44 tRANSACtlONS OF THE ILLINOi'5 



by which the physical effect was produced. Reared at the western base 

 of the Tuscaroras, I had observed during a general rain, — there always 

 accompanied by an east or northeast wind, — a dark scud-cloud over- 

 hanging the mountains which was rolling rapidly away, yet remained 

 stationary. Between the scud-cloud and the mountains, there was a 

 wide belt disclosing the upper grayish white rain cloud ; and on the 

 upper margin of this belt, along the edge of the scud thin streamers of 

 fog were seen rapidly shooting over the belt and replenishing the scud- 

 cloud as fast as it drifted away. It excited my boyish wonder so much 

 as to often set my wits at work, to explain the paradox of a flying cloud 

 remaining stationary. Since the world has learned the laws and mode 

 of electric action, the explanation has become self-evident. The moun- 

 tain range, acting like an electric wave, — or, if you prefer it, — like the 

 ridge of a charged corrugated conductor, attracts the watery vapor float- 

 ing in the atmosphere below the clouds by its inductive influence, charges 

 it with its own negative electricity, and shoots it up to meet the positive 

 overhanging charge in the clouds. 



We can now understandingly explain certain phenomena which have 

 been noted in previous ages, and handed down to us by tradition as 

 teaching abstract truths and as unfailing signs by which to foretell the 

 weather. For aught we could see, the relation between these phenomena 

 and what followed was entirely arbitrary. We could trace no necessary 

 antecedence and consequence between them. No such relation as cause 

 and effect. It was so, because observation had established it to be so ; 

 but we could see no reason why it must be so and could not in the na- 

 ture of things be anything else. One of these is embodied in the me- 

 teorological maxim current throughout the civilized world, that a fog 

 that rises brings rain ; to which may be added its corollary that a falling 

 one brings fair weather. It is the same with haze and smoke. As long 

 as they rest on the Earth and shut out the horizon, no rain can be 

 expected. Because there is a high barometer and consequently a 

 downward flow in the atmosphere. Or a downward discharge of matter 

 floating in the atmosphere. But when they lift, there is a low barometer, 

 and consequently an upward discharge of matter in the atmosphere. 

 Or, to speak philosophically, the Earth then having a high charge of 

 electricity, is discharging itself by electrifying the vapors floating near 

 its surface, and sending them to the upper region of the atmosphere. 



I will now recall your attention to one of the phenomena of the 

 mountains. I refer to the belt of intensely blue and clear sky through 

 which the vapor in its transition from the negati\ e to the positive state 

 passed, not only invisible, but heightening, intensifying and deepening 

 the serenity. We may therefore lay it down as an unfailing sign, that 

 the deeper blue and serene the sky is when fog is lifting or has lifted, the 

 more copious will the rainfall be that is sure to follow. While on the 

 contrary, the grayer and hazier the sky remains after such an event, the 

 less is the probability that there will be any rain. The cause, I take it 



