicat-
ed problems involved In making these in
yestigations the meteorologist goes on the
! theory that the human body is a machine
capable Of developing only a certain
amount of energy per individual which
output must suffice to maintain his bodily
functions and in addition to provide a re
serve fund out of which must come the
! energy, physical or mental expended in
daily labor or other exercise. Now, it is
obvious that weather conditions that can
effect an increase or reduction in this fund
of surplus energy viii have more or less
influence on conduct. The weather is, how
ever, always a secondary cause. 1t serves
to create or help to create the conditions
under which certain acts can or will be
done, or under which we lose the power TO
inhibit them Weather also has influence
over emotional states of mind and these,
too, are factors in determining conduct
ITO illustrate it has been found that the
best work Of pupils in the public schools
is done on days which are cold calm. or
3 clear, and their worst work on hot or
muggy days. Their department, as evil
, denced by the larger number Of demerits
entered, is worst on cloudy days The
suicide, strangely enough, in a majority
Of cases, chooses a fair day for self-de-
struction. The errors made by bank clerks
{ are most common in the months OF July
2 and August and more are made on the
days of highest temperature than on any
other Bodily assaults are most frequent
In spring and summer, and the suScepti-
bility of the female sex to weather infiu-
ences is shown in the larger proportion Of
} assaults committed by women in July and
August.
1T is found that the unseasOnabIy hot
t days of spring and autumn are more pro-
} ductive of pugnacity than other hot days,
] even though the heat be much less than
? in summer. AS a general rule it appears
} that warm weather and sunny days are
r productive of human energy, whether for
5 good or evil, and that very cold or very
hot or windy or humid days are depress-
, ing in their effects. and while they may
be irritating to the temper are not cOndu-
/ Give to accurate or energetic action. In
I the one case the favorable meteor illogical
conditions seem to release quantity Of
e human energy which in the other would
g be drawn upon to counteract unfavOrable
conditions To what extent the human
machine is responsive to daily variat tious
in weather is unknown, but that it is re-
f sponsiye Just as a modern steam engine
y is responsive to varying loads is the con
. clusion TO which all recent enquiries lead.
5 An Improved Telephone.
(From the London Daily Mail)
If a recent invention fulflis all that is
) expected of it, we are approaching an era
Y