CHAPTER V 

 THE CENTURY'S PROGRESS IN METEOROLOGY 



"AN astonishing miracle has just occurred in our dis- 

 trict," wrote M. Marais, a worthy if undistinguished 

 citizen of France, from his home at L'Aigle, under date 

 of "the 13th Floreal, year 11" a date which outside 

 of France would be interpreted as meaning May 3, 

 1803. This " miracle " was the appearance of a " fire- 

 ball" in broad daylight "perhaps it was wildfire," 

 says the nai've chronicle -- which " hung over the 

 meadow," being seen by many people, and then ex- 

 ploded with a loud sound, scattering thousands of 

 stony fragments over the surface of a territory some 

 miles in extent. 



Such a "miracle" could not have been announced at 

 a more opportune time. For some years the scientific 

 world had been agog over the question whether such a 

 form of lightning as that reported appearing in a clear 

 sky, and hurling literal thunder-bolts had real existence. 

 Such cases had been reported often enough, it is true. 

 The "thunder-bolts" themselves were exhibited as sa- 

 cred relics before many an altar, and those who doubted 

 their authenticity had been chided as having "an evil 

 heart of unbelief." But scientific scepticism had ques- 



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