, 1881-02-26
WEATHER PROPHETS

| WEATHER PROPHETS
The Mystery Of Meteorological
| Reports.
sa-Dssr Expc.se.ce net I. s.0sse:s eds'
| easer.-The Instinct sf An1oals. ne.
The prediction of the weather beyond the
| twenty -four hour limit Of the American and
CaIiadisu meteorological Offices, Is ridicuied
by the majority Of the American propie,
simply because they know little or nothing
about the subject: and also becarsc in times
past ''the weather has been used BY quack
medicine vendors, to very large extent as
bait to catch the curious, and draw from
the pockets Of the untanght and unsuspect-
ing multitndes. There seems always TO have
existed An idea that gipeies and Indian. knew
more Of the weather than most of her people.
Probably this arsse from the fact OF its beng
well known that such individuals lead
NONADIc
And us-door life, and that the latter class
especially we're close observers Of the habits
Of wild animals, and from these learned
something out of common, of nature secrets.
In this idea there was evinced sunpd, COM
nonsense reasoning, namely that such poo
pie As have lived constantly exposed to the
weather, should know more about its freaks
and ianeies and Indications than those whose
avocations necessitated more artificial and
indoor existence. But people trusted even
to this likely source for their weather infor-
nation, were ever and anon grievously DIS
appointed. 1t was too uncertain, aud never
to be really relied upon ; and consequently
econ dropped into the back ground. Yet IL
this itsa hes the germ of the whole matter,
namely close
CoNPANIoyShir WITH NATURE,
And close observance Of her laws. II ever
we are to succeed in forecastipg approaching
weather, this will form the primary stepping
stone and base upon which all subsequent
construction must rest. But outdoor expe-
rience alone is not sufficient In Il Is depart
ment of inquiry. The wild ANIMALS have
this to the fullest extent, yet they cannot
foresee approaching weather, except to
very limited eatent-and certainly not to the
extent Of whole seasons in advance. 1t Is
requisite that to experience should be added
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 pre- |
mature arrival Of the swallow in April, a.
well as the unusually early flight OF other |
birds to the northward, and have very shortly |
afterward had to record their entire disap-
pearance again, and the recurrence OF ,oid
and stormy weather. Most assuredly these
poor birds had been entirely ont in their |
and deceptive spell Of balny |
sunshine had lured them on to their des.ruc-
tion. On the other hand, the careful human |
weather observer has learned from past exPe-
ricnce this very deceptive character OF
early spring weather, and partieuiaIiy .,
such balmy and advanced spells Just referred
70 . 50 that while the multitudes are shout
ing ..summer has come, he quietly remarks
"iook out for squalls. and nine times ont oil
ten he is correct. The beaver, again, has
weather wise, and from its behavior and
general habits tne sa~fr----, -
have been and are wont TO predict . severe
or omen winter. But here, again, animals
have been in most instances found at faolt /
Bruin, too, (our common bearl, frequently
SEALS HIMSELF UP TOO EARLY,
Or on the other hand, strolls forth prema-
turely 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 "~ild man OF the woods
the Indian and the gypsy: We reply, some
thing shade more reliable. We have in
such mediums a certain amount Of Intelligent
reasoning combined with out-of-door expert |
ence and so we at once note decided step
in the right direction. BY such individuals |
some astonishingly accurate forecasts Of the
weather have been made time and again, and
mot few names have become to some extent
famous through the exaggerated relstion OF
their weather wisdom. But alas. as with
the fortunes retailed BY the gypsies. all does
not always run smooth
A"HITcH occrRs,
And then it is discovered that our faith has
been misplaced, and that the weather prob
lem still awaits solution. We see clearly |
that dependence is not to be placed even On
this source for our knowledge of approaching
weather. What, then is there to depend
upon, We answer-not alone intelligent,
but educated reasoning and deduction, based
upon the experience gathered during alength-
.ned period lsome yearsl Of active outdoor
l;fe and close observation, and add to this
an extensive knowledge OF the weather
changes generally from newspapers or teie-
granrs) throughout the North American con-
tinent and portions Of Europe, both OF today
and in the past. Such requirements, I'M
,o.sible of attainment until. As it were. yes
terdsy. may be reached to-day. when al
Classes Of the people daily b,ve placed IN
their hands, or within their easy reach. tho
cable and wire dispatches Of the world, In
which .-the weather" has now generally
H..