Electricity And Storms

The question of the electric nature of cyclones is a question of fact, and cannot be determined by balancing opinions. Facts alono can decide, by proving or disproving that cyclones are caused by eleclricity. I matntain that not only cyeiones. but all the pheaome na of the atmosphere, are electric in their nature and chanicter. The faets upon which I strongly rely and adduce to prove the electric nature of cycloues cannot be stated here, lor they are too voluminous. The substance, hovvever, s briefly as follows: A luniinous or ïery cloud-spoui is seen to deseend :rotn the clouds, which is met by a flash 'rom the earth where the spout touchee. Simultaneou.s with the flash overything 'ree at the point struck explodes into 'ragments, is carried cleau away, and enerally hurled into elouds through ;he vortex. Likewise, whenevor an electric discharge takes placo, ozone in stifling quantJties appears with the lash. Combustibles are set on fire in ;he buidings struck, and destroyed. ?U shes issue f rom the furniture in the ïonse, and sparks f rom fhe walls, like rom an eruery wheel. After night the tornado-cloud is iuvariably lnminous - often not perceived in the day-time - and a wave like flarne on the earth confronu the clnud-spout as ït sweeps 'orward on the surface of the ground. 1 ioterpret those facts to say that this uminosity, those sparks aud flamcs, are electricity, and henee that the whole phenomenon is an electric one. Not long ago n-e were assured that it s au error to suppose that Siberla is an inpleasant place, and now the Rev Sheldon Jackson, who lived fivo years in Alaska, assures a Philadelphia audi ence that "No words ean be strong enough to expross the charm of this de lijrluful land, where a climate softer tlian that of the North of England in sures at all limes of the year full enjoy ment of all the loveliness around jou.' He further said that in forty years the mercury in Alaska had, by Russian re oord, only twice gone below zero. Uabies are at present deoidedly a drug in the English market. A shor ugo one was adVerüsed for sale for L1 lUs. Again it came out in evidence 01 a school board summons that a ckik had been bought for a shilling; and las week the mother of a two months old nfant put her baby into a bag of rags whieh she was about to sell to a raL dealer, with the view, apparently, of ai once getting red of the child and o: iiüiking the bag heavier Italy and China divide three-fourths o: the silk producticn of the world, India and Japan divido one-seventh, Spain, PcisJM. nnd the Levant have the rest.