Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-17
WEATHER PREDICTIONS.
Prof. Vennor's Method lof PrognOsticating Ne
teorOlogical Phenomena.

Prof Vennors Method Lof Prognosticating Me-
teorOlOgical Phenomena.
The predicting of the weather be-
yond the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. limit of
the American and Canadian meteor
illogical offices is ridiculed by the ma
jority of people, simply because they
know little or nothing at all Of the
subject; and also because in times
past 1.-THE weather - has been used by
Quack medicine vendors to a very
large extent, as d bait to catch the
curious, and draw from the pocket
of the untaught unsuspecting multi
tudeS
There seems always to have existed
an idea that gypsies and Indians
knew more OF the weather than most
other people. Probably this arose
from the fact of it's being well known
that such individuals led a nomadic
and out door life, and that the latter
class especially were close observers
of the habits of wild animals, and
from these learned something, out of
the common. of Natures secrets.
In this idea there was evinced a
sound common sense reasoning
namely: that such people as have
lived constantly exposed to the
weather should know more about it's
freaks, and fancies, and indications
than those whose vocations neces-
STATED o more artificial and indoor
existence. But people who trusted
to this likely source for their weather
information were ever and anon griev-
Ously disappointed. 1t was too uncer-
tain, and never TO be really relied
upon, and consequently soon dropped
to the background. ~
Yet, in this idea lies the germ Of
the whole matter-namely a close
companionship with Nature, and q
close. observance of her laws. If
ever we are to succeed in forecasting
approaching weather, this will form
the primary stepping-stOne and base
upon which ali subsequent conStruc-
ton must rest.
But outdoor experience alone is not
sufficient in his department of inquiry.
The wild animals have this to the
fullest extent, yet.
THEY CANNOT FORESEE APPROACH
ING WEATHER,
except to very limited eXtent-and
certainly not to the extent of whole
seasons in advance. 1t is requisite
that to experience should be added
sound common sense, reasoning, and
deduction. This the wild animals do
not and cannot attempt; hence their
inferiority as weather prophets.
Time and again we have observed the
premature arrival of the swallow in
April, as well as the unusually early
flight of other birds to the northward,
and have very shortly afterward had
to record their entire disappearance
again, recurrence of cold and stormy
weather. Most assuredly these poor
birds had been entirely out in their
reckoning, and d deceptive spell of
balmy sunshine had lured them on to
their destruction. On the other hand,
the careful human weather. observer
has learned from past experience this
very deceptive character of early
spring weather, and particularly of
such balmy and advanced spells as
just referred to; SO that while the
multitude are shouting "Summer has
COME he quietly remarks "Look
out for squalls, and nine times out
of ten he is correct.
The beaver, again, has always been
held forth as exceedingly weather
wise, and from it's behavior and gen.
eral habits the trappers and hunts
men have been and still are won't to
predict a severe or open winter. But
here again the animals have been in
most instances found at fault.
Bruin, too our common bear J,
frequently seals himself up too early;
or, on the other. hand, strolls forth
prematurely from his hollow tree or
den.
No! wild animals are not to be
depended upon as trustworthy
weather prophets. How is it, then,
as regards /" the wild man of the
woods"
THE INDIAN, AND THE GYPSY?
We reply, something a shade more
reliable. We have in such mediums
Il certain amount OF intelligent reason
ing combined with out-of-door expert
ence, and so we at once note decided
step in the right direction. By such
individuals some astonishingly &C
curate forecasts of the weather have
been made time and again, and not
few names have become to some ex-
tent famous through the exaggerated
relation of their weather wisdom.
But, alas as with the fortunes re-
tailed by the gypsies, all does not al
ways run smooth, A "hitch " occurs,
and then it is discovered that our faith
has been misplaced, and that the
weather problem still awaits a
solution.
We see clearly that entire depend
ence is not to be placed even on this
source for or knowledge of approach
ing weather. What, then, is there to
depend upon eanswer-not alone
intelligent, but educated reasoning
and deduction, based upon the expert
ence gathered during heightened
period some years of active outdoor
life and close observation. and added !