The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-21

cannot stand the test OF veri1cation:
careful examinations and COMPARE
sons have failed to establish any con-
nectfon between the movements, posi-
tons, and changes of the sun, moon,
and stars and the changes in the
weather that are experienced from
day to day. Neither can it be shown
that the actions Of animals, birds or
fish, or the condition of plant life, give
evidence OF other than present or past
weather conditions; and long-range
weather forecasts based upon the con-
dition of the weather on certain days
have for basis superstition and ig-
norance."
So fncredulous has our professor be-
come in the broad glare Of PennsyIva-
MIA avenue that he doesn't believe even
IN sun spots. He doesn't admit that 1t
Is "a favorite theory among meteorolo-
gistS that sun spots have definite eff
feet upon meteorological as well as upon
magnetic and electrical conditions, and
that more or less well-defined elev-
en-year period of Sun-spot maximum
can be directly associated with rainfall
and the distribution of temperature
and barometric pressure.
Yet" he maintains, at appears in
fact that, while a consensus of opinion
OF those that have contributed to sun
spot literature is that solar disturb
ances, as indicated by sun spots, affect
the earth's magnetic and electric condi-
lions, definite relation between sun
spots and meteorological conditions has
not been established. 1t is, however,
possible and even probable, that longer
periods of observation will permit COM
parsons that may define concurrent
cycles in sun spots and weather"
The moon-now, all the world knows
fC
do with weather. Doesn't everybody
say so? What did your father use to
say along in the first quarter of the
moon? What did your grandfather
say? and the old Judge? and even the
colonel? They knew it was the moon.
and they didn't deny it. OF course,
they didn't all agree as to the exact
way In which the moon made weather.
But what would they have said? what
do you say? to this opinion Of Professor
Garriott's:
That the moon has a controlling in
fuence In matters meteorological is q
fixed belief in the minds of the masses;
and evidence to the contrary in the
form Of weather records that fail ut
terly to show any connection between
moon changes and the weather, has
been, and Is likely to be. insufficient to
change that belief
e..
comes as skeptieal as Vohaire's Tom
Reed. He quotes the most ancient wis
dom or eur farmers, our hunters, and
eur village postmasters, merely to de-
ride those worthless. He says that the
beaver, the mole, the hedgehog, the
bear, the squirrel, and the ground hog,
don't know any more about weather
than a special correspondent at Chifu
knows about that dreadful pitch
ed battle" on the Yalu river. The pro-
fesser smiles as he sings,
If the November goose bone be thick.
SO will the winter weather be;
IL the November goose bone be thin.
So will the winter weather be-
He explicitly ridicules the well
known fact that
IF on Candlemas Day (Feb. q the
bear, badger, woodchuck, or ground
hog comes out and does not see his
shadow, he remains OUT but If he does
see it, he goes back to his hole for six
weeks, and cold weather continues for
six weeks longer"
He explains. in condescending fash