26 
POPULAR SCIEIYCE ITEWS. 
[February, 1890. 
sions is not at first sight evident. For 
instance, it was believed for many years that 
the presence of barberry-bushes in the neigh- 
borhood of a wheat-field had an unfavorable 
effect upon the crop. This was always con- 
sidered an agricultural superstition until it 
was found, that, in one stage of its existence, 
a fungus very destructive to wheat, takes up 
its lodgment on the barberry-bush, forming 
the curious growth known as the "cluster- 
cups." 
Sayings in regard to the weather are very 
abundant, and, although in many cases, such 
as the alleged influence of the moon, they 
have no basis in fact, in others they are really 
dependent upon well-known meteorological 
laws. Many of the "weather proverbs" have 
descended to us from our English ancestors, 
and are not applicable to the climatic condi- 
tions of the western world. Among these 
are the dread of east winds, which in England 
are cold, dry winds, blowing from the large 
areas of land lying to the east, forming 
the countries of Russia and Siberia, while 
with us the east wind is a moist sea breeze, 
and rarely or never has a temperature much 
below the freezing-point. 
A very reliable sign of stormy weather is 
when the sun rises clear and shortly goes into 
a cloud. This indicates the presence of rap- 
idlv condensing moisture in the atmosphere, 
which is likely to soon fall as rain. A lurid 
color of the sky at sunrise, halos around the 
sun and moon, "a rainbow in the morning," 
and the "sun drawing water" are due to the 
same cause, and are all omens of stormy 
weather. 
The belief that if "it clears off in the night" 
the fair weather will not continue, has, appar- 
ently, no basis in fact, and as far as our obser- 
vations go is by no means correct. Fair 
weather seems to be as likely to come at one 
period of the twenty-four hours as another. 
Sailors say that if a storm clears with the 
wind "backing round" to the north, another 
storm will immediately follow. This can 
be probably explained by the fact that when 
the center of a cyclone or rotary storm passes 
over any point, there is a temporarv calm, 
after which the wind commences to blow 
from the opposite direction. This sign, how- 
ever, like manj' others, is by no means infal- 
lible. 
When the water in the tea-kettle boils away 
rapidly a storm is said to be near at hand. It is 
true that the low atmospheric pressure preced- 
ing a storm would slightly lower the boiling- 
point of water, but we do not believe that the 
effect would be appreciable. It seems more 
likely that in this case the common belief is: 
founded more upon theoretical than practical 
considerations. 
The saying that "a green Christmas makes 
a fat churchyard" is a popular recognition of 
the unhealthfulness of a warm, open winter. 
Unseasonable weather of any sort has an 
unfavorable efiect upon the system, and the 
ennervating effect of a high temperature in 
winter, when the usual cold, bracing weather 
is to be expected, is very marked. 
On Candlemas day (February 2) the wood- 
chuck is said to come out of his hole and 
look around to see if his body casts a shadow. 
If it does, he goes back for a longer sleep, but 
if the sky is clouded he knows that winter is 
over, and does not return to his former quar- 
ters. We are afraid that in New England 
the woodchuck must very often consider him- 
self a victim of misplaced confidence, but 
the belief may have arisen from certain 
weather observations, showing that clear and 
cold weather about that date was likely to 
continue, and that storm and rain indicated 
a more or less early breaking up of winter. 
As to the January thaw, the Indian sum- 
mer, the equinoctial storm, and the dog-days, 
they have no existence whatever as definite 
meteorological phenomena. One might as 
well speak of i/ie January snow-storm, as to 
consider any particular period of mild 
weather in that month a special and regular 
occurrence. These periods of hot, cold, or 
stormy weather, may occur at any time within 
their appropriate seasons, but do not recur in 
successive years with any regularity what- 
ever, and they can only be foretold on the 
principle of the old-fasiiioned almanacs, 
whose predictions of a — storm — may — be — 
expected — about — this — time, extended over 
an entire month. 
As to the influence of the changes of the 
moon, the spots on the sun, the markings of 
the breast-bone of a goose, and many other 
similar signs and wonders, upon the changes 
of the weather, or other terrestrial phenom- 
ena, they must be considered as superstitions 
pure aiul simple, without any basis whatever, 
either in scientific theory or actual fact. It is 
remarkable how much faith ordinarily intelli- 
gent people will place on these signs, which 
every day experience shows to be utterly un- 
reliable, and it can only be accounted for by 
the fact that the failures are quickly forgotten, 
while the occasional coincidences are care- 
fully remembered and handed down to suc- 
ceeding generations. The natural forces and 
laws governing the weather are entirely irreg- 
ular in their action, and there is no possible 
way in which the state of the weather can be 
predicted for more than forty-eight hours in 
advance, and even for that length of time the 
conspicuous failures of the government "in- 
dications" show how little is really known 
about the matter and how suddenly the con- 
ditions governing meteorological phenomena 
may change the manner of their manifestation. 
the front, it presented no unusual appearance, 
but, when placed before a large mirror, the 
reflection from the back of the statue showed 
the image of Marguerite's lover, Faust, 
standing, apparently, just behind her. 
This remarkable effect was obtained by 
ingeniously carving the features and figure of 
Faust in the back of the original statue. The 
face was formed by the hair of the statue, and 
the same arms answered for both figures, in 
one case being held in front, and in the other 
crossed behind the back. The folds of the 
robe of Marguerite at the back were modelled 
so as to form the figure of I'''aust, and it is to 
be noted that the illusion was only perfect 
when viewed in a mirror. If the back of the 
statue was observed directly, the secondary 
figure was not so evident. The statue is a 
most remarkable example of the sculptor's 
art, and indicates an unusual amount of artis- 
tic and mechanical talent. 
A DOUBLE STATUE. 
Among the curiosities at the Paris Exposi- 
tion was a statue representing the legendary 
German heroine Marguerite. Viewed from 
[Speciiil Correspondence oi Popular Scifwe Ncws.\ 
PARIS LETTER. 
Scientific travellers are the lions of the day, and 
much interest is exhibited in the results of the vari- 
ous expeditions conducted in the heart of the black 
continent by different. travellers. Stanley brings us 
the results of three gears' experience, and, although 
he has been enabled to accomplish his journey 
under the most favorable circumstances and with 
the best equipment which could be provided, he 
still deserves much credit for his courage. When, 
however, he speaks of continuing Livingstone's 
work in Africa, he excites some wonder among 
those who know the moral character of the great 
pioneer of civilization in Africa, and have been able 
to see how very much the temper of both men are 
dissemblant. Unfortunate Camille Uouls, a verv 
young African explorer, has just met with his end. 
Captain Binger has just returned from his excursion 
on the Niger, and brings back many important 
facts; on the other hand. Captain Trivier, a jour- 
nalist and traveller, has, alone, and without any 
army of men and luggage, achieved a very hand- 
some feat, crossing Africa from west to east in 
less than a year, from Congo State to Mozambique, 
after crossing the lake region, which he found to be 
