METEOROLOGICAL DISCOVERIES. 197 



nomical discoveries, whereby it knew about the heavens, and geographical dis- 

 coveries, whereby it knew of the earth, up to within a very late period it knew 

 little, comparatively nothing, about that great stratum immediately above us, 

 which we term the atmosphere. Until we had a Weather-Map, covering consid- 

 erable extent of territory, it was impossible to obtain such data as would put us 

 in the way of acquiring the necessary information. It may be asked, why we 

 did not have this map at an earlier day? We might ask, why the "Western 

 Hemisphere " was not discovered at an earlier day, why it was that the civilized 

 world did not sooner learn that the earth was round? Indeed, in this line we 

 might ask pertinent questions by the score. We would get but one general reply 

 — the world was not prepared to obtain this knowledge sooner than it did, — the 

 upper stories of a structure cannot be built before the foundation and the walls of 

 the lower stories are completed. The perfection of meteorology, whereby we 

 become famihar with that stratum of nature between the heavens and the earth, 

 depended upon the perfection of other things which lead up to it. Years ago 

 when we studied physical geography we thought that we knew, or must know 

 about all that there was on this subject. 



Wise men had given it their studious attention, but studious attention was of 

 little avail without the means of obtaining facts all important in the matter. 

 Other able men must first advance in the department of electricity and perfect 

 that, give us the telegraph and all the other necessary paraphernalia for gathering 

 the important facts, whereby the transmission and the use of data was made prac- 

 tical. Wonderful are all the necessary perfected steps which lead up to this important 

 branch of human knowledge; indeed do they come under the head of " too numer- 

 ous to mention." The clear intellect, even with the unaided eye could obtain a 

 very complete knowledge of the heavens. By the aid of ships, and a few instru- 

 ments, whereby the unknown seas could be navigated, we could discover the un- 

 known continents, but in order to discover these regions which lie between the 

 heavens and the earth — between the celestial and terrestrial spheres, we must wait 

 many'Jong centuries until we had so subdued the forces of nature to our control tha* 

 we could use them to conquer these other forces which were apparently beyond 

 our reach. But step by step we were lead up to them, and to-day, through these 

 acquired agencies, the laws which govern the forces which form this middle 

 domain of nature and which have such an influence upon us, are as well known 

 as the terrestrial conditions with which we are so familiar; that is, we are, or can 

 be familiar with them on the same principle that we are familiar with other things 

 about us — by seeking information in the right direction and from the right source. 

 " Where may this be found ?" it may be asked. On the Weather-Map, The 

 Weather-Map followed up day by day will reveal all to us ; and it is the medium 

 and the only medium whereby we may understand this subject. 



" But what about physical geography?" may be further asked. Physical 

 geography most certainly should embrace meteorology, as a department em- 

 braces a bureau, but meteorology up to within a few years, had no knowledge of 

 the Weather-Map — indeed even late editions of physical geography make no 



