The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-11-23
Indian Summer.

This beautiful. almost fairy scene, is
nigh at hand. 1t sometimes occurs in
October, though we believe it is not re-
garded as genuine and orthodox, if it ap-
pear before November. For ourselves,
we are glad to see it at any time. Why
called "Irdian Summer" you ask. The
only reason we ever heard OF, was, that
during this period. the Indians are accus.
toned TO gather their stores OF corn and
rice and nuts for the Winter.
Mr.. Merriam, and everybody else who
owns a thermometer, has observed that
from the end Of August TO the end Of Sep
tembcr, there is II gradual and constant
dimnution Of heat; but that, about the
middle OF October, a change occurs, and
for Two weeks or more, there is, with
slight exceptions, an increase of daily heat.
This is no. peculiar TO our continent. In
northern Europe and Asia, there is pc
riod known AS 1.-THE second Summer" the
"atterheat," setting in just before the be-
ginning OF Winter. But in America, this
period is marked by one texture almost
unknown elsewhere. We refer to the
brilliant changes of the foliage Of the
trees. 1t would seem as if Nature were
trying to conceal the decay which i.
stealing upon her. by the increasing gor.
geousness of her apparel, and the Spring
like yoathfulness of her voice and air
But let us not SANDER her.
This change in the hucs Of vegetation
is indeed perccptible somewhat in Sep
tember. l, begins, in small way, be-
fore frost; but the most sudden and bril-.
liant colorings are produced by icy Jack
Sometimes, he does his work at odd spells
throughout October and the first part oi
November; sometimes he does the most
of it in a single night. And what a
grand exhibition he makes! Al his touch,
The oak turns rich brown, or reddish
purple; the birch and larch are yellow
the tulip tree rich lemon color; the pep
eridge fiery scarlet; the naples nearly
every tint from green to gold and crimson,
and scarlet and pink; the evergreens re-
tain their original green and set of the
other hues in fine contrasts.
One gets fine display, ifhe can COM
mand the view Of large range of wooded
hills ascending by genle slopes; he then
sees the tops Of the trees, in oil colors,
fading of into the distance. And the ef-
feet is still further heightened if the sun
is declining behind the hills. The OBJ
lique rays glancing thro' the many tinted
leaves, give them increased bliliancy, and
suggest at times the idea Of forest
aglow with IRE. Then again, this brilliancy
is often subdued by haze OF blue vapor
smoke.
Attempts have been made to represent
the phases OF Indian Summer on canvass,
but as yei with only partial success; no col.
oring and no verbal description can place Il
before the eyes of one who has not beheld
it. And what adds 10 the charm OF this
season, the temperature of the air becomes
milder than il had been for several weeks;
on some days, il is balmy and voluptu-
ously soft. beyond anything in the sweet
est day of June. These are the days for
enjoyment. perhaps beyond any days oi
the round year. AS TO a scientific explain.
alton OF thes various phenomena, we
do not propose now to attempt it, but will
refer our readers to our remarks on the
subject last year,-Amer. AgrieaIt"risf'