解释一下片名

St.ElmosFireisanelectricaldischargeobservedaroundmasts,poles,andspirescausingionisationofthesurroundingatmosphere.Itoftenproducescracklingnoisesaswellasgivingrisetoluminousdisplaysoftendescribedasfireworks,jets,stars,corona,streams,orsparking.St.ElmosFirecancauseradiodisturbances,butisoftentakentobeagoodsign,becauseitoccursattheendofthunderstorms,hencesignifyingclearerweathertocome.AsSt.Elmoisthepatronsaintofsailors,thesailorstookittobeasignofSt.Elmoappearingtothem,andgaveititscommonname.Thecoronaldischargeisoftenreferedtoasthecorposant—fromtheOldSpanishcorposanto,i.e.holy,orsaints,body—theoldestreferenceforwhichintheOEDisEdensArteofNauigation(1561),wherehespeaksofquot;[s]hiningexhalationsthatappeareintempestes:whichetheMarinerscallsant~elmoorCorpussanctiquot;.TheGreeksycleptSt.ElmosFireHelena,andtherarerdoublejetformsCastorandPolluxafterthetwobrighteststarsinGemini:notsuprisingthatthephenomenonwouldbenamedafterstarsofhighmarinenagivationalsignifigance.Manyfamoussailorsandexplorers,includingChistopherColumbusandCharlesDarwin,arenotedtohaveobservedthephenomenon.St.ElmosFirehasalsobeenmentionedintheworksofJuliusCaesar,Pliny,Melville,andevenShakespare,whowrotethefollowinglinesofitinTheTempest,I.ii.196-201:ARIELIboardedthekingsship;nowonthebeak,Nowinthewaist,thedeck,ineverycabin,Iflamedamazement:sometimeIddivide,Andburninmanyplaces;onthetopmast,Theyardsandbowsprit,wouldIflamedistinctly,Thenmeetandjoin.Otherreferences:HazlittseditionofBrandsAntiquities(1905)underquot;CastorandPolluxquot;(viathe1911Encyclopaedia),AGoodlyGallerye(BookofMeteors),byWilliamFulke.@@MorephotosofSt.ElmosFire.LiteratureExcerptfromTheNauticalMagazine(1832),p.696onward.SaintElmosFire.Amongthemanynaturalphenomenawhichhaveexcitedthesuperstitiousaweofmankindinpastages,butwhichhappilyhavemetwiththeirexplanationamongthegeneralizationsofmodernscience,arethoseremarkableluminousappearanceswhichincertainstatesoftheairinvestpointedbodies,suchasthemastsofships,andareknowntotheEnglishsailorsasComazants,—totheFrenchandSpaniardsunderthemorepoeticannameofSt.Elmos(orSt.Helmos)Fires,—andtotheIraliansastheFiresofSt.PeterandSt.Nicholas;thePortuguesecallthemCorpoSanto,andinsomepartsoftheMediterraneantheyarenamedafterSt.Clair.OneofthemostancientnoticesofthisphenomenonisrecordedintheCommentariesofCæsar,inhisbookquot;DeBelloAfricano,quot;whereitisspokenofasaveryextraordinaryappearance.—quot;InthemonthofFebruary,aboutthesecondwatchofthenight,theresuddenlyaroseathickcloud,followedbyashowerofhail,andthesamenightthepointsofthespearsbelongingtothefifthlegionseemedtotakefire.quot;Senecaalso,inhisquot;QuæstionesNaturales,quot;statesthatastarsettledonthelanceofGylippusashewassailingtoSyracuse.Pliny,inhissecondbookofNaturalHistory,callstheseappearancesstars,andsaysthattheysettlednotonlyuponthemastsandotherpartsoftheships,butalsouponmensheads.—quot;Starsmaketheirappearancebothatlandandsea.Ihaveseenalightinthatformonthespearsofsoldierskeepingwatchbynightupontheramparts.Theyareseenalsoonthesail-yards,andotherpartsofships,makinganaudiblesound,andfrequentlychangingtheirplaces.Twooftheselightsforbodegoodweatherandaprosperousvoyage,andextinguishonethatappearssingleandwithathreateningaspect,—thisthesailorscallHelen,butthetwotheycallCastorandPollux,andinvokethemasgods.Theselightsdosometimes,aboutevening,restonmensheadsandareagreatandgoodomen.Buttheseareamongtheawfulmysteriesinnature.quot;Livyalso(c.32.)relatesthatthespearsofsomesoldiersinSicily,andawalkingstickwhichahorsemaninSardiniaheldinhishand,seemedtobeonfire.Hestatesalso;thattheshoreswereluminouswithfrequentfires.Plutrachalsorecordsthefact,andProcossiusaffirmsthat,inthewaragainsttheVandals,theGodsfavouredBelisariuswiththesamegoodomen.Thereisnodoubtthatduringmanycenturiestheseappearancescontinuedtoberegardedwithmingledfeelingsofadmirationandfear.IntherecordofthesecondvoyageofColumbus(HistoriadelAlmirante,writtenbyhisson)isapassagewhichwillillustratesthesuperstituonofthefifteenthcentury.quot;DuringthenightofSaturday(October1493),thethunderandrainbeingveryviolent,St.Elmoappearedonthetop-gallantmastwithsevenlightedtapers;thatistosay,wesawthosefireswhichthesailorsbelievetoproceedfromthebodyofthesaint.Immediatelyallonboardbegantosinglitaniesandthanksgivings,forthesailorsholditforcertain,thatassoonasSt.Elmoappears,thedangerofthetempestisover.quot;HerreraalsonoticesthatMagellanssailorshadthesamesuperstitions.Thusitappearsthattheauspiciousviewwhichtheancientstookofthisphenomenoncontinues,alsoduringthemiddleages,modified,however,bythereligiousfaithoftheobserved.Asweapproachourowntimessupersititongraduallyrelinquishesitsholdofthisappearance;andmerematter-of-factobservers,forgetfulofthebodiesofsaintsilluminatedbywaxtapers,speakofitasitis,andevenmakeitridiculousbyattributingtoitamaterialcharacterwhichitcertainlydoesnotpossessForbid,sailingamongtheBalearicislandsin1896,relatesthatduringthenightasuddendarknesscameon,accompaniedbyfearfullightningandthunder.Allthesailswerefirled,andpreparationsweremadeforthestorm:quot;WesawmorethanthirtySt.Elmosfires.Therewasoneplayinguponthevaneofthemainmastmorethanafootandahalfhigh.Isentamanuptobringitdown.Whenhewasalofthecriedoutthatitmadeanoiselikewettedgunpowderinburning.Itoldhimtotakeoffthevaneandcomedown;butscarcelyhadheremoveditfromitsplacethanthefirequitteditandre-appearedattheendofthemast,withoutanypossibilityofremovingit.Itremainedforalongtimeandgraduallywentout.quot;Wecomenowtodivestthephenomenonofallitsromanceintheplainstatementsoftwointelligentobservers.ThefirstisLieut.MilneoftheRoyalnavy,who,inacommunicationtoProfessorJamiesonstatesthathewasofftheCoastofBrazilinSeptember1827;thedayhadbeensultry,andheavilychargedcloudshadbeencollectinginthesouth-west.Aseveningapproacheditbecameverydark;thelightningwasveryvivid,andwasfollowedbyheavypealsofdistantthunder.Abouttenoclockalightwasobservedontheextremityofthevanestaffatthemasthead,andshortlyafterwardsanotherontheweathersideofthefore-top-sail-yard.Oneofthemidshipmen,curioustoexaminethisappearancealittlemorecloselywentaloft.Hefoundthatitappearedtoproceedfromanironboltintheyard-arm;itssizewasratherlargerthanthatofawalnut,andithadafaintyellowcastinthecentre,approachingtoblueontheexternaledge.Onapplyinghishandtoititmadeanoiseliketheburningofaport-fire,emittingatthesametimeadensesmokewithoutanysensiblesmell.Ontakingawayhishanditresumeditsformerappearance,butheappliedthesleeveofhiswetjacket,itranupit,andimmediatelybecameextinguished,anddidnotappearagain.Thelightonthevane-staffretaineditspositionforupwardsofanhour,butonaccountoftheheavyrain,andprobablyalsofromhavingbeenstruckbythevaneattachedtothestaff,itwentout,butresumeditspositionaftertherainhadceased,althoughwithalessdegreeofbrightness.Intheaboveaccounttheonlycircumstancewhichwedonotunderstandisthedensesmokesaidtohavebeenemittedbythelight.Thismayperhapsbeattributedtotheimaginationoftheobservers,whowitnessedthephenomenonforthefirsttime.OtheraccoutsaregivenbyLieutenantMilne,buttheseweneednotrepeat;hesays,thatthefireusuallyappearedonmetal,suchasironboltsandcopperspindles;butononeoccasionhenoticeditonaspindleofhardwood,fromwhichthecopperhadbeenremoved.Hestatesthatbadweatheralwaysfollowedthephenomenon.InaletterfromMr.WilliamTraill,ofKirkwall,toProfessorTraill,dated16thofMay,1837,andpublishedinthescientificjournalsofthetimeasaninterestingnoticeofSt.ElmosFireinOrkney.DuringatremendousgaleinFeburary,1837,alargeboatwassunk,butthecrewsucceededingettinghertotheshore.Thiswasaccomlishedbynight;theyhadtowaituntilthreeoclockonthefollowingmorninguntilthetideshouldebbfromher.Duringthistimeshewasattachedtotheshorebyanironchainaboutthirtyfathomslong,whichdidnottouchthewater,whensuddenlyMr.Traillbeheldquot;asheetofblood-redflameextendingalongtheshore,foraboutthirtyfathomsbroadandonehundredfathomslong,commencingatthechainandstretchingalonginthedirectionoftheshore,whichwasE.S.E.,thewindbeingN.N.W.atthetime.Theflameremainedabouttenseconds,andoccuredfourtimesinabouttwominutes.quot;Theboatmen,aboutthirtyinnumber,whowereshelteringthemselvesfromtheweather,wereapparentlyalarmed,andabouttomakeenquiries,whenatentionwassuddenlyattractedbyamostsplendidappearanceoftheboat.quot;Thewholemastwasilluminated,andfromtheironspikeatthesummitaflameofonefootlongwaspointedtotheN.N.W.,fromwhichathunder-cloudwasrapidlycoming.Thecloudapproached,whichwasaccompaniedbythunderandhail;theflameincreasedandfollowedthecourseofthecloudtillitwasimmediatelyabove,whenitarrivedatthelengthofnearlythreefeet,afterwhichitrapidlydiminished,stillpointingtothecloudasitwasbornerapidlyontoS.S.E.Thewholelastedaboutfourminutesandhadamostsplendidappearance.quot;ThepopularopinionisthatSt.ElmosFirenowappearsonlyonthepointsofshipsmasts;butM.Aragoconfutesthisopinionbyadducingavarietyofcases,whichseemtoprovethattheonlyreasonwhythephenomenonisnotcommonlyseenonthetopsofchurchspires,andonthesummitsofhighbuildingsingeneral,issimplybecausepeopleneverlookoutforit.Butafewrecordedinstancesaresufficienttoprovethatgoodobserversonlyarewantingtomakethephenomenonmuchmorecommon.M.Binon,whowascure/ofRouzetduringtwenty-sevenyears,informedMr.Watson,theelectrician,thatduringgreatstorms,accompaniedwithblackcloudsandfrequentlightnings,thethreepointedextremetiesofthecrossofthesteepleofthatplaceappearedsurroundedwithabodyofflame,andthatwhenthisphenomenonhasbeenseenthestormwasnolongertobedreaded,andcalmweatherreturnedsoonafter.InAugust,1768,LichtenbergnoticedtheSt.ElmosFireonthesteepleofSt.JacquesatGottingen.InJanuary,1778,duringaviolentstorm,accompaniedbyrainandhail,M.MongerynoticedluminoustuftsonmanyofthemostelevatedsummitsofthecityofRouen.TheobservationsofCæsar,respectingtheluminouspointsofhissoldiersspears,hasbeenrepeatedinmoderntimes,andstillmoreremarkablecaseshaveoccured.InJanuard,1822,duringaheavyfallofsnow,M.deThielaw,whileontheroadtoFreyViry,noticedthattheextremetiesofthebrancesofallthetreesbytheroadsidewereluminous,thelightappearingofafaintbluishtinge.InJanuary,1824,afterastorm,M.MasadorfnoticedinafieldnearCothen,acart-loadofstrawsituatedimmediatelyunderalargeblackcloud;theextremetiesofthestrawappearedtobeonfireandthecarterswhipwasalsoluminous.Thisphenomenonlastedabouttenminutes,anddisappearedastheblackcloudwasblownawaybythewind.Rozet,inhisworkonAlgiers,relates,thatonthe8thofMay,1831,aftersunset,someartilleryofficerswerewalkingduringastormontheterraceofthefortBabazounatAlgiers;theirheadsbeinguncovered,theysaw,totheirgreatastonishment,thateachoneshairstoodonend,andthateachhairwasterminatedbyaminuteluminoustuft;onraisingthehands,thesetuftsformedalsoattheextremetiesoftheirfingers.Alltheseandvariousotherphases,underwhichtheSt.ElmosFireappears,admitofexplanationontheprinciplewhichregulatesathunderstorm.Theelectricalbalancebetweentheclouds,aportionoftheearthssurfacedirectlyopposedtotheseclouds,andtheintermediateairbeingdisturbed,theparticlesofair,byaprocesscalledinduction,increasethisdisturbance,throwingthecloudsandtheearthintotwohighlyexcitedoppositestates,whichtendmoreandmoretocombine,accordingtothelengthoftheprocess,untilatlastaunioniseffectedbywhatDr.Faradaycallsadisruptivedischarge,whichisusuallyaccompaniedbylightningandthunder.Ifitwerepossibletoconnectthecloudsandtheeathbyagoodmetallicconductor,theelectricalbalancewouldberestored,andnosuchviolentdischargewouldensue.Butitsometimeshappenthatwhentheairisinahighlyexcitedstate,apointprojectingintoitwilleffectapartialdischarge.Thisisaccompaniedbyaluminousburstoflightandasortofroaringnoise.Theexperimentcanbeshownattheelectricalmachine,andisknownasthebrushdischarge.Itusuallytakesplacebetwenagoodandabadconductor;itcommencesattherootofthebrushandiscompleteatthepointoftherodbeforethemoredistantparticlesofairacquirethesameelectricalintensity.Hence,intheforegoingexamples,itwillbeseenthatthepointsofshipsmasts,theextremetiesofchurchsteeples,andevenlesselevatedobjects,areallsubjecttoavisitationfromSt.ElmosFire;orinotherwords,whenplacedinhighlyexcitedairandelectricaldischargemaytakeplaceuponthem,ofsoslowacharacterastobeentirelyfreefromdanger.Itistheimmensevelocitywithwhichlightningtravels,whichcausesittocommitsuchfearfulhavocwhenitstrikesbadlyconductedsubstances.ExcerptfromElementsofMeteorology,byJohnBrocklesby(1851);pp.156-7.382.St.ElmosFire.Wheninadarkenedroomaneedleisbroughtneartothechargedconductorofanelectricalmachine,thepointistippedwithavividlight,causedbytheflowofelectricityfromtheconductortotheneedle.Inthesamemannerwhenthunder-cloudsapproachveryneartheearth,lightningdoesnotalwaysoccur;buttheelectricitybecomessointense,thatitescapedfromonetotheotherbypointsuponthesurfaceoftheearth,whichthenglowwithabrilliantflame.ThisphenomenonhasreceivedtheappellationofSt.Elmosfire.ItwasknowntotheancientsbythenameofCastorandPollux,andmanyinstanceshavebeenrecordedbyclassicwriters.OnthenightbeforethebattlethatPosthumiusgainedovertheSabines,theRomanjavelinsemittedalightliketorches;andCæsarrelatesthatduringtheAfricanwar,inthemonthofFebruary,theresuddenlyarose,aboutthesecondwatchofthenight,adreadfulstormthatthrewtheRomanarmyintogreatconfusion,atwhichtimethepointsofthedartsofthefifthlegionappearedtobeonfire.383.ThefireofSt.Elmoisoftenfinelydisplayeduponthemastsofvessels.Anextraordinaryinstance,whichhappenedin1696,isthusrelatedbyCountForbin:quot;Inthenightitbecameextremelydark,andthunderedandlightenedfearfully.WesawupondifferentpartsoftheshipaboutthirtySt.Elmosfires;amongtherestwasoneuponthetopofthevaneofthemainmast,abouteighteenincheslong.Iorderedoneofthesailorstotakethevanedown,buthehadscarcelyremoveditwhenthefireagainappeareduponthetopofthemast,whereitremainedforalongtime,andthengraduallyvanished.quot;WhenLordNapierwasontheMediterranean,inJune,1818,heobserved,duringadarkandstormynight,ablazeofpalelightuponthemainmastofhisvessel.Itappearednearthesummit,andextendedaboutthreefeetdownward,flittingandcreepingaroundthesurfaceofthemast.Theheadsoftheothertwomastspresentedasimilarappearance.Attheendofhalfanhour,theflameswerenolongervisible.384.Thisphenomenonfrequentlyoccursonthesummitsofmountains,whenthundercloudspassnearthem.SaussureobserveditupontheAlps,in1767.Onextendinghisarm,heexperiencedslightelectricshocks,accompaniedbyawhistlingsound,andobtaineddistinctsparksfromthegoldbuttonofahatbelongingtooneofhisparty.ItisoftennoticedatEdinburgcastle,whichstandsuponahighrock,250feetabovethesurroundingcountry.Upontheapproachofastorm,thebayonetsofthesoldiersmountingguardarefrequentlyseencappedwithflame,andanironramrod,placeduprightuponthewalls,presentsalikeappearance.AsingularinstanceofspontaneouselectricitytookplaceatAlgiers,onthe8thofMay,1831.Duringtheeveningofthisday,assomeFrenchofficerswerewalkingwiththeirheadsuncovered,eachwassurprisedatseeingthehairsupontheheadsofhiscompanionserect,andtippedwithflame.Uponraisingtheirhands,theyperceivedasimilarlightflittingupontheendsoftheirfingers.AremarkablecaseofthiskindwasobservedbyPres.Totten,ofTrinityCollege,atHartford,Ct.,inthemonthofDec.1839.Asthisgentlemanwaswalkingoneeveninginthemidstofaheavysnow-storm,protectedbyanumbrella,hisattentionwasarrestedbymomentaryflashesoflight,whichatintervalsilluminedhispath.Thesourceofthelightwasdetecteduponmeetinganotherperson,thepointofwhoseumbrellawasseencoveredwithflame,whichwasconstantlyescapinginflashes.ThelightfirstnoticedbyPres.Totten,proceededfromhisownumbrella.ExcerptfromJohnLeeComstock(1837),ATreatiseonMathematicalandPhysicalGeography;pp.275-6.FireofSt.Elmo.Thislightwasformerlysupposedbymariners,tobeavisiblerepresentationofaspirittheycalledSt.Elmo,andwhowasthetitelarsaintofthosewhotraversethemightydeep;andhenceitsname.St.ElmosFireisaluminousmeteorthatfrequentlyappearstosettleonthemast-headofvessels,inwarmweather,andespeciallyinhotclimates,andisconsideredanelectricalphenomenon,thoughisisneverknowntoproduceanyofthedisastrouseffectsoflightning.Whenitisconfinedtothetopmast,itisconsideredaprognosticofbadweather,thoughnotinsuchadegreeastodoinjury.Butwhenitdescendsdownthemast,itisbelievedasureproofthatastormiscoming,whichwillbe,moreorlessdisastrous,inproportiontothedistanceitdescends.Falconer,inhisShipwreck,alludestothis,whenhesays—quot;Highonthemast,withpale,andlividrays,Amidthegloom,portentousmeteorsblaze.quot;Thisappearanceisexplainedbytheknownaptitudeofpointedconductorstotransfertheelectricityoftheatmosphere,insilence,orwithoutashock,andhencethereasonwhysharppointsaremadetoterminatelightningrods.ItispossiblethatthelightofSt.Elmo,maybeconnectedwithachangeoftheweather,sincetheelectricalstateoftheatmosphereisundoubtedlyconcernedintheproductionofcloudsandstorms,aswellasinthatoflightningandthunder.Itwouldnot,therefore,beunphilosophicaltoconsider,withthesailors,thattheseappearancesprognosticatesuchchanges.Humboldt,duringoneofhisvoyages,observedthisphenomenon,andthusdescribesit;quot;Onobservingtheappearanceofthemasts,themain-top-gallant-mast-head,fromthetruck,tothreefeetdown,wasperfectlyenvelopedinacoldblazeofpalephosphorus-lookinglight,completelyembracingthecircumferenceofthemast,andattendedwithaflitting,orcreepingmotion,asexemplifiedexperimentally,bytheapplicationofcommonphosphorusuponaboard.Thefore,andmizzen-top-gallant-mastheads,exhibitedasimilarappearance.Thiscuriousilluminationcontinuedwithundiminishedintensity,foreight,ortenminutes,whenbecominggraduallyfainter,andlessextensive,itfinallydisappeared,afteradurationofnotlessthanhalfanhour.quot;Fromthesamecause,arosethephenomenonobservedbyM.Allamond,who,havingclosedhisumbrelladuringathunderstorm,lesttheelectricityshouldbeattractedbyitsmetallicpoint,sawthatthebrimofhishatwassurroundedbyabroadbandoflight,whichbecamemoreintense,ashepassedhishandoverit.Thisappearancevanishedassoonashecameneartosometalltress,whichprobablyconductedtheelectricitytotheground,fromthehighlyexcitedatmosphere.Onp.100ofJulianJacksonsWhattoObserve(1841),JacksonreferstoSt.ElmosFireasCuerpoSantoandCorpusance,andsaysthattheyarequot;presumedtobepurelyelectricalquot;.Hesaysthatitsalwaysseenasaprecursortostorms.