Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-07-31
A UNIVERSAL SUBJECT.
DISCUSSED By PEOPLE OF ALL
AGES AND CLIMES.
Sailors Are Recognized as the Rest Of
Weather Propbets-some Of the
Accepted Indications OF a
Brewing storm.
'Will il rain to-night?n
What will the weather be to-

Gertlnent questions are very Ollen
heard. The weather is the subject on
which men talk to each other most
and on which women pass condolences
more often than they do regarding
new bonnets and spring dresses. 1t is
the one subject in the world on which
people are most willing to talk, be-
cause, probably, they know least about
il. Nine persons out of every ten that
you meet are ready TO tell you what
tho weather will be tomorrow, and in
ninety-nine times out of 100 the pre-
diction will be wrong, says the Kansas
City Journal. Men take their UNI
brellas and rubber coats to the Office
in the morning, expecting that it will
be stormy. and the sun beats down
and smites them on the head TO the
verge of humiliation. The next day
men leave their umbrellas at home
and the flood gates OF the sky are
opened and the earth deluged. One
day women go out shopping with
! thin slippers and dainty white skirts
and before they can inquire the
price of the latest freak in dainty lin
! gerie the walks become muddy and
their thin paper soles are soaked and
their pretty ruffles bedraggled; the
next day they go out In trim wet
weather street gear and the dust flies
into their flannel dresses and the heat
scorches and darkens their fresh com
plexions. The farmer predicts that it
will rain on the morrow and his sons
prepare TO go fishing; when the NOR
row comes the day is so bright that no
well educated fish would touch a
worm, SO the boys are sent into the
cornfeld with cultvator. Anon the
farmer predicts fair weather and his
neighbor pitches in and lays low
whole field of fine clover; thereupon
the clouds rise, the rain falls, and the
entire crop of hay is SO blackened be-
fore it can be cured for the NOW that
it is worth little except as top dress
ing fog the potato field.
Here are some OF the approved
barometric indications: In the spring
or autumn a sudden fall of the barom-
eter indicates wind; in the summer if
the weather is hot, thunder storm is
presaged; in winter sudden fall after
frost means u change in the wind and
thaw. A sudden rise after frost in
winter indicates snow Sudden
changes OF the barometer are never to
be interpreted as indicating either wet
or dry weather; il is the slow, steady
rise or fall that shows this. A rise of
mercury late in the autumn after a
long continuance of wet and windy
weather generally shows the approach
of northerly winds and frost.
The clouds are approved indicators
of approaching storms. After fair,
clear weather light streaks of cloud
are the first signs of change. If the
clouds accumulate and descend into
the lower atmosphere rain ensues.
When the sun appears to set in IA fog.
with we'll defined dark and crimson
streaks alternating, wind and rain are
expected. When, in summer during
fine hot days, masses OF cloud, clear.
rounded and with brilliantly lighted
edges, are seen floating in the air no
change may be expected; il towards
evening these clouds, however gather
on the horizon and rise again sharply
outlined, while a decided stiffness per-
vades the air, a thunder storm is COM
ing. A greenish tinge in the gray OF
evening promises wet and in general
any increase of clouds towards night
shows an abundance OF moisture in the
air that must be retured TO the earth
in rain. A dappled or notified sky
never fails 10 insure fair weather.
Halos around the moon presage rain,
even il there are no intervening clouds
to account for the formation OF the
circle.
Before rain flies are more active
and bite or sting freely; ants and bees
are active about their nests, and spid-
ers quit their recesses and crawl
about When gnats fly in the rays of
the setting sun they promise fine
weather on the morrow, but If they
fly under the shade OF trees it will
rain. Snails and slugs come out in
greater numbers both before and after
rain, and frogs make more noise in
the ponds at the same time. Insects
come out in greater numbers before
rain and fly near the earth, and for
that reason the flight of swallows is
low at such times. The peculiar
mournful sound of the night hawk in
pursuit Of its insect prey is supposed
TO promise rain. Fish bite more free
~, and are seen TO rise TO the surface
and leap after flies at such times.
Pigs are uneasy and make much noise
before storm. and milch COWS show
an unusual soicitudc for the safety of
their young when rain is approaching.
Sheep show uncommon avidity in feed
ing on grass on the approach of rain
and as soon as satisfied retire to the
nearest shelter. Cattle run before an
approaching storm. if in the open,
though cattle in n confined field will
start for the nearest shelter, either
trees or sheds. Peacocks cry out in
the night with their shrill clamorous
shout when rain is coming, and guinea
fowls are more than ordinarily noisy.
Birds generally may be seen trimming