Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-06

make neither Objectionable, apprises us
that we are entering upon the delightful |
period commonly known as Indian Sum-
mer, when forest trees put on their richest
splendors, the leaves rustic musically il
the paths Of men, the harvest fields which
have given up their golden riches are 81
lent, and all nature proclaims the "year
growing gray" A peculiar hazinesa, thin
aud flmy, pervades the air. There is a
peculiar redness of the sky, and the sun at
its going down is uncommonly "tinged
with ruby CLEAN" while the moon, both
at it's rising and going down, is touched
with the same golden flush.
In this country, the name of Indian
summer is given TO the brief period, often
in The latter half of November. or warm
sunny weather, usually preceded by some
days of frosty atmosphere. The origin of
the name is a controverted question. The
frat United States history that met our
childhood, said that the Indians, in their
improvidence, were in the habit Of pro-
crastinating the work Of gathering their
scanty food for winter till the cold snap o
early November brought them to their
thoughts, and that in the warm weeks sue
ceeding. they did their hunting and gath
ering, and hence, "Indian Summer" The
New England tradition is, that the Indi-
ans believed this season 10 be caused by
the southwest wind, which prevails at this
period, and which their good divinity
Contentowit, who resided in that quarter
sent them as a special blessing. 1t hal
been sometimes said that the term Indian
was giving to this period because, game
being plenty at the time, and the hazy con
dillon of the atmosphere fsVoring thei
near approach to animals unsupported
made it special Indian hunting season
and it is believed that all who have hat
experience among the Northern Indian
concur in the general correctness of thes
statements. They do but little huntiD
till September and October; and whe
November comes they gather up their corr
rice, and meat, and start on their winte
hunt into the forests. Ask these Indian
at any time of the year when they are goin
to their hunting grounds, and they wi
saw, "When the Great Spirit sends us GU
fall summer" which they universally b'
lieye sent after the cold fall rains for lhci
particular benefit.
Indian summer is observed in nearly
the countries of Europe and Asia, az we
az of America, and known variously &
"St Martins summer" "the latter sun
mer," second summer" latter heat,
summer close" and under names all 81!
nifcant Of the nature of the season, an
differing only by reason Of the divers
, idioms Of the various languages in whic
the same idea is expressed. We will II
mark, however, that the season not onl
varies in different countries, but in III
country is much more marked inland tina
on the seacoast
The smoky appearance Of the atmO
! phere is attributed by some 10 4 sui
vaporous condition of the lower stratum
the air which is alleged to exist at tn
period, while others COntroyert the fact
the moist state Of the air, as well IS the IL
ference deduced, and refer the haziness
actual smoke, produced by the fires whic
e 80 largely prevail at this season ofthe yea
e especially where forests abound. 1t
: affirmed that the redues5 Of the sky ono
so marked in the New England summit
has largely disappeared az the country hi
o become settled and the forest fires HAY
e ceased to extensively prevail, in support
Y this view.
4 The alleged Increase Of temperature d.
y ring Indian summer is also denied, al
the meteorological observations are pr
duced 10 show that the temperature Of n
vember is actually lower than that OF o
% tober. On the theory, however, that Il
lnuldu flIaluEA - " II E4NA AANhA NAAI w.
that usher it in, the hypothesis Of RELEASE
" heat in the Attic regions IS used to form
s. very interesting, ii not entirely satisfactol
= explanation in this Connection.
There is a continuous tide OF heated q
lie arizing from the torrid zone, and fowl
Y, North and South. During the season
T. congelation in the Arctic zone there is lik
Y. wise tide ofheated air rising iromthe Nor
re Polar Sea, and flowing towards the tori
zone. These two currents meet about M
way in the temperate zone, near the for
\ fifth parallel of North latitude, and in
:, collision the warm, condensed current
some measure descends. This affords
solution in some measure Of the warm
as well as Of the calmness, the softne5s, a
the drvncss Of the air of Indian summ