Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-18
FASCINATING NEW SCIENCE.
Kumatology or the Study Of the Waves
OF tho Earth.

There is n new silence. whose name Is
Kumat ology, and whose scope Is the study
of all the waves and wave structures or
the earth. The main idea on which it Is
built UP is that from the higher limits or
the atmosphere to the inner core of tho
earth wavoc run through the entire hcld
Of geography Mountain folds are earth
Wavcs--the clouds are often but the waves
of the air made visible--and all around
and about the Garth, wherever sought, are
to he found ether waves, governed ny
laws that are mostly unknown, and that
await mans careful study before thcir
nature will be revealed.
vast deep and an absorbingly inter
esting science is the Kumatology; yet 1t
is 10 a great extent made up by the obser-
walton Of tho commonplace. Opportunl-
ties for studying 1t abound on every hand;
a mans lifetime would be required to
solve tho secrets of all the waves that
await tho light of knowledge.
To- take at random n few samples. -
show tho scope of the subject. There are
the great waves caused 10y earthquakes;
which run from end to end of the carth;
air waves. cloud waves, sea waves. In
themselves and in their actions, the wave $
of lakes and rivers, tho sand dunes OF the
coast, the mighty sand dunes Of the dos
ert sea beaches, sand waves on the BOT
tom Of streams and rivers, the ripple
marks on the he'd of tho sea, the ripple
ridges Of hilsides. ice waves, as on gla-
ciers, and tho glistening white waves OF
drifted snow. There are, OF course, others
Of light. sound, nervous Transmission, com
monty called brain waves but these branch
es Of tho subject of waves arc best kept
apart from Kumatology, which is the
study OF geographical waves.
To show that this vast science is bun,
up by the observation Of the commonplat .
and to show the hold II will take on those
1. l.. t,.lt
dents following are aproros: When, fo'
the purposes of discussing tho subject,
was dining with tho distinguished scion
fist. Mr.. Vaughan Cornish, wave dscov
cred in n SOUP plate so interested him II
its shape and causes of formation that
had grave fears that our dinner wotlt
never get beyond tho first course
Again. when Mr.. Cornish was explaining
Kumatology to large and distinguishr'
gathering Of scientists at the Royal Geo
graphical society, he happened, In the
curse of his lecture. to touch upon the for
nation of waves caused by ducks swim
ming in pond At the end of the le"tur'
the president of the meeting incidentally
mentioned that he intended visiting an
ponds In ST. James Park, London, on tn
following days. to study duck waves, anC
he added that he would not he surprise
If he were to moot many of his friend
there gathered lying them also.
If YOU can picture party OF grave an'
learned scientific men gathered toE tho
watching duck swimming in a pond. an'
taking notes Of the waves in its wake, 'oi
will have a clear indication of the fasCina
tion Of kumatology ana Of the case witt
which objects for study may he found
Wherever you may he. on the scas1ole OF
hillside in boat on the waters or In
balloon in tho air there Won will find ;
chance of examining the theory of waves
Pearson'S Magazine.