A GREAT TIDAL WAVE. 159 



regarded as mere moonshine. A number of predictions, 

 founded on the motions of the sun and moon, have 

 found a place during many months past in the columns 

 of a contemporary; but there has been no greater 

 agreement between these predictions and the weather 

 actually experienced than any one could trace between 

 Old More's weather prophecies and recorded weather 

 changes. In other words, there ' have been certain 

 accordances which would be very remarkable indeed 

 if they did not happen to be associated with as many 

 equally remarkable discordances. Random predictions 

 would be quite as satisfactory. 



A very amusing misprint has found its way into 

 many newspapers in connection with the coming tide. 

 It is interesting as serving to show how little is 

 really known by the general public about some of the 

 simplest scientific matters. The original statement 

 announced that the sun would not be in perihelion by 

 so many seconds of semi-diameter, in itself a very in- 

 correct mode of expression. Still it was clear that 

 what was meant was, that the earth would be so far 

 from the place of nearest approach to the sun that the 

 latter would not look as. large as it possibly can by 

 so many seconds of semi-diameter. In many papers, 

 however, we read that the "sun will not be in perihe- 

 lion by so many seconds of mean chronometer ! " "Who 

 first devised this marvellous reading is unknown ho 

 should have a statue. 



(From the Daily News for September 27, 1869.) 



