The Elements Rage. By Frank W. Lane. (Country Life. 10s.
6d.) THIS book is about all the violent manifestations of nature, hurri- canes, tornadoes, waterspouts, meteorites, earthquakes, &c. It is a book by a man as much interested in the drama as in the science of such things, and his enthusiasm is passed on to the reader. Each chapter has been checked by an expert, and contains a wealth of anecdote and intriguing detail. Practical advice is also given: in a tornado, "the best thing is to lie down in a ditch or gulley, the deeper the better. But in such a crisis you can't be too particular." If you are afraid of lightning, avoid standing in front of fireplaces. Avoid wire fences. "Do not take a bath, go for a swim or indulge in any form of water sport during a thunderstorm."
If you want to know exactly what a typhoon is, or a hurricane, or a waterspout, you may find out in this book, and in a most lively way. Occasionally, the concrete references to what has actually happened to people during these various phenomena detract slightly from the consistency of Mr. Lane's presentation of scientific material. But it must be admitted that the sources he quotes do themselves go in very much for the startling anecdote.
This book makes one realise the powers of violent nature in some parts of the world, and how lucky Britain is. Air attacks are our equivalent. In this only have we knowledge of violence. Mr. Lane makes us realise how much huger is angry nature: in Northern Arizona, about 5,00o years ago, a meteorite fell which caused a deep crater shaped like a Vz crater about four-fifths of a mile across. "If two St. Paul's Cathedrals were placed on the bottom, one on top of the other, only part of the dome and cross of the upper cathedral would protrude above the crater's rim." In i9o8, another huge meteorite fell on the Central Siberian Forest: "over some 400 square miles, an area greater than Middlesex, not a tree was left standing."
There are some marvellous photographs, and there are many of them. Perhaps the most suggestive is that of lightning flashes over the Umpqua NationaL Forest, Oregon. Mr. lane has written an intriguing book, calculated to strengthen our insight into natural phenomena.
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