New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-29

vbatever the government weather forecaster
may say, the average, every day, commonplace
citizen persists in having opinions or MS own III
regard to weather. He has his own set Oh sig
nails to foretell storm fair weather, ana as
general thing he acquired this knowledge in his
youth. Even should he have been brought up
in the Democratic wilds Of Schoharie County
and now lives in Harlem fiat he undertakes
to prognosticate New-York weather by means
of Schoharie signs He watches the steam from
the escapement at the top Of neighboring
apartment house, just as he was wont to stare
at the blue wood smoke of his village home, and
he draws the same conclusions from the way 1t
rises or falls as he did then.
In much the same way the language OF the
American is filled with weather sayings and leg
ends which had their origin in foreign lands
and distant ages. AT the time they were first
uttered they were doubtless true Some wise
man had watched nature closely, and uttered an
observation. which met with such general ac-
ceptance that it became proverb- He may not
have known the cause or the reason Of the phe-
nomenon, but no matter. guide proves just
as able to lead a man out of the woods even ii
that guides birthplace and pedigree are IN
known.
With travel from one land to another, how
ever, weather traditions are apt TO lose their
truthfulness. The wise utteranee Of Hindoo
who can foretell the coming OF a monsoon is
not likely to help the New-Yorker in determin-
ing whether it will or rain on Thanksgiv-
ing Day Nevertheless, the Yankee las Indian
sayings intermingled with traditions that have
sprung up along the New-England coast; and
many of them are as misleading as they are dis
tant from their native land. There are also
weather proverbs which have crept into the Ian
guages of all Christian nations from the Bible,
and which. although true TO the eastern end
of the Mediterranean, will hardly prove accu-
rate rules for the weather bureaus OF London
and Washington. Nevertheless, there many
Biblical sayings which are as true here as in
Palestine Here is one for example:
when it is evening. We say it will be foul
weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning
it will be foul weather to-day; for the sky is red
and lowering Matthew xvi, 2-3
For the purpose of separating the true from
the untrue weather sayings, the United States
government officials have recently made COM
prehensive investigation of English weather
lore. and have published the traditions which
may be OF truthful guidance TO an American.
They have raked the whole language and
separated the wheat from the ehaf. In addition
they have printed laws which they themselves
have enacted to govern their predictions The
work has been done under the supervision OF
Edward b. Garriott, professor Of meteorology
and Willis L, Moore, Chief of the United States
Weather Bureau.
The following proverbs. for example, are given
to snow how one may predict a change in
woatner by the action of the atmosphere on
various things:
When walls are unusually damp rain IL expected
weather. H
Flies sting and are more troublesome than usual
when the humidity Increases before rain.
q o
Sensitive plants contract their leaves and blossoms
when the humidity increases.
| A piece of seaweed hung up will become damp
previous to rain.
A lump of hemp acts as a good hygrometer and
prognosticates rain when it is damp
When BeoseP compafn ram Of
ordinary pains it will probably rain.
surely It will rain.-(A american Indians
II corns. wounds and sores itch ache more than
When mating on the floor is shrinking. dry
weather may be expected When mating expands.
Ropes shorten with an increase of humidity.
61es Of stone ah ID ss ndeais Ta rain
moist exudation from the stones. - d
Salt Increases in weight before rain
"A farmers VIE says when her cheese salt is soft
II VIII rain; when getting dry fair weather may be
II metal plates and dishes sweat it is a sign OF
Three foggy or misty mornings indicate rain
a rising fog indicates fair weather. n the for
settles down expect rain.
Fog from seward. fair weather; fog from land
Hoarfrost indicates rain.
Heavy frosts bring heavy rain: frosts no rain.
-(Caifornia.
The larger the halo about the moon the nearer
the rain clouds and the sooner the rain may be
expected.
When the perfume OF flowers Is unusually per-
ceptible rain may be expected
when en-, the Tountsin moss is soft and ln1P,d ex
expect clear weather
Sunnower raising its head indicates rain
Rainbow in morning. shepherds take warning:
Rainbow at night, shepherds delight.
Rainbow night sailors delight;
Rainbow in morning. sailors warning.
Rainbow in morning shows that shower Is west
Of u.s. and that we viii probably get II. Rainbow
in the evening shows that shower is east OF and
Is passing on
Snakes expose themselves the approach OF
rain.
In dry weather. when creeks and springs that
have gone dry become moist or. as We say. begin
to sweat, IL indicates approaching rain. Many
springs that have gone dry will give a good flow
OF water Just before rain--(J e. Walter. Kansas
Drains ditches and dunEtills more ofgenSivs
AAfora rain