132 THE ORIGIN OF CREATION. 



during the storm, accompanied with intense darkness. This 

 rain, and darkness or opacity, were formed from those contend- 

 ing and combining currents of vegetable and mineral air, 

 which blew from exactly opposite directions ; the calm showing 

 where the centre of union, formed a dense dark cloud and 

 deluge of rain, by the reciprocal action. By condensing into 

 rain, these gases would necessarily occupy much less space, and 

 as their horizontal force was spent, they would then form a 

 vacuum, and attract all the surrounding gases, until they were 

 neutralized only then would there be rest and a clear 

 atmosphere. 



In Chicago, United States, during January 1873, we hap- 

 pened to witness a great snow storm accompanied by violent 

 wind. Nothing like it had occurred for years before, and on 

 examining the maps issued next day from the weather 

 office, showing the direction of the wind at different stations all 

 over the continent, we observed that for hundreds of miles 

 around the city, the wind was trending towards, or to one side 

 of it. The most distant points had wind without either snow 

 or rain, those nearest had either rain, or snow, according to the 

 temperature of the locality, while at, and around Chicago, there 

 was nothing but snow. 



If those who are stationed at meteorological observatories, in 

 inland towns especially, paid due attention to the nature, tem- 

 perature, velocity, and direction, of the wind, as sent to them in 

 the reports from the surrounding districts, the exact locality of 

 any storm, might easily be designated twenty-four hours before- 

 hand. The temperature and character of the gases must also be 

 considered, for many while on the way to the storm centre, might 

 reciprocate with each other, and a little storm centre on their own 

 account would be the result. 



