The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-17
IxDIAN SUMMER.

From the Detroit Free Press.
There is a great difference of opin.
ion among those who are wise in
weather lore as to the exact time when
Indian summer makes its appearance;
some weather prophets declaring that
/ it includes every warm day between
/ Michaelmas day, the 10Th of September,
and Christmas. while others locate il
( in the month of October. Indeed, the
/ opinions OF scientists do not agree
/ any better than those of ordinary in
dividuals, but seem to be as hay on
/ the subject as the season itself.
After looking up much scientific data
on the subject. and making con-
senses of popular opinion, the fact
seems esta blished that this phenome-
non Of seasons really belongs to the
month of November, although the sig
mai service notes say that if Indian sum-
mer does not come in October or Novem-
Der. ii will come IN winter, as if it were
/ a sort of movable season. Neither do
scientists agree as to the cause of that
hay atmosphere which accompanies
the season, condition peculiar to
North America. Il was attributed by
early settlers in this country to the
smoke from prairie fires kindled by the
lndians-hence the name. Indian
summer" But it is now said by scien-
titic investigators, that the appearance
of smoke is an optical illusion produc-
ed by peculiar condition of the air,
which might be compared 10 a dry for.
Sentimentalists declare that il is this
dreamy haze which gives its great
charm TO this short. delightful season,
when the whole world of nature aD-
pears like a beautiful dream. II i the
fifth season, the mellow ripeness OF au-
tumn, when creation stands still in a
lazy, langUorous mood. and the picture
Is vanishing and indistinct like one of
Corot's landscapes. 1t is the golden SUM-
set of the year. brief and evanesceut.
The subject of Indian summer was
investigated as long ago a. 1885. when
DIR. Lyman Foot, of the United States
army, in his report says that the
Indians gave the season its name by
calling it their fall summer" which
occurred IN November. The doctor
was stationed at IT. Winnie bago. Mis-
souri, Territory, at the time. and wrote
from actual observation. He saws:
We arrived at this port the I'd day
day of last November. We had three
weeks of Indian summer. with ali the
peculia- redness OF the sky in great
perfection" He adds that he had long
observed the season with curious atten-
ton and calls for an expression OF
opinion on the subject from other OBJ /
servers
Prof. Willet advanced the theory in I
a report made to the government in /
1867 that the dry fog is real smoke. not 1
produced by prairie fires, but the pro- /
duct of chimnevs. The late Prof /
Henry. Of the Smithsonian Institution. /
reported that portion of the haze, fl
tered, was found to contain the lava of /
volcanoes and fragments OF burned .
vegetables. Neither of these Gistin-
guished scientists added anything to
the literature of our Indian summer, 50
when doctors disagree it Is not expect
e. that ordinary observers will be able
to formulate any tenable theory OF its
course. The next best thing i 10 en-
JOY its opportunities. leaving it, origin
to the unknown source whence it IS
derived