Rock Island Argus., 1894-12-21
INDIAN SUMNER,
WHEN IT COMES AND WHAT IS RE-
SPONSlBLE FOR IT.

Sci.4ti<ts and Other Ipyestisnxor. D;Nsr
In 1heir Views Upon the suhject-How
tho season Was Given Its Nsme-Is the
Haze Caused by Smoke?
There is great difference of opinion
nmong those who are wise in weather
lore as to the exact time when Indian
summer makes its appearance, some
weather prophets declaring that it in
ciudes every warm day between Mi
chaelmas day, the Goth of September,
and Christmas, while others locate it
III the month Of October. Indeed, the
opinions of scientists do not agree any
better than those of ordinary individu-
ais, but seem to be as hazy as the season
itself.
After looking up much scientific data
ON the subject, and making consensus
OF popular opinion, the fact seems
established that this phenomenon of
seasons really belongs to the month of
November, although the signal service
notes say that if Indian summer does
not come in October or November it
will come in winter, as if it were sort
| OF movable season. Neither do scientists
agree as to the cause Of that hazy at
mosphere which accompanies the season,
condition peculiar to North America.
1t was attributed by early settlers in
this country to the smoke from prairie
fires kindled by the Indians-hence the
name, Indian summer" But it is
now said by scientific investigators that
the appearance of smoke is an optical
illusion produced by peculiar condi-
tion of the air, which might be compar-
ed to q dry fog. Sentimentalists declare
that it is this dreamy haze which gives
its great charm to this short, delightful
season, when the whole world of ma
ture appears like beautiful dream 1t
is the fifth season, the mellow ripeness
of autumn, when creation stands still
in a lazy, languorous mood, and the pic
ture is vanishing and indistinct like
one of Corot's landscapes. 1t is the gold
en- sunset of the year, brief and evanes-
cent.
Like q mirage, the Indian summer
does not wait to be investigated. 1t is
here--it is gone-before the would be
investigator was aware of its presence.
1t is such a restful, happy period that
people are content to enjoy it without
asking questions, yet there is much in
its phenomena that is worth the most
careful scientific Investigation. 1t has
been suggested that the dreamy haze
which accompanies the season is com.
posed of animal life of such a minute
form as to be incapable of microscopic
examination, but of such innumerable
quantities that they obscure the atmos
5 phere and redden the sun. 1t is also
: charged to vegetable matter, but thest
3 are mere theories which have not ye'
been proved.
D Another token by which this genia
I Indian summer makes itself known il
, the absolute silence Of nature herself
o as if she were taking vacation from
Q winds that blow and clouds that shade
4 There is such q stiffness in the air from
{ sunrise to sunset that sound itself seem
to have gone asleep. But there is NJ
{ loneliness in the silence. 1t is only as i
= everything were resting, bathed in tn
Q happy sunshine. The flowers are gone
the singing birds have flown to thei
J. southern climes; the leaves have drop
o ped from the trees when the Indial
q summer comes trailing her white veil t
cover the desolation and filling all heart
with the tranquility of her graciou
presence. There is tonic in the air sh
brings which chemists cannot bottle no
) charge commercial rates for-whiffs Q
3 summers that have been contracted int
few days and gone before we can an
: alyze them to say, ''This is balsam, Q
" .. I,,1 ic<a r1vof Fort no
II The subject of Indian summer wa
70 investigated as long ago as 1885, whe
10 DR.. Lyman Foot of the United State
q army in his report says that the Indian
10 gave the season its name by calling
= their ''fall summer, which occurre
u in November. The doctor was statione
rs at Fort Winnebago, Missouri territor,
l. at the time and wrote from observation
He says:
q 1--WE arrived at this post the Sd da
l. of last November We had three weel
4 of Indian summer, with all the peculi;
N redness of the sky in great perfection.
He adds that he had long observed Il
7. season with curious attention and cal
!! !! for an expression of opinion ON the su
II ject from other observers.
PROFESSOR W1lleI aQVduCeu tne IueOl
III in a report made to the government
g. 1867 that the dry fog is real smoke, N
es produced by prairie fires, but the pro
40 uct of chimneys. The late Profess
as Henry of the Smithsonian institute
Ve reported that portion of the haze, f
tered, was found to contain the lava
volcanoes and fragments of burned We
-, etables Neither of these distinguish
- scientists added anything to the liter
!, ture of our Indian summer, SO VIII
~ doctors disagree it is not expected tn
=, ordinary observers will be able to IL
- mulate any tenable theory of its caus
H. The next best thing is to enjoy its Q
a' portunities, leaving its origin to the q
y. known source whence it is derived.
New England is especially favored
-, this after summer guest. In that La
=. - Of rocks and rills the stiffness of the {
- casion is more delicious, the haze mt
- poetic and the winds more languoro
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