55 o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



thick, misty, and murky, and the afternoon cold, raw, and disa- 

 greeable for a summer's day. 



The observations made during night ascensions, or those which 

 were continued into the night, on temperatures at different heights, 

 gave results different from the theories previously held on the 

 subject. An increase of the temperature with the height was 

 noticed after sunset. The rate of decline of temperature with ele- 

 vation when near the earth was subject to variation as the sky 

 was clear or cloudy. From an elevation of three miles cirrus 

 clouds were seen apparently as far above the observers as they 

 seem when viewed from the earth, and that under such conditions 

 that it was hard to believe that their presence was due to moist- 

 ure. The audibility of sounds from the earth depended consider- 

 ably on the amount of moisture in the air. The noise of a railway 

 train could be heard in clouds at four miles high, but not when 

 the clouds were far below. The discharge of a gun was heard at 

 10,000 feet ; the barking of a dog at two miles ; but the shouting 

 of a multitude at not more than 4,000 feet. Many differences in 

 the results of observations were supposed to depend upon atmos- 

 pheric conditions, while these vary with the time of day and the 

 season of the year ; so that a great many observations would be 

 required to determine the true laws. Having followed up one of 

 the observations recorded above with a captive balloon and by 

 other means, Mr. Glaisher declared to the Meteorological Society, 

 in 1870, that the theory that the temperature is always lower at 

 higher elevations is not true. 



Some noteworthy mental impressions are recorded in Mr. 

 Glaisher's descriptions of his ascents. Writing of his feelings 

 at the height of 23,000 feet, and under the imminent necessity 

 of descending at once, he was surprised "at the extraordinary 

 power which a situation like this calls forth, when it is felt 

 that a few moments only can be devoted to noting down all ap- 

 pearances and all circumstances at these extreme positions ; and 

 if not so rapidly gleaned they are lost forever. In such situa- 

 tions every appearance of the most trivial kind is noticed : the 

 eye seems to become keener, the brain more active, and every 

 sense increased in power to meet the necessities of the case ; and 

 afterward, when time has elapsed, it is wonderful how distinctly 

 at any moment scenes so witnessed can be recalled and made to 

 reappear mentally in all their details so vividly that, had I the 

 power of the painter, I could reproduce them visibly to the eye 

 upon the canvas." A fine description, of which we can quote only 

 a part, is given of the scenery of the upper air : " Above the clouds 

 the balloon occupies the center of a vast, hollow sphere, the lower 

 portion of which is generally cut off by a horizontal plane. This 

 section is in appearance a vast continent, often without intervals 



