The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-10
Scientists Discovery of a Prophetic
Plant First Was Laughed at

CONCLUDED FROM PAGE 1. PART %
$50 OO0 or thereabouts-on the work, and l
am compelled to appeal for public support
TO enable me to carry ii on and make II OF |
public utility. Bat / ask no more than VIII
suffice for that"
MADE 1T HIS LIFE STUDY.
The baron is thoroughly democratic in
spirit and makes scant use of his title,
which is an hereditary one, preferring TO be
addressed as Professor" to which he is
entitled by virtue of a degree conferred on
him in Vienna for his proficiency in chem
istry. For twenty years he has been study
ing the manifestations of the weather plant
under varying conditions and investigating
meteorological phenomena that he might
correctly interpret the messages of its veg
etable coadjutor.
He was twenty-five when the plant-or
rather, some seeds of it-first came under
his notice. They are of a bright coral red
with a shiny black spot at the top and
a hawker at Ostend who was selling them
to be strung as beads for feminine adorn-
ment- He planted the seeds, and under his
careful nurture one of them developed into
healthy plant.
Watching it closely from day to day he
was surprised at the frequent changes in
the position OF the leaflets. After having
long kept systematic and exact record
or these movements, he found, he says,
that they had an unmistakable reference
to meteorological changes not actually
taking place, but about to take place
within certain periods Of time and within
certain distances of the plant. Thus he
ascertained that the upward motion of a
pair of leaflets prognoSticates fine weather
within period of from forty-eight to sew
enty-two hours, and within radius of 100
miles; that a downward motion similarly
indicates a cloudy sky and rain that an
irregular position of the leaflets reveals an
increase of electricity in the air. which.
when the leaves roll up, portends a thunder
storm or fog liz the direction in which the
leaves are pointing. Also, that when the
leaflets assume oblique position they
are advance storm signals for the same
time and distance.
Assured by these observations that the
plant was a weather prophet to be de-
pended on, he resigned a good position he
held under the government that he might
devote all his time to studying and inter-
preting the signs by which Abrus precato-
RUS revealed its prophetic powers.
INTERESTED KING EDWARD.
The accuracy of his weather prognostica-
tons thus made attracted the attention of
the Austrian government and brought him
under royal notice. At the Jubilee Indus
trial Exhibition held in Vienna in 1883 the
Crown Prince Rudolph introduced him to
the then Prince of Wales, now King Ed
ward VII, who suggested that he should
carry on his researches at Kew Gardens,
London.
To London accordingly he came next year
and was installed with some of his weather
plants at Kew Gardens. He fondly imagined
that under such distinguished royal patron
age he would find everything smooth sail
ing, but he struck a snag almost as soon as
he set TO work. He wished to conduct his
observations by night as well as by day.
ceived with horror and indignation by the
authorities at Kew Gardens. 1t was con-
trary 10 all precedent that anybody should
voluntarily undertake TO work double time
there without receiving extra remuneration
for 1t. Besides it would necessitate the
employment of some additional attendants
would entail an expenditure of money not
covered by any of the grants enjoyed by
special act OF Parliament would be neces-
sary before he could work his weather
plants at night. So he had to give up that
point.
PREDICTED FIREDAMP EXPLOSION.
Nevertheless he made some progress in
his researches at Kew. The movements of
the petioles on which the leaflets grow
claimed his attention, and he satisfied him
self that they were due to those influences
which cause earthquakes, volcanoes and
explosions of firedamp in collieries.
on Sept 20. 1889. he states, Abrus pre-
catorius warned him that between Oct. IA
and is these conditions would obtain in
| Staffordshire. and he besought permission
10 publish his representation, that stept
might be taken to avert "A catastrophe But
| red tape again interposed veto. There
was no precedent that would sanction such
an extraordinary procedure.
At Langton, Staffordshire on Oct. 16 oc-
| CURED an explosion OF firedamp that caused
a loss of nearly one hundred lives Whereat
| one OF the baron's official superiors de-
/ clared irately that 1.-The blooming weather
/ plant was right, after ALL" The baron said
something TO the point about the RESPONSE
| Dillty that rested upon those who had for
| hidden him to publish his warning. Therein
| he again violated sacred precedent by OPEN
| ly criticisng official superior He re-
| celved a letter summarily dismissing him
! from Kew Gardens. He had been there only
/ three months.
He told his story to the Prince of Wales
| at ST Jamess Palace. The prince was SYM
| pathetic. but the substance of what he said
| amounted To this:
! IF the directors have fired Won ont nj
| Kew Gardens L am powerless to fire Won
| back on them again. You must yourself
| demonstrate the value of your weather
| plant. Prove it true prophet, and in
| time the world is sure TO accept it, and you
/ with it,
Then ensued a long period of wandering
| over Europe, seeking to induce various
| governments TO take up his system and
| give II trial. First he went to France
| The French government was willing to try
| II and make liberal terms with him if il
| proved what he claimed for it. provided
he would grant to France a monopoly OF