ATMOSPHERE versus ETHER 



and tender regard f6r the feelings of others, is too often re- 

 ferred to a churlish unsociality or arrogant assumption of 

 superiority. 



If Newton really did mistake the lady's finger for a 

 tobacco-stopper, depend upon it the pain he suffered was 

 far more acute than that which he inflicted, and was suf- 

 fered over and over again whenever the incident was recol- 

 lected. 



ATMOSPHERE versus ETHER. 



ONE of the most remarkable meteors of which we have a 

 reliable record appeared on February 6, 1818. Several ac- 

 counts of it were published, the fullest being that in The 

 Gentleman's Magazine of the time. (I may here add, pa- 

 renthetically, that one reason why I have especial pleasure-in 

 writing these notes is that they contribute something 

 towards the restoration of the ancient status of this maga- 

 zine, which was at one time the only English serial that 

 ventured upon any notable degree of exposition of popular 

 science.) 



Upon the data supplied by this account, Mr. Joule has 

 calculated the height of the meteor to have been 61 miles 

 above the surface of the earth, and he states that "this 

 meteor is one of the few that have been seen in the 

 .daytime, and is also interesting as having been one of the 

 first whose observation afforded materials for the estima- 

 tion of its altitude." It was seen in the neighborhood of 

 Cambridge at 2 P.M., also at Swaffham in Norfolk, and at 

 Middleton Cheney near Banbury. The distance between 

 this and Cambridge is sufficient to afford a measurement 

 of its height, provided its position above the horizon at 

 both places was determined with tolerable accuracy. 



According to the orthodox text-books, the atmosphere of 

 this earth terminates at a height of about 45 or 50 miles, 

 or, if not absolutely ended there, it ceases to be of appreci- 

 able density anywhere above this elevation. 



But here we have a fact which flatly contradicts the cal- 



