The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-07-17
THE INDIAN SUMMER
WHEN IT COMES AND WHAT is RE.
sPoNsIsLE FOR 1T.

Scientists and ts<s,er Investigators Dines
In Their vie3s Upon the subject-How
the Season Was Given Its Name-Is the
Haze Caused by Smoker
There is great difference of opinion
among those who are visa in weather
lore as to the exact time when Indian
summer makes its appearance, some
weather prophets declaring that it in
oludes every warm day between Mi
ohaelmas day. the 29th of September,
| and Christmas, while others locate it
in 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 II
will come in winter, as if it were a sort
Of movable season. Neither do scientists
agree as to the cause of that hazy at.
mosphere which accompanies the season,
| a 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 oondi.
ton of the air, which might be compar.
ed to dry fog. Sentimentalists declare
that it is this dreamy haze which gives
Its great charm to this short, deGghtfus
season, when the whole world of ns-
ture appears like beautiful dream. II
is the fifth season, the mellow ripenesA
of autumn, when creation stands still
in lazy, dangerous mood, and the pic
ture is vanishing and indistinct like
one of Corot's landscapes. It is the gold
en- sunset Of the year, brief and evanes
cent
Like 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. It has
been suggested that the dreamy haze
which accompanies the season is com.
posed of animal life of such minute
form as to be incapable of microscopic
examination, but Of such innumerable
quantities that they obscure the atmos.
phere and redden the sun. 1t is also
charged to vegetable matter, but these
are mere theories which have not yet |
beef proved
Another token by which this genisj
Indian summer makes itself known 10 |
the absolute silence Of nature herself,
as If she were taking vacation from
winds that blow and clouds that shade. |
There is such stiffness in the air from |
sunrise to sunset that sound itself seems
to have gone asleep. But there is no
loneliness in the silence 1t Is only as IL
everything were resting, bathed In the
happy sunshine. The flowers are gone;
the singing birds have flown to their
southern chimes; the leaves have drop
ped from the trees when the Indian
summer comes trailing her white veil to
cover the desolation and filling all hearts
with the tranquility Of her gracious
presence. There is tonic in the air she
or ~ |
charge commercial rates for-whiffs of
summers that have been contracted into
a few days and gone before we can an
alyze them to say, tThis is balsam, OF
that is balm" 1t is draft for the gods
The subject of Indian summer was
investigated as long ago as 1885, when
Or. Lyman Foot of the United States
army in his report says that the Indians
gave the season its name by calling il
their 'fall summer, which occurred
in November. The doctor was stationed
1t Fort Winnebago, Missouri territory.
at the time and wrote from observation.
He says:
1--WE arrived at this post the Sd day
Of last November. We had three weeks
If Indian summer, with all the peculiar
,edness of the sky In great perfection. "
He adds that he had long observed the
season with curious attention and callg
'or an expression of opinion on the sub
ect from other observers.
Professor Willet advanced the theory
u report made to the government in
1857 that the dry fog is real smoke, not
produced by prairie fires, but the prod
let of ohimneys. The late Professor
Henry of the Smithsonian institution
exported that portion of the haze, FL :
cred, was found to contain the lava OF
volcanoes and fragments of burned veg
stables. Neither of these distinguished
chemists added anything to the litera. ,
ure of our Indian summer, SO when
doctors disagree it is not expected that
ordinary observers will be able to for
nulate any tenable theory of its cause
The next best thing is to enjoy its op
leaving its origin to the un- ;
lnown source whence it is derived.
New England is especially favored by I
his after summer guest. In that land
f rocks and rills the stiffness Of the CO.
aston is more delicious, the haze more
,oetio and the winds more languorous
n their passive aoquiesoence in this
neditative mood of nature. Emerson
lust have written Of this period:
Twas one of the charmed days
When the genius of God doth flow
The wind may alter twenty ways,
tempest cannot blow.
1t may Blow north, it still is warm,
Or south, it still is clear,
Or east, it smells like clover farm,
Or west, no thunder fear.
The caprice of the season Is to wait