Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-11-05
From PouiSon's .Americaa Daily .3dCeFti
THE INDIAN SUMMER.

The origin Of this designation of a particular
season. is known, doubtless, Ia most OF your rea-
ders: as is the cause which produces that tempe
rate and smoky state Of the atmosphere which
characterizes il. But 70 some. neither the one,
or the other. may b. known. By your leave, |
will explain bath. and in dom. 81, | shall be do
ing no more than repcajlrs What las been writ
ten before.
The Indian summer. is so called, because. at
the particular period Of the year IN Which II OBJ
tains. the Indians break up t}cir village commu.
mites. and 90 20 the interior to prepare for their
winter hunting. This seasun seems to mark a di-
yidine line between the heat of summer and the
cold of winter; and IS, from its mildness. saitcd
to these migratiors. Hence ITS title, or designa-
tion-Md,Gs S,pnmer-or the season of tempe.
rate weather. of which the Indians avail them
selves, to set out in search of winter hunting
grounds.
The cause is the slow combustion Ofthe leaves
and other vegetable matter, of the boundless and
interminalle forests of the west Those who, at
this particular season of the year. have p%cnetrat-
rd these forests. know all about it. TO the feet
the heat is quite sensible; whilst the ascending
vapour warns every thing it embraces.an spread
ing out into the wide atmosphere. Ellis the cir
cult Of the heavens witfits peculiar heat and smo-
kiness.
The time has bcen when this season has been
more definitely marked with US. than it nowis.-
This change is owing, IN part and chiefly. to the
clearing of our country. There are fewer leaves
now. on our immediate borders, and less vegeta-
Bile material than formerly: hence there is less va
pour and less warmth. Then again there has al
WAYS, as now, been. in different years, less or
more of this vapour!e This yariablencss, in diff
ferent years, is occasioncd by the sudden, Or less
active advances of winter. If the frosts come in
quick su.vUsstvn, aud with severity, and CunyIn-
ue until winter eXerts his sway, there will be lit
tie or no Indian summer-because the materI-
ais, the leaves, &c. become frozen by them. and
this generation of heat is stopped. But if the
frosts are gradual and the autumn advances mild
ly into winter, the Indian summer IS prolonged.
In some years We have no Indian summer Its
absence may be attributed to the first of these
causes; In other years it is distinctly marked;
when 1t Is SO. 1t may be attributed to the other.
We have this Indian summer now. And now
all the Indian villages are deserted, the poles
which. during the spring and summer were cover
ed with the birch bark. are stripped. and those
who lived III them are vending their ways up the
river courses. and over the mountains. and plains.
IN search OF the best grounds to snare and tran
the game. May every success attend these hun.
ters; and may God, in mercy to them, SO guide
our pubic councils as to save them from becom-
ing the victims of oppression; and from the de.
which there IL too much reason TO fear
lies in wait for their overthrow. as does the crouch.
lion for his prey. ABORIGINAL.
ae1SSscan-
BY the extract we publish this day from the
Orange Reporter, it will be seen that the Sheriff
'i Orange county has returned Mr.. BARBOUR as
member of the House of Delegates, and the
'easons for his decision. We need not saw how
much we are pleased at this result, and the more
PARTICULARLY as the election in this county was. we
'@elIeve, almost the only one in Virginia that we
aye heard Of. where an attempt was made TO
,sw the lines of national partle. in electiny mem
oshto the House of Delegates, Whether the
.rnpt succeeded Or not, we have not learnt. but
pc Pc it did not. Or Mr.. Barbour's vote would !
" been so Iarge.-RicAmond Hhig. F,
r.. 'Nom The Orange Reporter, Oct. so.
o"' e@tion, which has excited SO much inte.
. as. IuAln and out of this county: Indeed
M Ii,""I"" the whole community took place on
,ho Wt ,"e ing in of the poll on Monday niabt 7
aV'u Err ~. by the perseverance of Mr.. ].
Iorv from "RRnothAnardsville, and Mr.. James Mai.
s suIf s so% as S0f'Sops, the two precincts, the re. !,