The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million
John Stuart Mill · en
Because it is made with a piece of cat-gut which swells with moisture,
and as it swells, _shrinks_. The cat-gut is so applied that when it
_shrinks_, it turns a rod which sends the _man_ out of the house, and
when it _dries_ it sends the _woman out_. Therefore, when the _man_
appears, it is a sign of _wet_, and when the _woman_ appears it is a
sign of _dry weather_.
There is another toy, called the Capuchin, which is made upon the
same principle. The figure lifts a hood over its head when wet
is approaching, and takes it off when the weather is becoming
dry. In this case, a piece of cat-gut is also employed. Various
weather-toys may be made upon this principle--among others, a
little umbrella, which will open on the approach of wet, and close
on the return of fine weather.
A gentleman once made a wooden horse, which he declared should
of itself walk across a room, without machinery of any kind. The
assertion was discredited; but the horse was placed in a room
close to the wall on one side. The room was locked, and otherwise
fastened, so that no one could interfere with the experiment.
After a time the door was opened, and it was found that the horse
had actually crossed the floor, and stood on the opposite side.
The horse was made from wood of a peculiar kind, liable to great
expansion in wet weather, and cut in a manner to produce the
greatest elongation. The fore hoofs were so made that where they
were set they would remain, so that the contracting parts should
draw up from behind. It is easy to understand how, in this way,
the wooden horse crossed the apartment.
438. _Why does ladies' hair drop out of curl upon the approach of damp
weather?_
Because the hair _absorbs moisture_, which causes its spirals to relax
and unfold.
439. _Why is it said in mountainous countries that rain is coming,
because the mountains are "putting their night-caps on?"_
Because the clouds descend when they are _heavy with vapour_, and being
attracted to the mountain tops they are said to "_cap the mountains."_
[Verse: "Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow; or hast
thou seen the treasures of the hail."--JOB XXXVIII.]
CHAPTER XXI.
440. _What is snow?_
Snow is _congealed vapour_, which would have formed _rain_; but,
through the coldness of the air, has been _frozen_ in its descent into
_crystalline forms_. (Fig. 1.)
441. _Why is snow white?_
Because it reflects all the component rays of _light_.
442. _Why is snow said to be warm, while white garments are worn for
coolness?_