| Show TRUTH OF WEATHER LORF LORE meteorological science embodied in popular sayings the moons moon influence tho the pers persistent persisted isten t survival of weather lore in these days of intellectual emancipation is riot not at all remarkable when we con bider tit alie extent to which the vulgar sayings embody real truths A few years ago abercromby and marriott embarked on au an extremely interesting inquiry with a view to determine by letual actual comparison liow low far the popular proverbs express relations or sequences which the results of meteorological science show to be real the investigation prove J that something like a hundred of the mote moie popular sayings are under ordinary conditions trustworthy such being the case we need not be surprised that simple country folk prefer familiar couplets to all the isobats isobars iso bars cyclones and I 1 synchronous noua charts in the world if hills bills clear rain near means the same as the presence of a wedge shaped area of high pressure accompanied by gre great at atmospheric visibility is likely to be followed by the advance of a disturbance with rain and southerly winds which for all practical purposes it docs the preference is justified on ilia hie mero ground of breath economy the thirty one words demanded by science stand no chance against four but it is unfortunate that along with the limited number of folk sayings savings founded on truth there has survived a very largo large number founded on the grossest error these latter have borrowed credence and respect from the proved credibility of the others and apparently thoy they aie all destined to sink or swim together hammer as we will at certain favorite proverbs which we know to bo be based upon error it is all in vain the reverence for tradition is too much for us and of all tile superstitions pure and simple which defy our attempts at destruction st the most invulnerable arol arel hose bose ascribing certain effects to lie influence of the moon john westwood oliver in popular science monthly Mont lily |
