A BREAKFAST-TABLE BAROMETER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2154, 21 June 1889, Page 2

A BREAKFAST-TABLE BAROMETER

A correspondent to the " Standard " (LDndcn) says :— -" Ih*ve witnessed every morning for the last foac or five years a natural biromater ( locally far more reliable than any ■ Weather Forecasts, 1 or the moßt expensive artificial barometer, and yet ao simple that It It within the reaoh of ovary family. With my breakfast I drink coffee, mixed with milk. When poured Into the cap I generally drop m the lamp of loaf sogar, and shortly after the fixed air la the sugar rises to the top la am til detached babbles. Now watch these— l oall them my little people, who will tell me If It Is going to rain or not— and although the cofLe Is perfectly atlll, these little babbles will be on the move, almost like life. It will be noticed that tf It is to rain very hard they will almost rath over to the side of the oap — as lnaoh as to say, 1 shall get uader shelter as quickly as possible. If the rain Is omy to be gentle downfall, then the bubbles all meet together evidently to deliberate on the matter, aad then qa etly move over to the side } bat, If It Is dot going to rain, every bubble thai oomes op remains ttatlouary In the middle of the oap, Now for all these years these Hula ysople have not deceived me a down times altogether, but have aoted somewhat marvelloufly. On one oooaslon a mo it lovely morning, with every sign of a fine day, I remarked, ' What can be the mstt.tr with (he ojfoe this morning V as It shows signs of wet. Before 12 o*olook dams, down poured the rain, to the astonishment of every one ; and I oould relate many other snob instance*. I cannot; anyhow explain why this should be so, bat I have found it not only a source of amusement and wonder, but a oust valuable guide for the day.