The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-04-26

There is a great difference of opinion
smong those who are wise in weathe
, lore as TO tie exact time when Indian
summer makes it's appearance, som
weather prophets declaring that it in
rludes every warm day between Mi
chaelmas day. the 29th of September
and Christmas, while others locate i
i'll the month of October. Indeed, til,
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 a 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 III 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
na;ae, 'Indian summer. But it is
now said by scientific investigators that
the appearance of smoke is all optical
illusion produced by peculiar condi>
ton of the air, which might be compar.
cd to 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 na.
ture appears like beautiful dream. II
is the fifth season, the mellow ripenesa
Of autumn, when creation stands still
in lazy, laDguorous mood, and the pio-
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 a 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 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 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 genial
Indian summer makes itself known il
the absolute silence Of nature herself,
as If she were taking a 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 if |
everything were resting, bathed in the
happy sunshine. The flowers are gone;
the singing birds have flown to their
southern climes; the leaves have drop
ped from the trees when the India,
summer comes trailing her white veil to
cover the deso]ation and filling all hearts
with the tranquility of her gracious
presence. There is tonic in the air she
brings which chemists cannot bottle nor
charge commercial rates for-whiffs Of
summers that have been contracted into
few days and gone before we can an.
slyze them to say, 'This is balsam, or
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 1t
their fall summer, which occurred
in November. The doctor was stationed
st 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
of Indian summer, with all the peculiar
redness of the sky in great perfection.
He adds that he had long observed the
season with curious attention and calls
for an expression of opinion on the sub
iect from other observers.
1IO1HsSOI w l1l0U dufduCSu Ju0 GucOIy |
In a report made to the government il
1897 that the dry fog is real smoke, not
produced by prairie fires, but the prod
not of chimneys. The late Professor
Henry Of the Smithsonian institution
reported that q portion of the haze, fl I
tered, was found to contain the lava OF
Volcanoes and fragments of burned veg
atables. Neither of these distinguished
scientists added anything to the litera
lure Of our Indian summer, so when
doctors disagree it is not expected that
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 IN.
known source whence it is derived.
New England is especially favored by
his altar summer guest. In that land
If rocks and rills the stiffness Of the Co.
,asion is more delicious, the haze more
poetic and the winds more dangerous
n their passive aoquiescenoe in this
neditative mood Of nature. Emerson
must have written of this period:
Twas one of the charmed days
When the genius of God doth low.
The wind may alter twenty ways,
A tempest cannot blow.
1t may blow north, it still Is warm.
Or south, it still is clear,
Or east it smells like a clover farm,
Or west, no thunder fear.
The caprice of the season is to wait
lntil winter is almost upon us, then TO
irop unexpectedly like benediction
With sunshine and warmth and a rest, !
ILLNESS that soothes and comforts hel ]
'ractious children and whisper to them !.
Iweet promises of heavenly death j
Detroit Free Press :
stopped the Poaching. !