The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-09
THUNDER SHOWER NERVOUS
NESS.
Opened Windows no More Dangerous
than Closed windOws-The SpIen
did Phenomena OF the Storm.

New YORK Times.
A corr apondent whose letter appears in
another column makes inquiry as TO the
measure OF safety in thunder showers secur-
ed by the closing of windows to exclude air
currents. 1t gives us pleasure 20 furnish The
information desired and. Incidentally. to|
fort. and possibly the benefit, of those who
through fear Of tightening are all their life
time subject to bondage. We know OF no
more ptlabe timidity than that which a
been taught to fear 1t or whose nerves are
especially sensitive to excitatlon from this
cause.
The now generally accepted theory Of Wis
sible lightning 10 that the spark Jumps from
region OF positive electriflcatlon To one neg
atively charged. The flash becomes lumI-
nous by reason or the fact that the air offers
| y relatively high resistance Is so great as TO
render incandescent the air in the path of the
spark. During thunder storms the clouds
usually represent the region OF positive
charge and the earth that OF u negative the
two forming gigantic condenser. a
strained electrical relation cannot last be-
yond certain point, depending upon the
resistance OF the medium interposed between
The positive and negative elements OF the
com bination. Equilibrium is finally estab
lished by the means which we recognize In
the familia phenomenon of lightning AS
the air Is always path OF relatively high re-
resistance, lightning seeks an easier path
when one Is offered; hence its frequent &C.
| lection OF lightning rods, trees, telegraph
poles. hay stocks. barns, or Isolated houses,
or the snars OF ships, on It's wav TO the earth.
The nature or the elevated object is of COM
paratlvely little Importance since in any
| case 1t IL likely to be better conductor than
air. nut II wet Its conductlvity IL much great.
er than If dry.
correspondent, the only case In which an
electrical discharge would he likely TO follow
an air current into house Is when such cur.
| rent carries higher percentage OF moisture
fhN -,
could scarcely be In a dwelling, IL is quite
| safe to say that those who leave windows
open during thunder showers run no greater
RISK OF being struck by lightning" than do
tnose VINO render themselves uncom mfortable
by hlgh temperature in u stagnant atmos.
phere. The only good reasons we know for
Closing doors and windows at such times are
TO keep out the dust which usually proceeds
them and the driving rains of which they
consist, II for any reason the lightning
should want to come In "out of the wet" ii
Would We, not stop TO knock at closed door or
things, but these are not included in its re-
pertoir.
An unreasonable and illogical dread OF
iiShtning Is greatly to be deplored. People
VINO su1er from 1t are objects OF sympathy,
no doubt, but they are largely to blame for
encouraging it. Those who indulge this
weakness deny themselves a great deal of
strenuous pleasure, with risk too small to
be given arithmetical expression, in not
watching from beginning to end every typ.
cal lnunuer storm which passes. 1t is one Of
the grandest sightsin nature to witness, and
the most magnificent OF symphonies to listen
to. Ii usually begins In a minor prelude OF
deepening gloom (andante agitatO) AS the
great cumuli roll up from the west and blot
out the sun. The hush deepens, all ,living
things RENAL ming silent 10 the presence OF
the " tumultnous bombRst OF the clouds.n
| Then comes the tremoo of rustlng leaves,
quiver in anticipation OF the imminent tor.
nado and are stirred profoundly when
scarcely zephyr can be felt (allesretto
| transquillo.; The dust whirlwind foIIows
!(hlleSrettn scherZand0D tossing light things
| In fantastic gyrations, like dwarfs and les
| ters and the rabbe of the streets preceding
| the King In procession. Then the rain be-
gins 10 fall, timidly and with uncertainty at
first, Qento) hut gaining force and volume
untll IL u"Sends in Il parOXysmal outpouring
of the skies. with its splendid drum and
cvmbal accompaniment OF thnnder and
| Tightening, (prcstO furiOsO.) Then follows
| the passing of the shower, with diminishing
rain and reccdlng thunder, lillegro ma non
| tropp0) succeeded by the Sunburst and the
| revival oi nature refreshed and purified
talegro maGStOSO.) Those who hide them.
81 yes IN dark closets or under feather beds
miss all This. There is 50 little to be afraid
OF ana so much To enjoy that one who loses
| the opportunity OF witnpssi ng and hearing "A
thunder shower denies himself Il great and
inspiring privilege. Nervousness would
quickly pass If one could bring himself TO
UNDERSTAND and appreciate the splendid phe-
nomena OF the storm, which never lose in.
! tereSt. Tor the reason that they ure never
mOnotOnous.