The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-23
THAI mar SUMNER.
w.P. p. Defend, His Own Theories and
Replies to X III.

w,P. r. Defends His Own Theorfes anu
Replies to II II.
Editor Timesa Your Cumberland CORE
spondent "R. H." seems 70 think he has
satisfactorily solved the mystery OF the
haziness of the past summer referred TO
by myself in your paper Of Sunday, De
cember I'd. lie, at the same time, eX-
presses complacent surprise, that the
writer should have come 80 near the
true solution, and yet have missed IL.
In attempting 10 account for the Indian
summer. only. he has overlooked the most
important enquiry made in my drlcle'
In former times the short, bedutllui
season Just mentioned was puncluaI at
tendant upon the "Fall Of the Leaf, the
nth division Of the Indian year. oc-
curing IN the month of our November,
1t then appeared at no other tHe' anu
being associated with the fadhS anu
death Of the foliage. was on TINS dc
count. supposed by some to be the re-
suit of an universal disin;csrauoh OF
organized vegetable matter. Others TAX
ing "A palmer and more practical view, At
tributcd the phenomenon to the presence
Of smoke in the atmosphere, luuldh
smoke and all other smokes, made by
poople clearing up lands over the country
for agricultural purposes.
We need not delay here 10 say when oil
either Of these theories Was the correct
one. il is not necessarily pertinent TO OUT
inquiry
On the principle that the greater in
cludcs the less. if we can account for the
universal mistiueSs. Of the last ana
other summers these many YEATS back
the hazncss incident 70 the Indian sum
MGR" Will thereby be included IN the
general explanation.
What then have we seen i'm the time
referred TO? Instead OF period oi Nay
weather lasting but few weeks or res
and at a stated time of the year IL l5
now a rare occurrence go see perfectly
transparent atmosphere al any term oil
the year. From early spring to the neat
Of summer the landscape i3 obscuIcd.
We we'll remember when This was not the
case. Under the glowing light OF inc
sun the eye was ever gralucd WIN
bright and living pictures 'Aaid'l sue
of the American climate. Tho exception 10
this was the aforesaid Indian summer
and 10 was the very contrast litl Iild"-
the latter season so singular and 3l-
tractive. The mistincss Which seems I'D
have succeeded TO obr once prI.u'l't al
mosphero and which now begins IN On"
early spring. becomes more ana more pre-
Valent ana dyuSoT by degrees. duIlhE me
heated months. The most casual op1cIE yer
could not fail TO notice this tact all during
the past summer Ia the meantime ln tead
of the leaves dccaying or shrinking anu
giving off something Of their substance
unless IL might be- moisture the foliage
was green and fresh. and expressive OF
universal health and Vignr " were
therefore. impossible that this entump'V-
ing hazness could have been 'lhe me
Invaluable dust from vegetation, cSycc-
ID
atmosphere" II. according TO your cor
respondent This had been so, universal
epidemic OF c0TyZd. ConJuncuNltls, ana
other stcruu.itory troubles must have
sorely afflicted mankind during the en-
tire season. We we'll understand, now
ever how certain individuals sulieI from
a degree OF constituencies tosuch effects.
Particularly is this he case in localities
where certain vegetable growths abound
tho minute blooms and emenatlons from
which Interfere mechanically or other
wise with persons within their reach.
some. Tor instance, respond most painful
J, 70 IN. roxious influence of the poison
oak. although they do not even touch the
plant, some are made I'll by tho ihNiSi'ie
Oior Of the ailanthus, and Others turn
with DISGUST from flowers precious in the
sight Of most people.
Tho argument Therefore, mat ihl5 uni
yoreM haziucss is due To- cuenauons from
living or dead forest leaves cannot DE
H.. tntqincI because your correspondent
has himself suffered. and has seen others
suffering from "a small epidemic OF 'n-
famed eyes" produced by some specific
and isolated cause. There is no uocrs- |
..4i.y relation between cause and effect I'D
such e. proposition.
gut il is scarcely worth while so Tar
AS We are concerned. TO speculate fun
Their upon this interesting subject The
theme Is broad as the continent ana lu-
exhaustibly suggestive III may uc ven
i'm passing 90 draw attention 10 the fact !
that as The country n these past hum
drcd years has been deprived Of It's forests, !
and subjected 10 increasing cultivation, |
This hazincss has seemed 10 increase ac- !
cordioolv ia density. extent and dura-
ton. This. il would appear 10 the
writer. an argument IN favor OF the eVap- |
Grafton theory. AZ all events rejecting
entirely the Tyndal proposition. and !
holding I'm reserve, for the present, me |
cosmic dust theory, We see no reason 20 I
abandon the idea originally expressed by |
ourselves that the universal midst
which of late years has been covering orr |
continent is due entirely To slow bu' sure
from river and land ana |
lake: but chiefly from the neighbOring
oceans: and that lis chief time for ac- |
on this side the continent is /
when the winds come gently from the /
east and southeast. bearing oyer the (
land. feryid under The summer heat, /
It's dttenuated vagOrs, so dttenuated, as /
to be only visible under the Illuminating /
rays OF the blazing sun.
W. =. 2.