The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1886-12-29
ANCIENT WlGGINSES.
How They Foretold Hurricanes and BAD
Weather-The Rising of the Sun and
Moon as Indicators.

reau telegraphed all over the country its
predictions as to whether tomorrow
would be stormy. showery, cloudy, or
fine. or Wiggins began to announce
never to ocome-earthquakes which were
to shake continent, or cyclones and
hurricanes which were to blow away
cities. households were governed by
set OF rules in the battles of the ele-
ments. These rules are to be found in
hand-books published as late as half a
century ago. and some of them are very
curious. They number nearly two
hundred, some relating to the move
ments of clouds and winds, others to
the appearance of the sun and moon,
and others 10 the actions of various ami
mails. including insects and birds, and
by them the ancient Wiggins foretold
when storm was at hand. Some house
wives still adhere to the ancient sayings
as infallible, and they look to the sun
in the morning and to the moon at
night for indications of the weather on
the morrow. The motion, rapid or
slow, of the clouds was regarded as one
of the methods for foretelling the ap-
proach of rain or snow. When there
was a mist before the rise of the full
moon, if clouds were seen in the west
before the sun rose, or there was mist
in the fields before sunrise, wet weather
was expected. When the mists vanish
ed rapidly and the moon seemed to rise
faster than usual fine weather was sure
to gladden. the hearts of merry-makers
on the succeeding day. If clouds sud-
denly appeared in the south and there
was north wind in April the farmers
predicted a storm. When the winds
changed and the clouds flew along in
''tail," then the rules prescribed rain.
Some other of the curious rules, many
of which are still referred to in the con-
versation Of everyday life, were as fol-
lows:
If spiders, in spinning their webs,
make the terminating filaments long,
we may. in proportion to their length,
conclude that the weather will be
serene and continue so for ten or twelve
days.
If there are no falling stars to be seen
on bright summers evening you may
look for fine weather.
Spiders generally alter their web
once in twenty-four hours; if they do
this between 6 and Z in the evening
there will be fine night; if they alter
their web in the morning. expect q fine
day; if they work during rain. expect
fine weather; and the more active and
busy the spider is the finer will be the
weather.
If many gnats are seen in spring. ex-
pect a fine autumn; if gnats fly in COM
pact bodies in the beams of the setting
sun there will be fine weather.
If spiders webs fly in the autumn with
south wind, expect an east wind with
fine weather.
If bats flutter and beetles fly about
there will be fine morrow.
If owls scream during foul weather it
will change to fair.
If storks and cranes fly high and
steadily there will be fine weather.
II the garden spiders break and de-
stroy their webs and creep away, expect
rainy or snowery weather.
If there be many falling stars on a
clear evening in the summer there will
pe thunder.
If the stars above forty-fve degrees.
especially the north star, flicker strongly
and appear closer than usual, there will
be rain.
A rainbow in the morning is the
shepherds warning
II old and rheumatic people complain
of their corns and joints and limbs Oncs
broken at the place of their union there
will be foul or wet weather.
II the smoke from chimneys Blow
down. or if SCOT takes fire more readily
than usual. or falls down the chimney
into the CRATE, expect rain.
If bitches and drains smell strongel
than usual, expect rain; and wher
tobacco smoke seems denser and NOR,
powerful, expect bad weather.
If the marigold continues shut after
o'clock in the evening. expect rain.
If the convolvulus and chickwee'
close, there will be rain.
If sheep. rams and goats spring a6ou
in the meadows and fight more tha
, usual, expect rain.
II asses shake their ears. bray an
rub against walls and trees, expe'
rain.
If cattle leave of feeding and cha!
each other in their pastures. 1t WI
rain.
If cats lick their bodies and was
their faces It will rain.
II foxes and dogs howl and bark mo
). than usual; if dogs grow sleepy and du
= rain. =,
Hswine be restless and grunt loudl
! if they squeak and jerk up their head
q there will be much wind. From tt
|. rule sprang the proverb: Pigs can 8
!, !, much wind"
q Hmoles cast up hills. rain.
g If horses stretch out their necks a
;, sniff the air and assemble in the corn
of a field with their heads to leewal
:, rain.
IL If rats and mice be restless it
rain.
II If peacocks and guinea fowls scres
and turkeys gobble, and If quaiis ma
more noise than usual, there VIII
Do rain.
,g If sea birds 6y toward land and La
ii birds toward the sea there will be ra
"a