The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-11-10


showed the winds generally ives! and north
west during Indian Summer.
THE CAUSE or THE PHENOMENA
has been more subject Of inconelusiye
speculation than the origin OF the NAME
The existence Of the singular season is not
doubted, aud the period of its annual return
is equally well settled. II appears in all
the central and northern sections Of the
United States some time in November, or
near that month, and Of course succeeds
the rainy season OF the autumual equinox,
which usually continues late into October.
1t is Scarcely important in this article to
use space in any description Of the pecu.
liar appearance Of Indian summer, as it is
familiar to all, In the height of the foliage
spendors Of which we have written, a soft
and mild sunshine, much more genial than
had prevailed suddenly appears the at.
nosphere assumes n baluny aud voluptuous
mildness, more like that Of August than
that Of November, aud the moonlight even.
ings are abundant in their attractions to
lovers, and all who find pleasure in senti-
mcnt and star gazing, Of whatever kind. 4
peculiar haziness, thin and flmy, pervades
the mir. There is a peculiar redncs9 Of the
sky, and the sun at its going down is un.
commonly Hinged with ruby CLEAN
while the moon, both at its rising aud going
down, is touched with the same golden
flush.
Among all the hypothesis which have
been cOntrved in explanation of these phe'
uomena, we find none more plausible than
that which is based upon the welLknown
principle in natural science, that all fluids
in passing into a more solid form give out
latent heat. Now, in the high northern lat.
itudes, Arctic nayigators inform US that win.
ter begins with September and that during
| that month water is converted into ice with
! immense activity. 1t is certain that in the
conversion Of matter from o fluid into a
solid state on so colossal scale, that the
quantity Of heat thus infused in sensible
form into the atmosphere must exert very
powerful influence upon the state of the air
IN countries bordering on these cold regions,
| and it is only necessary to concede that the
winds from the north prevail NJ this period
to make it conclusive that this heat must in.
| crease the warmth Of this zone at this sea.
son Of the year. 1t is urged against this
theory that the heat liberated in the Arctic
| regions would rise into the upper regions
before reaching the United States but the
! reply is, that the heat is not lost that the
| upper strata Of the atmosphere being al.
| ways intensely cold, the heat would not rise
very high, but would impart largely its eff
teCts upon The middle, and through that to
the lower stratum Of the air. 1t is also
conceded that electrical agencies have some.
thing to do in producing this Indian sum
mer phenomena, especially in the matter Of
increased temperature.
The smoky appearance of the atmosphere
10 attributed by some to a sub.vapOrous con.
dition Of the lower stratum Of the air which
is alleged to exist at this PERIOD while 9th.
ers controvert the fact of the moist state Of
the air, as well as the inference deduCed,
and refer the hazness TO actual smoke, pro.
duced BY the fires which so largely prevail
at this season Of the year, especially where
forests abound. 1t is affirmed that the red
ness Of the sky once so marked in the New
England summer has largely disappeared rs
the couRtry has become settled, and the for
est fires have ceased TO extensively prevail,
in support Of this view.
The alleged increase of temperature dur
ing Indian summer is also denied, aud the
meteorological observations are produced 70
show that the temperature Of November IS
actually lower than that Of October. On
the theory, however, that the Indian sum
mer is warmer than the weeks that usher it
ill., the hypothesis Of released heat in the
Arctic regions is used to form very inter.
estlnE, if not entirely satisfactory eXplRna.
ton ia this connection.
There is o continuous tide Of heated air
rising from the torrid zone, and flowing
north and south. During the season Of
congclation in the Arctic zone there is like
wise tide Of heated air rising from the
North Polar Sea, aud flowing towards the
tOrrid zone. These two currents meet about
midway in the temperate zone, near the for
ty.Gtth parallel Of north latitude, and in the
collision, the warm condensed current in
some measure descend5 This affords so.
luton in some measure Of the warmth as
well as of the calmness, the softness, and
the dryneSs of the air Of Indian summer.
We have attempted no original specula-
ton in regard to this interesting subject IN
this article, but have simply aimed to pre-.
sent brief statement Of some Of the most
prominent facts and speculations we have
been able, from a variety Of sources, to
gather.
Indian summer, as we have already iudi.
Gated, is observed in nearly all the countries
Of Europe and Asia, as well as Of America,
and known variously as "St. Martins Sum
mer,' "The Latter Summer, "SecOnd Sum
mer,' "Aftcr Heat, "Summer Close and
under names all significant of the nature
Of the season, and differing only by reason
Of the diverse idioms of the various Ian
guages in which the same idea is expressed.
We will remark, however, that the season
not only varies in different countries, but in
this country is much more marked inland
than on the seacost. In the region Of the
great lakes the period is very decided, the
waters during its two or three weeks con
tnuance remaining placid-in striking con.
trast to their disturbed condition in the ear.
lier autumn the weather soft and pleasant,
and the atmosphere red and filed with the
peculiar hazness painful to the vision to
behold. 1t is fine season for lake yiga
ton, and is looked for early in Noyember-
rather earlier than farther east.
The subject was suggested by views which
a few days ago we had Of the hills upon
which the insane asylum is located, as seen
from the navy yard and the splendor Of the
foliage visible around those heights were
not untinged by the suggestions of the des,
olations which had swept down the forests
in every other direction whittier the vision
penetrated .-National MteUigencer.