The Dickinson press., 1888-08-25
WEATHER SIGNS.
INDICATIONS OF CHANGE FURNISHED
BY NATURES SIGNAL SERVICE.

Animals Who Foresec Weather Changes.
Signs of the Moon-Wind and sun.
The Field spider Crows-What the
Clouds IforctcIl.
Our weather bureau, with its flags and
lieroglyphlcs, is regarded as something new
"A progression i'll Il progressive age-and yet
it is merely an infringement on a system OF
signals adopted by nature, as old as the oldest
hills. Nature knows our needs and she
knows we must be warned of weather
changes, hence her warnings.
What are these g;gnalsf Where are they
diSplayeds Everywhere, animals, binds and
insects can read them. Scamen and country
folk understand them. Some time ago a
statement concerning some ants was pub
lishcd in the papers. 1t seems myriads Of
these insects inhabited a section of low bot
tom land. One day-a particularly bright
day-tbey were noticed leaving their dwell
ings for the high grounds. In immense
masses the exodus continued until apparently
the last ant had moved. Then came few
clouds, then n great pail Of ashen vapor, and
atc,rific rainstorm completely inundated the
bottom where the ants had their homes. a
gentleman related to me Il very similar incl
dent. He was in Arkansas, and in his neigh.
borlood was u stretch of rather depressed
country that, by reason of its rank vegeta-
ton, was Il favorite hunting ground. 1t
aboundcd with game. Suddenly the creatures
vanished. The deer, the cougar and the cat
amount could only be found II 1.-THE highlands.
n few days after this vagary was noted came
IL violent storm. A river burst its banks and
for the first time in many years the region
mentioned was completely flooded. Now,
Low did these creatures foresee these weather
changes! By instinct Yes, instinct enabled
them to read the warnings given by natures
signal service. What are these signalsI
Where can they be scenl
SIGNS OF THE NOON.
Everywhere; the moon is sometimes used
as u storm flag, Goout some night and gaze
t the clear heavens in which every star
slmrklcs like Il diamond. Around the moon
is IL curious misty halo. One might almost
compare her to the paid face of a fair
saint encircled with an aureole of glory. 1t
is an untailing admonition that bad weather
is near at hand. For u long time man has
been prone to credit the moon with weather
wisdom, in some cases without any good
ground, ] fear.
A> '''e Wv "S"y 'OlhSG cSu'a
piercing northeastern is sending the rain plash.
iis against YOU windows. mark when it
changes. If it veers from east to northwest
and clears tho cloud away, natures storm
signal is still hoisted. Ii, however, it goes to
the northwest via the south, you can fold up
your umbrella. In the first case the clear
weather will be temporary. In the second the
stormy clements are completely exhausted.
Tl,n IN, 4 pI.nc n bnrl in ,v.ntLnr ,,,..i;D
ton. Ii lie lifts his face above the eastern
horizon, takes a peep ut the world and then
clpcps behind u veil of clouds-like a yo,lu ,
life made sombre by great grief before it
could reach meridian-then foul weather is
at hand. Your trusty old chimney that has
been staring in open mouthed wonder at the
heavens this hundred years is one OF natures
signal posts. If the smoke evinccs u repug-
nance to going toward the clouds. but de-
sends to earth, it would be well to hunt up
Jour goloshcs.
TIE FIELD SPIDER.
The field spider is Il skilful prognosticator.
When you see his gosslmer web scattered
over the grass, looking in the morning sun.
beams like some weft work OF fairies done
with silver threads, you can rest assured the
insect iulrsaw no storm in the near future to
utlllOllsn Ills FABRIC. "A cOnVOcatlOn OF
crows. nolsily debating some important sub
.icct i'll a field, is, i'll autumn or winter. u sure
sign OF vino or SNOW, while the swallows,
dartins close to the ground instead of %circlina
i'll mid-air. would shout "lt's going to am
in your ear if they did not think you had
sense enough to understand them without.
Then tue clouds. Anyone can prophesy
rain when lie sees u cloud, you say Some
how, however, clouds mean just the reverse
Ii they rise in masses and then break t.
pieces, clear weather is coming. Ii they fly
ovcl the zenith in little inky patches, rair
will follow. If they shape themselves into
wisps, strraks or curls, a change for tn,
worse is at hand. Very black clouds inli
cate winds. Have you noticed the aplnoacl
of IL thunder stornf First. an array of black
f%orbiddi,S looking clouds. behind them III
r%xlnnsc of wild looking ,lrab. The first iii
vision is tho cavalry. rushing, bowling ant
swarlning over the land, then comes the in
fantry, steady. pitilcss and slow, pourin:
torrents of rain on the earth.
These arc a few OF the most prominent o
n%utu-c's warnings. There are IL host o
others, and Il little observation will rnat,l
you to read them plainly. Z. Plumlnct II
Philadelphia Times.