On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (6)
-
MiutcH. 29, 1856.]
-
literature 1 not
-
^-^^^ ^y^^^t^i^ e ^^ ^ess* s^ o
-
" Movements " begin in abstractions and ...
-
ANIMAL LIFE IN THE ALPS. SMekcs of Futur...
-
The difficulties of experimental inquiry...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Miutch. 29, 1856.]
MiutcH . 29 , 1856 . ]
T HE L B ADER . 1 303
Literature 1 Not
literature not
^-^^^ ^Y^^^T^I^ E ^^ ^Ess* S^ O
^ - ^^^ ^ y ^^^ t ^ i ^ e ^^ ^ ess * s ^
" Movements " Begin In Abstractions And ...
" Movements " begin in abstractions and end in laws . A thinker promulgates a new idea , which other thinkers combat or defend ; discussion clears the subject and prepares a path for it . Declamation , often not of a wise kind , gives the idea a passionate interest and advocacy . Finally , some one of a concrete practical mind begins to realize the abstraction , and proposes a specific , measure . The Woman Question has been much discussed since IIary Wolstoneckaft , and every year hasbeen a year of progress . The amount of absurdity which has clogged ' the wheels of progress , which has disgusted yvell-wishers , and given antagonists fiercer antagonism , we may notice with regret , and with the reflection that such folly was inevitable on such a question . Still the progress has been decided : slow , yet certain . The best evidence we have seen that the question is passing from the region of speculation into that of actual legislation , we find in an entry in the Law Amendment Journal , which we here extract , —It is entitled " On the Property of Married women : "On presenting a petition to the House of Lords on this subject , signed by nearly 3 , 0 u 0 ladies . Lord Brougham made , among others , the following observavations : — " He look & d upon it as a great honour to have had this petition entrusted to him ; and no one could doubt the absolute necessity of applying a remedy to the gross and grievous defects , he would not dignify them by the name of anomalies , of which the uetitioners complained—defects which pressed upon cir
the most meritorious part of the female community . A woman 111 humble - cumstances , who had devoted herself to tie support of lier children , and by honest industry , hard labour , and skill , had amassed a sum of money , was liable to have it swept away in an instant by what , he was sorry to say , were at present the strict legal rights of a profligate husband . It might be said that . it was her own fault to continue to be bound by the marriage tie . Was ifc ? She had no power of getting rid of it when it became an incumbranee , unless she chose to pass the Hue which separated duty from guilt ; and even then her husband could not get rid of her unless he had the means of prosecuting a divorce ,, first m the Ecclesiastical Courts , and then in this House . The first names to the petition were those of the able and instructive writer , Mrs . Jameson , and of another lady who had furnished not only innocent amusement , but also solid instruction to the community , Mary Howitt . He should feel satisfied that this petition had not been presented in vain , if hi 3 noble and learned friend behind him ( Lord liyndhurst ) would , after Easter , redeem the half pledge he had given last session , bv ar > nlvin £ r the ereat r » owers of his practised understanding to this subject .
Sir Erskiue Perry presented a similar petition in the House of Commons , and accompanied its presentation with some excellent remarks on the defective state of the law of England on tliis matter , differing as it does from the law of all other civilised nations . We may add , that the very numerous signatures were obtained by the exertions of a few ladies , unaided by any organised agitation . We are glad to say that our society are fully alive to the importance of the subject ; and that vigorous measures will be taken to press the subject still further on the attention of Parliament and the public . A meeting of the Personal Laws Committee was held at the society ' s rooms yesterday afternoon , to consider the question and adopt a plan of operations—Lord Stanley , Sir Erakine Perry , aud Sir Lawrence Peel were character is luiiuuum
present ; and further aid ot a , most influential nicety ™> ue - - ing . We understand that measures are being taken in other quarters to draw public attention to this subject ; and we would onl y now express our willingness to receive communications from all who are interested in it , so that united action may ensure that success which divided councils , even in the best cause , do u ot always attain . This is but a small measure to redress one of the many unjust laws which fetter the development of women . But let none of our enthusiastic friends despise the measure because it is small , and because it does not touch the " great question . " To gain any legislative reform on' the subject of women is * in imniRnsft sf : rm . A fip . iv snf » r » ifir » rfifivms of th is kind Will be the most
effectual way of getting tlie whole condition of woman modified . Attack abuses in detail , and you finish by abolishing the source of the abuses .
Animal Life In The Alps. Smekcs Of Futur...
ANIMAL LIFE IN THE ALPS . SMekcs of Future in tkeJlps . Translated from the German of J ^ Jn ^^ Wn %£ Z ? $£ to Sfof * work , especially of a German work that it might be longer with increase of interest . * but , in the case of the abridgment of Von Tschudi ' s Thierleben der Alpenwelt , which has recently appeared in the Traveller ' s Library , we regret the omissions of valuable matter relating to the most interesting topies-and could willingly have exchanged some ot the geography for a littlemore zoology . Nevertheless , the , selection i * Mj of interest , and we cordially recommend it to the notice of our readers . Von Tschudi is well known as a naturalist , aud his book has had great success m Germany . It tells , indeed of a region only superficially known ; and ot phenomena perennial in interest- _ . , iv Q ~ Von Tsclmdi divides the whole Alpine region into three circles , descrAes wui ^
their several peculiarities , tneir vegetation , meu gy » --- -- - ' ~ - with tlie dull inaccuracy of a statistical compiler , but with the fervid ^ glow ot an out-of-door naturalist , who loves the scenes he has lived in . Hear him describing the terrible wind called Fon : — , NoVirid is better known throughout almost the whole mountain district of Switzerland tkan the Fon . It is . not local , . but general and may . b"a » kd £ European , or , more strictly speaking , an African wind . For , as the P ^ cucle would seem to be the fountain-head of tlie frigid north wind , and the Atlantic oWn of tbe humid west ; so the arid sandy deserts of Africa 8 JJ ? J ?^ Jj ^ hot south mud . Instead of sheltering « s against this gale , as might £ ^ be BuiDoosed . the Alpine chain gives it additional force when it reaches tne
mountains r the hot current of air , instead of rising altogether aoove Wem , £ ««»™ chilled by the snow in its lower strata , winch , thus condensed , rush J ^™^ into tie valleys . Its visits are moat frequent m the winter and ^ JP ^' when the air from the glaciers is keenest , and the valleys have not imbibed much of the sun ' s heat , so as to equalise the temperature more gradually . For the sa-me reason it blows more violently by night than by day . The atmospheric phenomena which accompany it are very beautiful . On the southern horizon a light variegated veil of clouds is seen resting on the top of the n »^ £ sun sets pale and lustreless behind the dark red sky , while the ^ s con tinue to glow with bright purple tints . The n ght is imltry anddewless , with here and there a gust-of cold wind . A reddish halo surrounds tbe rnrn ^^ J ™*" iwanov of tlie atmosphere causes tlie Mils to appea * much nearer than they is
are : the background assumes a violet tint . 3 far on neara ™« ™ ' ™ l | " the high woods and tbe roar of tbe swollen mountain torrents ; a spirit of lestlessnef s ' rams to be astir in the distance and gradually it * W %° f ^ J ^' The advent of the Ton is heralded by a few violent gusts , at first cold and i aw . A sudden stillness succeeds ; and tlien in bursts an impetuous hot wnd rising sometimes to a hurricane . It prevails with varying force for two 01 threJ days , setting all nature iu an uproar , hurling , trees dow n the abyss , eaiing rooks asunder , causing tho streams to overflow then- banks , unroofing houses and it is wio terror 01 uuumj
cattle-sheds . In short , me -, Animals suffer under the influence of this wind , the dry heat of < ivuiou . at first stimulates , but afterwards relaxes tho sinewa . Tho chamois drags itself " ^ W up tlie north side of the mountain , or gotB into tlio deep elofta of tho ™ ° ™ \ °° j ? 6 n * horses , and goats , wander about seeking in vain for fresher ^ ^ J . } % Z * drtea up their throats aud lungs . No bird b to be f ™™^^ *^^ universal discomfort is sl . ared by man , who f ^ . ^ } £ ? e _ ^ "IJSISSv siuevvB , and an indescribable oppi-ession on law spirits . Juies ^ a o immed ^ tely extinguished on every hearth and in every oveii ; and in many J ^ s wai-chnien go about to make sure that this precaution is observed , as ^ f }*^^ ^*** - might causea disantrous conflagration in the da ^ ed up state ^ the ^ spW Y « t althouoh tho Fon bringB moro danger in its tram than imy othei wma , n is haiLi wilh Joy i ? ti ^ sW ^ > . «>* ^^ ^^^^^^^ tne
. and changes in u moment tho aspect ot pow « y . * "C wTn in twolvo hourV K «^ ng ^ s : ^ r ^ er ^ iuS S ^ t on In Bon ^ place" tbo Fon is , in fact tho one oonatituent of » £$ p »* Sub also tho ripening « . f grapes in autumn , in some situations , onWf ^ apends imon its aotion In Uri , whore it blows with oonBiderable pertinacity , tne 4 * - bLits aro indebted to It for the limited depth of tho glaciers-la their y » Ueys and fu tho ^ cocSility of their moantalna at a much earlier season than in port dtabriita of ^ like elevation . Hap pily , too , for mankind , tho Fon « a wv judioiouu molbor of nuovv ; and tho enormous evaporation occasioned by its hoot eaves
The Difficulties Of Experimental Inquiry...
The difficulties of experimental inquiry , especially in the complexity which attends nil biological phenomena , can only be thorougly appreciated by those who have pursued it . In Physics we can genei ally eliminate all the condiessentialout in
tions , one alter the other , until we come to those wlneli are ; . Physiology we are seldom sure if in eliminating one condition we are not altering the whole nature of the problem . Spontaneous Generation is one of the vexed problems of speculative Biology . From time to time it reap pears with now facts , and is silenced , oaly to reappear again . In the present day thovc arc v « ry few who believe in the possibility of any but the simplest organisms being so produced , and not many who oven believe so much . Tho upholders of the spontaneous hypothesis were considerably shaken by i \ ri experiment instituted by ScHUL / rzrc , and recorded in the Edinburgh N < - . w Philosophical Journal for 1 B . ' * 7 Ho found that if the mtusona aim wiion
Spontaneous Generation . It was enough for us that the passage of the air through sulphuric acid might very probably produce such a change in the conditions as to interfere with the development of life . What that change might be was indeed liypotlietical ; but not moie hypothetical than the existence of the germs said to be destroyed . Our suspicions have been confirmed . In a letter addressed to the Academy of Sciences , and printed in the Annales des Sciences ( vol . ii . p . 339 , Quatritme Serie ) , Mr . Morket * , whose experiments had quite another object , and who never mentions Spontaneous Generation , assures us that infusoria already formed cease to live in . air which has passed through sulphuric acid ; but that if before life is quite extinct , they are furnished with air which has not passed through sulphuric acid , they at once revive ; and the green colour which had disappeared once more shows itself . This" is final as regards the nullity of Schultze ' s experiments . Sulphuric acid is proved to have such an action on air that , the air will no longer support life . Instead , therefore , of saying sulphuric acid destroyed the germs which were floating in the air , awaiting a proper nidus * we must say it destroyed the conditions favourable to life- We "must say so , because in Moeren ' s experiments the germs liad already developed themselves before the altered air was admitted to them . ^ We are not aware that any one has made this application of Mobren s facts but our readers will see that the vexed question of Spontaneous Generation is once more an open question . Some new experiment must he devised , one which will be an experimentum crucis . The man who devises it will have his name handed down to posterity in company with the Trembleys , Spalla-nzakis ^ Bblls , and Bebnabds .
decomposing substances , which always generate rungi mo atmospheric air is freely admitted to thorn , bo shut up in vessels to which the air is admitted only after passing through a rod-hot tube , or through strong sulphuric noid , no animalcules or fungi appear . Tho experiment seemed conclusive . The germs of tho fungi and animalcules voro said to be ' floating in the air , and only developing themselves on meeting with a proper nidus . ' By destroying these germs—which the sulphuric acid did without altering tho air-r-tul development was prevented . We have already in these columns expressed our doubts of tho conclusivenesa of this experiment , although wo are not prepared to affirm the truth of
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), March 29, 1856, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_29031856/page/15/
-