Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 23.djvu/293

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POPULAR MISCELLANY.
281

Southwick. Syracuse, N.Y.: C. W. Bardeen. Pp. 366. $1.50.

The Modern Sphinx, and some of her Riddles. By M. J. Savage. Boston: George H. Ellis. Pp. 160. $1.

Man before Metals. By N. Joly. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Pp. 365.

Manual of Assaying Gold, Silver, Copper, and Lead Ores. By Walter Lee Brown, B.Sc. Chicago: Jansen, McClurg & Co. Pp. 318. $1.75.

Authors and Publishers. A Manual of Suggestions for Beginners in Literature. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Pp. 96. $1.

Eureka—The Mysteries of the World Mysteriously Revealed. By Asa T. Green. Cincinnati: A. G. Collins. Pp. 141.

History of Medical Economy during the Middle Ages. By George F. Fort. New York: J. W. Bouton. Pp. 488.

Life of Sir William E. Logan, Kt. First Director of the Geological Survey of Canada. By Bernard J. Harrington. Montreal: Dawson Brothers. Pp. 432.



POPULAR MISCELLANY.

How to act in a Tornado.—Sergeant John P. Finley, Signal-Service officer at Kansas City, Missouri, has published, in a pamphlet on tornadoes, some useful directions concerning the course to be taken to escape the dangers of those terrible forces. The inhabitant of a tornado-frequented district must be watchful in the season of visitations, for he can never know when the destruction will come upon him. On the first sign of the approaching vortex, he must run—always to the north, unless by going in that direction he will have to cross the entire path of the storm. If he is nearer to the southern edge than to the center of the probable path, he may go south, bearing slightly east; but in no event should he ever run directly to the east or northeast. It is impossible to save any building that may lie in the path of the tornado, or any property that can not be got out of its way. No material, no method of construction can be competent to resist the raging destruction. Nothing rising above the ground can escape it. The most practicable measure of precaution is to construct a "dug-out" at some suitable point, within easy distance from the house, to serve as a place of refuge or shelter. The retreat should be entirely under-ground, with a roof at least three feet thick, not rising above the surface of the earth, and entered from the northern or eastern side. A "cellar-cave" may be constructed from the cellar, if the house has one, to serve as a substitute for the "dug-out." It should be excavated from the west wall of the cellar, toward the west, and should be made as complete and secure as the "dug-out." If, however, the storm can not be escaped, if no refuge is at hand, or there is not time to get to it, the safest thing to do is to place one's self against the west wall of the cellar, face forward, or against the south wall, as near the southwest corner as possible. The northeast quarter is in any case a fatal position, and should always be avoided. If one is actually overtaken by the tornado, his only resource is to cast himself face downward upon the ground, with his head to the east and his arms thrown over his head to protect it. If a stump or large stone, or anything heavy that the wind will not blow over, is near, he may get a trifle of protection by throwing himself to the east-ward of it. If in a house with no cellar, he should get into the west room, on the ground-floor if possible, and away from all stoves and heavy furniture. The people of towns might find it to their advantage to provide for having a watch, to be on duty on all days when the air bears the premonitory symptoms of a violent wind-storm, to give a signal to the whole population on the appearance of the first real threatening signs. The signs of the formation and approach of a tornado-cloud are distinct and sufficiently suggestive to afford opportunity for timely and concerted action. Sergeant Finley is continuing his investigations of the phenomena of tornadoes, and he has prepared three full schedules of minute inquiries calling for the facts attendant upon the appearance of the storms, which he sends to persons who were within the path of one, who were on the outer edge of the path, and who were from ten to one hundred miles from it.

Science and Faith.—"Science and Faith" was the subject of an address delivered some time ago by Professor A. J. DuBois, of the Sheffield Scientific School, before the Scientific Society of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The burden of the address is an attempt to show that the basis of all scientific knowledge is faith; that what we consider our most certain knowledge does not and can not admit