276 Protecting Power of Trees. 



grounds on which Tarchon built his hopes.* In the fifteenth 

 century, a naked sword was Jixed upon the mast head of every 

 vessel, topi'otect it from lightning. Saint Bernard of Sienna has 

 recorded the recollection of this custom, and regards it as a mere 

 prejudice. — (Laboissiere, Acad, du Gard, 18252.) We shall 

 presently see what must needs be added to the sword, ere it pro- 

 duce any benefit. 



Lightning, casteris paribus, strikes in preference elevated 

 places ; and from this incontestible fact it has been inferred 

 that we may conclude that any object is guaranteed by a higher 

 object placed in its neighbourhood; that a house, for example, 

 has nothing to fear from the meteor when it is surrounded by 

 steeples. It has not, however, been sufficiently considered that 

 specific circumstances, apparent or hidden, may compensate, and 

 more than compensate, for the influence of superior height. Facts 

 will here be found to confirm the objection : — On the 15th of 

 March 1 773, the lightning fell at Naples upon a house occupied 

 by Lord Tilney, although this house was surrounded on all 

 sides at the distance of four or jive hundred paces, by the towers 

 and domes of a great number of churches. It may be added 

 that these domes and towers were all wet with a heavy rain. 

 Besides, hundreds of instances might be cited in which labour- 

 ers were killed by lightning, close by hay-cocks and small 

 stacks of corn which remained uninjured, though twice or three 

 times higher than the sufferers.* 



Is it true that the trees which overtop a house, at small distances, free 

 it from all risk of Lightning, as many meteorologists pretend ? 



If we have recourse to the testimony of those who purchase vast 

 extents of forests, for the purpose of clearing them, and converting 

 the wood into charcoal and timber, it would appear that trees are 



* Thunder-stones were formerly considered as a preservative against the 

 destructive effects of the meteor. All that was required was, at the com- 

 mencement of the storm, to strike three blows, with one of these stones, 

 upon each of the fronts of any house ; and, after this, nothing was to he 

 feared ! We should not have to go far to find this absurd practice in high 

 esteem, even in our own day. A superstition which is an auxiliary against 

 fear always lasts long. 



