Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-30
Something About ''Indfan Summer
HOW IT GETS ITS NAME, AND THE CAUSE OF
ITS EXISTENCE.

something About slndf0n SUMNER"
HOW IT GETS IT'S NAME, AND THE CAUSE OF
ITS EXISTENCE.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Indian summer is q name given to our late
fall weather., when it is neither very warm nor
very cold. Summer has gone but winter has
not yet come. The nights may be quite cool
and the mornings may be somewhat frosty,
but during the day the temperature is most
delightful. The sun shines brightly, the wind
is from the "sweet southwest" and coIse-
qaently is not cold nor severe, but balmy and
A slight mist pervades the atmosphere which
tones down the sharp lines OF autumnal naked
ness-mellows the landscape and gives to the
effect. When our forefathers first came to
America the appearance, in early fall, of cold
winter had come; but the Indian told them
"no,'' and that before winter set in there would
be some weeks of fine pleasant weather; as it
name that We have given to the delightful fail
weather that precedes IS, stern winters
pronounced than others, but not until
we had the weather map were we able to
scientifically account for il. 1t is quite an
easy matter now for one familiar with the
map to explain the phenomenon, to show
the required conditions and juxtaposition of
"High" and "Low" (high and low barometer
and, SO far as words are concerned, the explana-
ton may be quite satisfactory to those not
revealed by the Inap but in order to fully APP
preciate this and all the other atmospheric phe-
nomenon 1t is necessary to have some knowl-
edge of this modern acquisition, known as the
weather-map BY this map we learn all about
the movements of the atmosphere that instead
Of 1t having any res s to the water on
regular from the west towards the east, and in
o general way it obeys the same law as the
like the planetary movement it is ever towards
the east. During the summer months, reia-
ey 10 US II ans oe his line OF low
while the area OF "Righ," or high barometer
moves more generally through the southern
as by this south winds are produced, the north
country is made Warm, while the southern
ST @ c9 by IN he
early November O change is brought about by
"LOw" travelling on southern line, or from the
England. This produces the so-called cold
northeast storm, and perhaps snow; and IL q
central extensive and positive , High" follows.
remarks about an early winter. These condi-
tions have completely cooled the atmosphere.
.Highso resume their former relation-south
"Highs" and north LOWS" but neither are
very POSITIVE As y were the "a atmosphere is
ON the outer line OF "High" and Low" the
south winds prevail. The rude Indian spoke OF
little dreamed that the cause was In the norths
white brethren, until they had the weather
Tbe cause OF the beautiful fall weather we
term sIndian summer is q north "Lown and
2 south ..High,.. with neither very. positive.
f09xy r clear, vet q little haxy through the day:
at night It is quite clear nom the presence OF
"High,n while as the night wears on what little
moisture there Il In the atinoephere settles low
and produces, by early morning, considerable
fog. Bnt on the return Of the sun this fog Is
fully tempered day we call .IndiAn summer"
Washington; d. G., November %, 1885.
- ~ :. : So LIP. n.