The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-17
| From the National Mag1zine. !
WEATHER WISDOM

than the mechanic or citizen; and from the con-
staht necessity they are under of studying the
minutes. indications, or secondary effects of mete-
or"ioSical changes, they arrive at the power of
loretellng iuture changes, with certainty far ex-
ceeoing the landsman's comprehension
In the absence of that tact, that quick prescience
VI a.inospneTlc changes possessed by the class of
| persons we have before mentioned and which can
only be acquired by similar course of discipline
| me common observer must have barometer to aid
@ nln IN forming guess, whether he should take an
umbrella or great coat with him, or whether he
may go forth unprepared for anything but warmth
and sunshine. But indications of the weather are
not only to be found in barometrical CHANGES, the
otouus t lurhiSh data, and animals evidence every
| grange; and he who sets to work to study these
thlngS gains something more than weather wisdom.
| ne acquires the habit of observation
cbARoaErRlcAL CHANGES IN THE WEATHER
Alter continuance of dry weather, if the bar
ometer begin to fall slowly and steadily rain will
| certainty ensue; IT after great deal of wet wea
nler the mercury begins to rise steadily an slowly
| nne weather will come, tn ugh two or three days
may first eapse. On either of the twoforeooing ann
positions, it the change Immediately ensues on the
motion of the mercury, the change will not be
| permanent.
The mercury will often rise or fall as has lust
| been mentioned for some time before the fair or
| wet weather, which it prognosticates begins; and
II VIII then fall or rise during the continuance of
tnls; that is, the mercury will often appear at va
rance with the existing state of the atmosphere
onuer such circumstances the principle before al
ludeo to must be borne in mind that the barometer
only indicates some change in the air which has
| be seen. ~
sudden fall of the barometer in the spring or
autumn, indicates wind; in the summer, during
| very hot weather, a thunder storm NAV be expect
ca; In winter sudden fall after frost of some con-
tlnuHnce, indicates change of wind, with thaw
| and ram But in continued FROST a rise of the
mercury indicates approaching snow.
| Mheh violent gale has followed a sudden fall
OF the mercury, it begins to rise again very randi
| v, aDOut ,of fho
IN lhls case the gale will not last long No rapid
Huctuaslnns OF the barometer are to be INTERPRETED
as indicating either dry wet weather; it is only
the slow, steady, and continued rise or fall that is
t" be attended to in this respect A rise If mnr-
curry, late In the autumn, after long continuance
U, wet ana windy weather, generally indicates
ehahge OF WIND to the northern quarters and the
! approach of frost
| INDICATIONS FURH ISHED BY CLOUDS ETC
Oouus are an old fashioned index to the weather.
ln many ola country sayings, in many an old dog
grel verse, its weather-wsdom lessons are con-
veyed:
An evening red and morning gray,
| WIN set the traveller on his way;
But an evening gray aud a morning red
| VIII pour down rain on the traveller head.n
If the sky be clear, after the continuance or
weather. light streaks of cloud (cirrus) appearing
are the nrst indications of change. If these clouds
accumulate, and descend into lower regions of the
| atmosphere, rain Commences. When the sun an
pears to be setting in fog with dark and crimson
streaks, in sharp, we,l-defned lines wind and
| rain, and stormy weather may be expected In
not summer weather, the sky, during the finest
Gays, is often loaded with masses of cloud clear
sharp rounded, and brilliantly edged with light,
With such sky, no immediate change need be an
| pretended. If, however, toward evening, these
| clouds cOngregate in the horizon and riso unward
| with sharp outlines, and unusual stiffness and
closeness is felt in the air. it is sure sign of an an
proachlrg thunderstorm. A greenish tinge in the
gray evening Is a sure precursor of wet: but what
| ever may be their form, color and cbaracter an
! increase OF clOudS rlv
nlng, may be generally taken as Indicating an
! preaching rain, because accumulated moisture in
the AIR must return to the earth in rain. The dan
pied or mOtred sky is at all seasons sion oF five
weather. Haloes around the moon are considered
toierably certain sign OF rain, when there il
no apparent cloud intervening to form them
| GENERAL AND COMMON PRoGNoSrfCs OF THE WEATHER
| Among these we may reckon such as are derived
from birds, beasts, insects, reptiles and plants To
which may also be added the woodwork of houses
as doors, windows, window-shutters, &c.
Before rain an unusual hustle is observed among
ants, bees, and wasps at their nests spiders unit
! their recesses, and seen crawling about at
night; flies of all kinds are more active and sting
or bite. When gnats fly in compact bodies in the
beams OF the setting sum- it indicates fine weather.
but if they retire under the shade of trees at eve
ming, rain may be expected. Snails and slugs an
pear IN greater number in damp weather. and
therefore both before and after ran and frogs are
more NOISY In ponds and marshes at the same time
Swallows fly low before rain, because the insects
which are their prey approach nearer to the earth
at that time. 1t has been observed that fish are
eager in boiling at flies and are more active before
| rain, for similar reason
The uneasiness of pigs before a storm has been
theme ot amusement in rural life quite long enough
to attest the truth OF the observation Sailors ex-
! pect storm when pOrpOises and dolphins gapbol
on the surface of the water
Peacocks and guinea-fowls, and many other birds
are particularly clatnnrous before rain; and the do
mestlc cock manfests uneasiness by frequent crow
| ing. Birds in general retain in the ou-part of
! their feathers quantity of oil, which when thew
feel an extraordinary dePree of moisture in the at
moSphere they express by means of their bills and
Gstoute IL over their feathers to their bo-
oeS against the effects of an approaching shower
Domestic animals, COWS and sheep but partic-
ularly the latter. on the approach of rain feed
with great avidity in the open field and retire near
the trees ana hedges as soon as they satisfied.
In tlne weather they Craze and lounge about eat
ing and resting alternately, with apparent indif-
ference.
The closing of the flowers of the aaaqoIis arren-
S'S on dull DAYS and in moist weather, has confer
red upon 1t the title of the ''poor mans weather.
glass" but the following lines convey most of the
popular precepts on the subject, and we therefore
venture to present them:
The hollow winds begin to blow.
The clouds look black, the grass is low;
the SCOT falls down, the spantes Sleep
And spiders from tn ir cobwebs peep
Last night the sun went pale to bed,
The moon in haloes hid her head;
The bodng shepherd heaves a sigh
For see, a rainbow spans the skyl
Inc walls are damp, the bitches smell
Closed is the lightred pmpernel
Hark! how the chairs and tables cractr
Old Betty's joints the rack;
Her corns with shooting pains torment her
And to her bed untimeiy send her.
Loud quack the ducks, the fowls cry,
The distant hills looking nigh
How restless are the snortng swinel
The busy flies disturb the kline;
Low o'er the grass the swallow wings,
The cricket, too, how sharp he sngsl
Puss on the hearth, with velvet paws
Sits wiping DER her whisker'd laws:
The smoke from chimneys right ascends
Then spreading back to earth it bends
Inc WIND, unsteady, yeers around
0rsetng in TIE South is foundl
Through the clear stream the fishes rise
And nimbly catch the cautious flies;
hegiow worms, numerous. clear and bright
1llumed the dewy hill last night
At dusk the squald toad was seen,
Like quadruped. stalk o'er the green;
The whirling wind the dust obeys,
And in the rapid eddy plays;
The frog has changed his yellow vest
And in a russst coat is dressed;
The sky is green, the air is still,
The mellow blackoird's vOice~is shrill;
The dog, so alter'd in his taste,
Qalts mutton bones on grass to feast
Behold the rocks, how odd their flight
They initiate the gltjng kite,
And seem precpitate to fall,
As if they felt the piercing ball
The tender colts back do lie
Nor heed the travle passing by;
| In fiery red the sun did rise
Then Wades through clouds to meet the skies
Twill surely rain - It with sorrow,
No working in the fields to morrow"
In the winter, when the thermometer is between
"a and 40 degrees. the air being in a state of con-
densaton, and the running water being warmer
than the land, mist or fog may be seen rising
above the rivers, particularly when the air is cold
aud clear: but this vapor is longer visible when
the river is frozen.
Much anxious inquiry has been made as to the
alleged connection OF the moon with the weather.
Inc f0iiies OF the ancients identical with the
tollies of the astroogers. Gardeners and farmers
have their tav0rite moons. NJ. Arago has admirably
exposed all these criminal charges against the innO
cent moon. But to the philosophc mind all objects
In nature wh2ther animate or nanimate, may at
ford both amusement aud instruction, particulars Y
In mete0rOl0gy; for in this science, as well as in
everything else, nature opens her vast stores-heI
library and her laboratory are never closed, apC
We find
Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything"
THE MARYLAND EXEMPTION LAW.
The following is true copy of the exemption
law just passed, which goes into effect on the frs
of June:
An Act to amend the Eighty-third Article of the
Code of Public General Laws by exempting
certain amount of property from execution.
Be 1t enacted by the General Assembly Of Maryland
That one hundred dollars worth OF property o
each defendant therein shall be exempted from ex
ecution issued on any Judgment in any civil pro
ceeding whatever, except on judgments for breach
, | of promise to marry, or seduction.
Sec. g That each defendant in any such execu
tion may select property, real personal, to the
value of one hundred dollars, to be ascertained by
three disnterested appraisers to be summoned and
sworn by the officer at the time of evying the exc
cutinn, and the appraisement signed by the appras
ers shall be returned with the writ.
Sec. 3. That if any property of any defendants
whether real or personal, cannot be divided so a.
to set apart portion of it, of the value of one bun
dred dollars without loss and injury to all partie
e concerned, then the whole shall be sold and tn,
defendant whose property is so sold shall have n
\ hundred dollars -,