Year: 1859

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thunder's crash are seen and heard almost
simultaneously, it is a sign that danger is
al hand, and the next bolt may strike the
tenement which affords us shelter. To
know the place Of greatest safety upon
such an occasion is important knowledge.
This science clearly teaches us, aud as a
faithful monitor, its voice should be heard
with attention.


The earth and atmosphere are satura-
ted with electricity, which ordinarily re-
mains in state Of equilibrium. When
this condition is disturbed we have the
phenomena of thunder-storm-which is
simply an effort Of nature to restore the
electric equilibrium between the atmos-
phere and the earth. The atmosphere in
such cases is converted into huge Ley
den jar; the Lightning is simply disrup-
tive discharges through the intervening
air; and thunder is tho sound caused by
the violent and sudden compression of the
air producing waves, hence the long con-
tinued roll like the discharge of artillery.
Lightning is the most subtle and irresis-
tible power of nature. A single flash can
shiver the tall mast Of war-ship that
might bid defiance to a cannonade, or
rend the lofty oak of the forest to splin-
ters in an instant; and single bolt has
toppled the tall church spire to the dust
in the twinkling of an eye. What is tho
puny power of man before such a
mighty agent? 1t is physically frai as
feather or trembling leaf. Armed in
the panoply of science, however, man, like
a weak but skillful general. can maneu-
YER his forces against this otherwise des-
tructive power, and convert danger into
comparative safety.


This discovery was made when Frank
lin proved the identity of lightning and
electricity with his little kite. Electrici-
ty possesses the peculiar property of flow
ing quietly along or through what are
called conductors" such as copper, gold,
iron, &C.; and taking advantage of this,
the American philosopher suggested the
erection of tall rods of iron or copper
on houses and ships, to tap the Leyden
jars of the atmosphere, and convey their
charges quietly and safely to the earth.
This suggestion carried out has saved
thousands of lives and millions worth of
property, hence all houses should be pro-
vided with such conductors, but rs is the
case now, perhaps the great majority of
buildings will always be unsupplied with
such agencies. In all cases, il should
never be forgotten that the lightning al
ways seeks to pass the earth by the near
est prominent conductors, hence we have
an explanation Of the cause why trees,
nasts of ships, steeples Of churches, tow
ers, and chimneys are so often struck, and
why the persons referred to above should
not have been standing so near the fire
place on the occasion of thunder storm
which costs them their lives. In such
storms, persons in houses should sit or lie
in some place as far distant as possible
from the chimney, and the most exposed
parts of the wall-the middle Of the room,
if it is large, is the safest locality. Sail
ors on the sea should keep as far from the
masts as possible, and farmers in the
fields should never seek shelter under
tress. Horizontal strokes of lightning
sometimes take place, and several persons
have been struck while sitting at open
windows during thunder-storms. Every
window of a room in which persons are
sitting, in such cases, should be closed; a
flash Of the fluid, which would pass thro'
an open window into an apartment, will
be conducted down through the floor and
wall to the earth, if the window is shut