106 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



vestigate the causes and facts in the case. They can thank or blame themselves. 

 The opportunity to learn has been presented to them. For a number of years 

 the weather map has been submitted to them, but they have paid about as much 

 attention to it as they would to the croaking of the frogs in the pond. 



The great difficulty with the world is that, through various causes too nu- 

 merous and intricate to enlarge upon here, it is inclined to seek explanation for 

 scientific phenomena through that which is in itself unexplainable, weird, myste- 

 rious and far- fetched rather than through the channels of plain matter of fact. 

 For example, hardly a week passes but that some gifted writer, some person hold- 

 ing a high position in the world, and acknowledged even as high scientific author- 

 ity, insists and persists upon connecting the weather of our globe with the moon, 

 the stars, the icebergs, electricity, etc., and particularly just now with the stars. 

 Because certain planets happen at this time to be nearly in a line with the sun, 

 they become quite eloquent over what they imagine to be the effects produced by 

 it. Though they can prove nothing by this system, and while all can be proved 

 and sustained by the facts connected with the weather map, they still persist in 

 ignoring the plain facts before them, and Seek explanation in that which is as idle 

 as the tales of old Sir John Mandeville about the geography, physical and ethno- 

 logical science of his day. Instead of having faith in such spirits as Columbus, 

 Raleigh and the Cabots, in men who seek to discover facts in regard to the world, 

 they prefer, like old Sir John Mandeville, to "go to Alexandria," and there ac- 

 cept all the idle stories of those who know no more about the facts than themselves, 

 and then deal them out to their neighbors as truth, while they let the real facts of 

 the case remain undisturbed, and unaided allow the spirits of Columbus, Raleigh 

 and the Cabots to wrestle, poorly provided and single-handed, with the storms of 

 unknown seas. They flatter themselves that their way is the best and the only 

 way, and, therefore, they continue to remain in ignorance of the true facts. It 

 is not to be wondered at that they are so ready to condemn such an institution 

 as our weather bureau, and to extend such praise and sympathy to such " weath- 

 er prophets " as are trying to take advantage of their ignorance. The weather 

 bureau can well afford to " abide its time." 



To come back to the Chicago snow storm, if Mr. Vennor is ignorant of the 

 causes which produced the storm there on the 19th of March, he is to be pitied, 

 on the other hand, if he knows enough of the weather system of our globe to be able 

 to understand these causes, he is wanting in a high sense of right, in remaining 

 silent in regard to it. Were he familiar with the causes, he has had ample time 

 ere this to have published a note in the papers in regard to it; but as he has not 

 done so, up to the time, (April 30th, '8r,) the most charitable light in which to 

 view him, is as ignorant of the laws of meteorology — ignorant in the very depart- 

 ment in which he endeavors to excel. By the world at large, this Chicago snow 

 storm was his climax of honor ; as the world advances in intelligence in this direc- 

 tion, it will prove an avalanche that will bury his reputation as a meteorologist out 

 of sight for all time, unless he learns as he lives, and, with the increase of knowl- 



