Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
The Tides.
The Lunar Theory Untenabie.

Before Sir Isaac Newton appeared in
the scientific world, the ebO and flow of
the waters of the oceans twice every day
were wonderful and mysterious exhibit
tions; yet it was believed that the moon
was IN some unaccountable way, respons-
ible for the phenomenon, as the tides fol-
low that planet in its real and apparent
revolution around the earth. The law of
gravitation discovered by Newton and pro-
claimed to the world in 1857, explained
the mysterious behavior of the sea to the
satisfaction, at least to the submission, of
the investigators who have not since dis
turbed the lunar theory that now appears
to have long lease of life before it. While
there is evidence that the moon, in con-
junction with the sun, is a cause of the
tides, there is evidence that it is not the
only cause, and that some force, or a com
bnation Of forces yet unknown, is an i'm
portant cause of them.
The argument against the prevailing the
DRY of the tides, that has seldom or never
been presented and never satisfactorily
answered is, that the moon cannot produce
flood tide in opposite hemispheres at the
same time. Yet such tides are constant;
at the same time there is flood tide under
the moon, there is flood tide on the oppo.
site side of the globe, and a retreat of the
| horizontal waters to both hemispheres,
with some obstruction by continents, arch
! ipelagos and polar ice, leaving an ebb tide
along the moons horizon. Here was a
problem that must have threatened the life
Of the incipient theory, and its life depend
ed upon the solution of the problem.
Does the moon possess an attractive and
| repellent force, acting simultaneously up
| rial
nistic forces are not found among the laws
of natural philosophy, and could not be
entertained. To what cause, then, other
than the moons attraction, could the tides
| in the lower hemisphere be attributed?
NO satisfactory cause could be discovered;
the search was abandoned, and, as a der
ner resort, it was decided that the moons
attraction is the cause of flood tide in both
! hemispheres at the same time. The alb
surd theory was adopted, that the moon
attracts the solid mass of the globe from
the antipodal waters, leaving them piled
up, and, by some mysterious power, they
are able TO resist the law of gravitation,
and refuse to follow the retreating earth
and its superintendent waters.
Suppose now, that the moons attraC-
| ton elevates the solid nucleus Of the earth
| five feet, that the opposite hemisphere may
have tide of five feet. The elevation
must not only be permanent, it must be
continual, or the conditions would become
exactly as before the elevation, and moth
ing would be gained. Where does this
hypothesis carry us? If the earth contin-
ually approached the moon after the ad-
vent of tides at the required rate, a colis-
ion should have occurred between the plan
cts millions OF years ago. Moreover, to
complete the theory that appears to have
been purposely and wisely left unfinished,
it should be borne in mind that the catas-
trophe would have been greatly hastened
by the earth's attraction upon the moon,
since the volume of the former to the lat
ter is as 40 to l, and the attraction of each
is in proportion to its magnitude. From
all of which it appears that the tidal archi-
tects, in their anxiety to complete the
DRY, have ignored the inevitable result of
their own hypothesis and jumped at con-
cluson that could not be reached by plau-
sible argument.
NJ. Guyot, professed believer in the
prevailing theory of the tides, apparently
sees the absurdity of this branch of it, and,
in his dissertation, he handles it so eau
tiously that his language is not devoid of
ambiguity. He says; "On the opposite
tracted than its solid mass, on account of
their greater distance from the attracting
body, are left somewhat behind as if the
solid globe were drawn farther from the
surface of the ocean" "Are left some
what behind" implies that the solid
globe has been drawn away from the sur
face of the ocean. Then follows the sub
junctive GAS it," which destroys all that
was before implied, and we are left in as
complete ignorance of the cause of food
tide in the lower hemisphere as before NJ.
Guyot made his explanation.
Finally; after all the profound reasoning
and algebraic equations that have been
summoned to prove the lunar theory of
the tides, the fact remains that it is not in
harmony with science, and will not bear a
| critical examination. Instead of flood tide
in the opposite hemisphere being caused by
the moons attraction upon the solid mass
of the globe, it is caused by some occult,
natural force TO preserve the earth's equi-
librium and the integrity OF its axis
More than this is not at present known
If some philosopher will arise and give us
a theory of this wonderful behavior of the
sea that will bear a rigid analysis he will
deserve as lasting fame as the discoverer of
the law of interplanetary distances. Until
he comes it will be quite safe to rely upon
the good behavior of the earth and its
faithful satellite that down through the
centuries have persistently stuck to their
orbits without deviation, unmoved by dis
| torted science. Sc. c.
! Wilmington, Vt.