Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-10-20
INDI AN SU NJ NJ E. R.


Professor JACOBS, of Pennsy ivania College, treats
of those atmospheric phenomena Characters
TIC of our aulumna. skies during the continuance
Of what - called Indian Summer. The earn-
ed essays, says that this au,umnal season is only
one OF class of similar phenomena occurring
at various times during tho year. He designa,es
these scveral seasons follows. giving it as his
opinion that they occur when either the temper.
a,ure or the pressure of the atmosphere, both
together. have attained their highes, degree or
their lowest and are about to pass to their oppo-
site extreme:
"Seasons OF comparative rest in the atmosphere
are of frequent occurrence. and the sky scarcely
ever free from matter, whatever that may be,
which DESTROYS its transparency.
.'i'our periods occur. however. during the year
with considerable regularity. n, which are to DO
witnessed the grand Distinguishing characteris-
tics Just named.
The frs, occurs with but little variation as 10
time. at abou, tho close of October. or beginning
of November. 1t is scar ely late the
18th 18th Of the latter named month. This is
tho period of tho Indian Summer properly 20
called. In is dcration j, is not perfectly uni
form. Sometimes il lasts two or three weeks, and
others, only few days. During the autumn
of 1923 il continued only for five days, viz: from
the 2Sh Of October to the I'd Of November, and
then so family marked. to have lead ma
ny persons suppose that for that year there was
no Indian summer and was therefore scarcely
dlstnguishabo from the res: Of tho season.
/ "Thc second occurs about tho middle close
of April. Though no. III general rs woll char
acierlzed as the period Just named, it is some-
times distinctly marked rrest the alten.
ton of even the casual observer. A rema rkable
instance of this kind occurred during tho spring
OF 1888 From the 18th of April 10 the 9Th Of
May, period of three weeks, the atmosphere
was subject to bu. little ds,urban the winds
were gentle; bu, few clouds wore to be seen; no
rain foil to water the earth, and tho sky was
darkened by what had tho appen rance Of smoke.
which was afterwards enforced by real smoke,
arising from extensive fires then prevailing in
our mountain forests. But during every year,
perhaps without exception, this peculiar state Of
weather may be noticed at this period, sometimes
more. and IT o,her,, less distinctly.
The third period occurs from about the mid
die of January to the first week in February,
and continues from five or six days to three
weeks. During this season, it not unfrequently
happens that tho farmers in Pennsylvania and
Maryland pillow the grounds designed for the re.
ception OF their spring crops. Among tho moro
remarkable examples of this kind might be
named the winters Of 1917 and 1918. and those
OF 1872 and 1913 Every year however, as
might be expected. is not alike in this respect,
just as IS the case with tho 'lndian Summer
"A fourth period Of similar atmospheric con-
atmosphere has then sunk into state Of almost
perioc. rePose. The brcczes from tho south and
southwest, which had almost daily. during the
months OF Juno and July, refreshed US, and thus
rendered the heat less oppressive, have died a.
way. The stagnant and sutry mir has lis trans.
parency destroyed by thin haze or smoke.
through which distant objects appear Of viii.
fish blue color. Thunder clouds have diminish.
ed in frequency and extent. and hence, except
" a X tral Ina .f
gust IS deficient in rain. The widely extended
rain cloud does, indeed, como with its refreshing
and cheering showers, bat these il dlstils rather
gently and quietly. and, after it has passed nwav,
II leaves dusky atmosphere. 1t is about the
middle of tho month when this state of weather
mostly occurs.
"Agreeably to these views, there are, there.
fore. four grand periods at which smoky or ha-
atmosphere prominently prevaiIs-viz: two
of grea,er Intensity, occurring about month or
SIX weeks after tho autumnal and vcrnal equi-
noxes and two of loss intensity or less distinctly
marked. occurring at about the samo length Of
time after the summer and winter solstices
The auiumnal IS of the greatest intens ty, par.
uculariy So "a the immense volumes of actual
smoke. which arc thrown into the air from
ten thousand fires kindIed by the Indians and
hunters among the western forests strewed with
tho recently fallen foliage, add their sombro
hue TO the already existing vapor smoke.-
The Indian summer. is. therefore, only one Of
these four periods. and subject. like tho rest. to
vary exceedingly IN character and duration, du.
ring differon. years.
POISONING BIZ CANPHoR.-Dr. Reynolds, in the
British American Journal of Medical and Phys-
cal Science. relaies case of poisoning by cam.
phor The patient, healthy man. aged 20. of
full habit, while Standing in druggists shop.
unconsciousy swallowed bit by Bit. about two
drachms of camphor in the course Of a few
minutes.
He almos, Immediately felt degree Of head
nche coming on. and went out into the street.
He fel; highly exhi'arated, and having met Q
friend proposed bier Of whist to him. re-.
10 EaIt cir =.