Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-12-28
Concerning Weather 70. .e:asts.

Some of the ablest scientists of
this country and Europe have de-
voted much time and labor to the
study Of this problem. They have
consulted weather records of all
countries, taking note of the dates
of heavy storms, making compari-
sons with the position of the moon
and planets, to determine if there is
any discoveyable connection be-
tween the movement of those minor
bodies and the sweep of storm
eddies in earth's atmosphere. The
consensus of opinion has been that
there is no foundation of fact or
philosophy for that stystem of long
range forecasts. So thus far, there
has been entire failure to establish
a scientific and practical basis for
any kind of trustworthy, predictions
as to the occurrence of storms, floods
or droughts in specified localities
and at certain dates in future
months or seasons. Though such
foreknowledge is very desirable, yet
at the present stage of human
progress it is beyond possibility of
realization. In this field of scien-
tific research the wisest students
have been most deeply sensible OF
the limitations Of human knowledge,
but charlatans and pretenders claim
to hold a key to mysteries in earth
and the heavens that are hidden to
the balance of mankind. Quackery
in meteorology as we'll as in medi-
cine, is indicated by the extrava-
giant pretensions of its practitioners.
Modern astrologers following
closely the lines Of their ancient
prototypes, give the sun minor or
passive role, while the moon and
planets form an all-star aggrega-
ton in the ever shifting scenes of
earth's drama. To each planet is
assigned some specially act on the
stage, each producing different
type of weather; and when two or
three act in conjunction the com
plex results are startling. In the
program as presented by long
range weather almanac, the leading
role in developing regular storm
periods is given to 'Valcan, .
though that hypothetical planet
modestly keeps out of sight. The
almanac says: The Vulcan period
is the foundation and frame work
around which all storm disturbances
grow"
According to this almanac, the
planet Mercury, is in control Of the
sprinkling apparatus, causing mists
and drizzles in summer, and damag-
ing sleet in winter. Just how mer-
curry produces such an effort on
earth is one Of the curious things in
occult science. The almanac says:
Mercury moves and operates at
such distance from the sun as to ad-
nit Of much vapor and humidity
At the same time it's nearness to the
sun causes perpetual evaporation
and steam and vapor in its atmos-
phere and skies, and this is in some
as yet indefnable way communi.
Gated to our own and other planets
in our system. . 8. This pc.
culiar infection infused into the sur
by the Mercury perturbation, we
hold, may reasonably take on such
forms as to be thrown out by the
solar energy, being reconverted into
something like its original elements
in our own globe and atmosphere
Hence our thick, prolonged cloudi
ness-our mists and drizzling rain,
and sleet storms during the Mer
curry disturbances"
Now this abstruse statement be
translated into plain English signi
fies that the planet Mercury whe1
its gets into a disturbances" throw,
water into the face of the sun, ane
that body retaliates by turning hi
hose on the whole planetary family
That relieves great Jupiter Pluviu
from some measure Of blame for ex
cessive humidity.
Another extract from the almanac
will throw more light on thi
problem. 1t says: "rhe disturb
, ances of each and all the planets ar
) communicated to all the rest of tn
) planets, not directly, but througl
the perturbations caused by tn
planetary equinoxes to the sun
g 81 " When the plane of eacl
| planets equator cuts the sun, thi
!, force is violently antagonized, tn
center of energy is put out Of ba
: ance in the great solar orb, an
. perturbating waves react upon a
a budies in our system, resulting i
the phenomena which we witness i
o our earth and skies and which W
t denominate as meteorological"
r In reading over this almanac
j. dramatic story of how the planet
/ are continually "perturbing" tn
! sun, and how the sun hurls it bac
i, at all creation, one is reminded of
g lot Of boys poking sticks into
o mammoth hornets nest, and tt
d singing "reactionary disturbance
A issued from that previously passi,
: body.
y Really, it is difficult to treat sue
ludicrous matter with becomin
1t dignity and seriousness. I'll
d chapter of the almanac descripti,
> of Each planets peculiar ph
l. nomena" is absolutely irresistible
l mirth-provoker to any reader wi
'r possesses sense Of the ridiculo,
"a and some elementary knowledge
G meteorology and astronomy. o.
d is impressed by the evident earnes
ness of the author, and yet it seer