352 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[Dec. 7, 1883. 



THE SEVERE WEATHER OP THE ISth-ISth. 

 [1036] — Probably " H. J. Poole," and "your readers generally," 

 will be interested by the following particulars of observations made 

 on temperature here — one of the stations of the " second order" — 

 at the same time that those published in Knowledge of last week 

 were made by him in the S.W. of England : — 



Night of 12th, minimum temperature on grass, 25'o deg. 

 „ 13th, „ „ „ 230 „ 



I, ,, ,, in Sterenson's ) ,,„., 



screen (4 ft. above ground) ( " " 



Day of 1-lth, maximum temperature in screen, 44'0 ,, 



Night ,, minimum „ ,, 30'0 ,, 



„ ,, ,, ,, on grass, 26'1 „ 



Temperatme of air (dry bulb in screen) at 9 a.m. on 14th, 



32-5 deg. 



The wind at 9 p.m., 12th, was blowing light airs from S.S.E., and 

 continued so till early morning on the 15th, when it went to the 

 south. 



It is very remarkable that the minimum temperature in " H. J. 

 Poole's" screen should, on the night of the 12th, have been 1'5 deg. 

 helotv that registered by the minimum thermometer on grass. 



As he remarks, it does not appear that such severe weather is 

 at all normal for this period of the year, especially in this district, 

 which is supi)osed to bo favoured with a tolerably equable and 

 moderate temperature. It is, however, very evident that the late 

 spell of sharp weather, occurring as it did between two periods of 

 moderately warm weather, was pretty universal. 



Probably it is not generally known that this short period of 

 severe cold was preceded and followed by a considerable electrical 

 disturbance of the atmosphere, as indicated by the occurrence of 

 very vivid flashes of lightning (without thunder) for several nights. 

 My station is 137 ft. above the sea-level and close to the sea. My 

 instruments are very accurate, having been just examined by the 

 inspector from the Meteorological Oflice, London. 



In concluding, I may say that there has been no fog here this 

 month. — I am, sir, faithfully yours, 

 Peel, Isle of Man. " T. H. Davis, F.R. Met. Soc. 



TRICYCLES. 



[1037] — Having read your paper for some time, and being much 

 interested in the different articles, I see one on the 16th in reference 

 to tricycles, by Mr. Browning, and can readily endorse the advice 

 he gives in reference to leather mud-guards for front-steering 

 tricycles. These are a great boon in winter and wet weather, as it 

 is almost impossible to get the metal guards to thoroughly protect 

 the feet and ankles from being very much splashed ; and for ladies 

 they are most requisite. As regards guards for large wheels, this, 

 I think, a more difficult thing. 1st. As to adaptation of fitting. 

 2nd. Wind resistance. Where machines are made a proper "width, 

 there is rarely nuich trouble, except in windy weather, when the 

 mud is blown from the wheels to rider. 



In reference to the brakes, I cannot altogether agree with the 

 writer of your article, where he speaks of tyre brakes being almost 

 extinct. These I have now tried over a period of three years with 

 the greatest comfort, on a Cheylesmore rear-steerer, and as they 

 are at present fitted, have found them perfectly reliable on the 

 steepest hills ; in fact, some of my friends touring on the Continent 

 have found them thoroughly efficient even in the ascent of the Alps. 

 Should band brakes be properly constructed, the application of a 

 little chalk will generally be found to answer every purpose, as 

 resia, although making the brake very powerful, often causes a 

 loud, screaming noise, which is most unpleasant, and often frightens 

 horses. A Rider. 



TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION. 

 [1038] — I think the difference in carriage (of charged and un- 

 charged cells) was on account of the supposed danger of cells being 

 full. 17s. 6d. is not the carriage for returns empty, and I believe 

 that charged batteries travel as dangerous goods. 



John Alex. Ollard. 



LETTERS RECEIVED AND SHORT ANSWERS. 

 A. N. S. That letter still in hand. Full of interest, but space 

 not yet free. — E. W. Wallis. Am unable to find space for the 

 multitudes of such announcements sent me. — Adelaide Proctor. 

 Weakness appeals to strength for pitiful consideration • it shall not 

 plead in vain. For the mental illness of which your letter presents 

 the symptoms, I know, alas, of no remedy. The poetess, deceased, 

 whose name you borrow (but not with sufficient e's) was not 

 mathematical : she was however a lady. — C. W. ViND. Tour 

 suggestion is worth careful consideration. I will convey it to the 

 several writers. — J. Hamer. Thanks. Wish you would state 



the varied readings. — Rhedakum Artifex. Know nothing 

 about trustworthiest books on Traction. — D. H. Davis. Thanks. 

 Letter in type. But for periodical reports we have no space. — 

 M. F. D. Many comets do circulate constantly round the sun. A 

 comet which passes eventually away from the solar system is one 

 which came originally from space beyond his domain, and had there 

 a velocity independent of that which he can impart as the comet 

 approaches him. The recession results from the acquired velocity 

 and the original velocity of approach combined, the former being 

 gradually parted with as the comet recedes, but the latter remain- 

 ing. — S. G. Walford. That promise was made before a certain 

 railway accident, which mnch interfered with all my plans. — 

 H. H. Have preferred (hoping yon will not object) to 

 send picture to engi-aver, to do his best with. — C. E. 

 Williams. Know of no work dealing with the insects men- 

 tioned in Shakespeare's plays, nor whether Mr. Patterson's book on 

 the subject is in print. — W. Tregay. See Editorial Gossip. Would 

 have attended to this matter sooner; but all my literary work has 

 been hampered for several weeks past by the return of head pains 

 such as followed recent railway accident. — G. E. S. Wag.ner. The 

 subject of thought-reading is under investigation. For my own 

 part, I see nothing outside the range of scientific inquiry in the 

 matter. — H. Clarke. It is not for astronomers to change accepted 

 modes of speaking about sunrise and so forth. We should be ridi- 

 culed, and very rightly, if in ordinary talk we spoke of " man rising 

 to the heavenly bodies " as you suggest ; and we should be no 

 nearer to exactness after all. — H. N. Smith. Suez Canal 

 matters hardly in our line. — W. H. Jones. Many thanks ; but have 

 not space for Magyar Folklore. — P. S. I really do not know why 

 there are so many cats with eyes of different colour. — J. W. My 

 opinion can be of no real value; but I should say the cocoa-nut 

 fibre would be best. — Senex. You ask me what is the soul. No 

 sonl can say. We may call it animula vagida ilandida, hospes 

 comesque corporis — but that don't help us. — C. Your trisection 

 incorrect, as you will see at once if you apply it to small angles. — 

 C. Fen, Thesauros, and others. Thanks ; but another explanation 

 in type when yours received. — H.MouLTOX. That method would do 

 if we could tell the exact moment of partial eclipse beginning. We 

 cannot, however. — W. Cave Thomas. I think Prof. Langley has 

 fairly succeeded in showing that the sun is violet ; but that is the 

 colour before absorption by his vaporous stirroundings. Your letter 

 is in type. — Chas. Rivixgton. Thanks for Shaiighai Mercury with 

 amazing illustration of commatic perversity. — A. M. D. Some 

 think one way some another. I think there is much room for 

 improvement in the human race. — F. Shervill Rl'thin. Already 

 answered, but thanks. — Novice. Alpha Centauri nearest. — J. A. 

 I suppose Huxley to mean all experience, ivithout considering 

 whether such experience can be all collected. — J. Reid. The 

 question whether the first day of this century was Jan. 1, 1801, or 

 Jan. 1, 1800, amounts really to the question whether there are 1800 

 or 1799 years in eighteen centuries. With you I cannot but wonder 

 how such a question came to be " disputed among educated 

 persons." —Naga Putnam. Thanks for extracts, and very plea- 

 sant accompanying letter. — R. Barrington. Address not left. — 

 Uncertain. See " Editorial Gossip." — B. Potamian. Thanks. 

 I know nothing, of myself, on the subject. Boys well, now 

 in America. Remember both our interviews perfectly well. — 

 Victim to Misplaced Confidence. Have received other such letters, 

 followed shortly by announcement that articles were received, 

 though late. Hope it will be so in your case. — W. L. Browne. 

 Regret ; but fear no space for series. If separately sent would try 

 to find room. Meantime, will insert the one sent, which is sepa- 

 rately valuable. — J. Shorland Aplin. All since July 1st. — J. 

 Tkeluse. Unfortunately, such questions lead to gratis advertising. 

 — W. S. Bradley. The right ascension of an object is in reality the 

 interval in time between the passage of the first point of Aries (inter- 

 section of equator and ecliptic, where sun crosses ecliptic northwards) 

 and the passage of the object across the meridian. Calculation of 

 lunar quarters scarcely suitable subject for short answers. — 

 C. W. 13. For life history of paste and vinegar eels see text- 

 books, in which these creatures are dealt with. The mental 

 influence known as mesmerism is undoubtedly a scien- 

 tific fact, be the explanation what it may. Many have pre- 

 tended to be BO influenced who were not ; but idiotic persons of 

 that sort infest all such departments of inquiry. — J. Gray'. All 

 the planets go the same way round ; but the satellites of Uranua 

 and Neptune retrograde round their primaries. — F. Thompson. I 

 do not want you to believe in any pole, north or south, or Euro- 

 pean. — A Lover of Logic Story amusing ; but — perhaps through 

 inexperience you word it as though ive thought the same of our 

 coincidences — instead of which we specially referred to them as 

 utterly unimportant. — H. J. Uardwicke. Those matters will be 

 touched on in our Zodiac papers ; not suited for short replies. — 

 A. P. T. Lines very apt. Shall appear soon. 



