M. Cochery, the French Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, has presented
to the French Academy of Sciences a Report on the lightning-strokes in
France during the last half of 1883. During the month of July there
were no fewer than one hundred and forty-three strokes in France,
thirty of these occurring on the 10th, and thirty-two on the 3d.
Seven men, four women, a young girl, and a child were killed by these
strokes, and over forty persons were injured, including ten men who
were affected by the same flash, which struck a plane-tree in their
neighbourhood. Nine horses were also injured by the flash in question,
which happened at Castres, in the department of Tarn, at 9.15 A.M. on
July 4. The same storm also killed a woman at Castres, three-quarters
of an hour earlier. The total number of animals killed during July was
fifty-seven, including a calf, two horses, three sheep, one goat, one
dog, and one chicken; while fourteen cows, eleven horses, one dog,
and a goose were injured. In general, the strokes were attracted by
poplar-trees, or masts, chimneys, and steeples, as well as elm, oak,
and fir trees. The stems and points of lightning-rods have also been
struck, the latter being fused, and the former heated red-hot. The wire
used to support vines has also drawn the stroke. In the majority of
cases, rain, often abundant, attended the discharge. In August there
were only nine strokes, as compared with one hundred and forty-three in
July; six persons were killed, and two bulls were injured. In September
there were fourteen strokes, killing four persons and six animals, and
injuring ten persons in all. In October there was only one stroke, on
the 16th (4 P.M.), at Castellane, in the Basses-Alpes. In November and
December there are no strokes recorded.
‘ONLY COUSINS, DON’T YOU SEE?’
Charming cousin, tell me where
Shall I find one half so fair?
Let me, as I taste thy lip,
Swear how sweet is cousinship.
Like a sister? Yes, no doubt;
Still, not sister out and out.
Who that ever had a sister,
Felt his heart beat when he kissed her?
Who by looking ever knew
That his sister’s eyes were blue?
Who in name of all the loves
Bets his sister pairs of gloves?
Charming cousin, still are you
Sister in a measure too.
We can act as pleases us,
No one thinks it dangerous;
Talk of love or of the weather,
Row or ride or read together,
Wander where we will alone,
Careless of a chaperon.
You may dance with none but me—
‘Only cousins, don’t you see?’
Cousins safely may forget
All the laws of etiquette.
Charming cousin, in your eyes
I can read a faint surprise;
Most bewitchingly they glisten
To my nonsense as they listen;
‘What can Harry mean to say?’
You may come to know some day.
Just one word, sweet cousin mine,
Ere we go to dress and dine:
If I ever chance to woo,
Cousin, she must be like you,
And the one who comes the nearest
To yourself will be the dearest;
Type of what my love must be,
Cousin, what if you are she?