The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-12-16
WEATHER PROPHETS.

since the HOOD waters IeCeueu anu
the re-peopling OF the earth began.
The so.called prophets OF the
present day, exclusive OF the 9th |
cial forecasters of the United States
and other countries, comprise al
large number of persons. The peo-
ple may be divided into two classes.
The class which is numerically
much the stronger, having one or
more members in nearly every
neighborhood, is composed OF per
sons who are not generally bad clti-
zens but who, by assuming to pos.
sess superior knowledge regarding
the significance of weather condi-
tons on "Ground-hog Day" and
tho longest and shortest days OF the
wear: the character Of the goose
bone the thickness of the hickory
nut shells; the peculiar actions OF
certain animals aud birds, and the
effect I'D of the moons changes on
the weather, gain, among their ac-
ouaintances, the reputation OF being
"weather wise" and OF having the
power to foretell changes IN the
weather. sometimes for short, some
times for long periods in advance OF
their occurrence. Owing to the
limited acqualntanceship of the in
dividual comprising this class and
the fact that but few, if any, per
sons ever alter prearrapged plans
because OF their predictions, they
are practically harmless set.
The same cannot be said about
the other class, the membership OF
which, in the United States, num-
bers probably not more than one
dozen. Some of these men are ed
ucated, some are not; some are
possessed to an eminent degree OF
the qualities that that astute show
man the late p. T. Barnum, took
delight In saying the American PEG.
pie actually loved, viz: the qualities
which enable a person to hunout
the public, and some are only as
piring to become expert in that line
By persistent advertising and thu
exploitation of his ability-each TO
himself-to make long range weather
forecasts, the class az a whole II
this and other countries has sue
ceeded In marketing their mislead
ing and worse than worthless pro
ducts to credulous public to suci
an extent that the leading meteorol
ogists have deemed it their duty t
expose the frauds.
In discussing the subject, th'
Chief Of the United States Weathe
Bureau recently said
"As a result Of my personal ven
fication OF long range weather fore
casters, some OF whom have so ia
gained the confidence Of the rura
press a. to receive liberal compen
sation for their predictions, an
led 10 the conclusion that these fore
casters knowingly perpetrate frauc
and do positive injury 10 the publ
at large. 1t is to be regretted tina
so many newspapers not only CIV
space to these harmful predictions
but actually pay for them. Fore
lsts Of this description can proper
ly be classed with advertisements
uuack medicines. "
After giving the names OF some
some Of the most persistent adve
Using fake forecasters in this couI
try, England, Austria, Italy an
Russia, Prof. Cleveland Able, Il
dean OF the scientific corps OF Il
United States Weather Service al
an accepted authority the wor
over in matters pertaining to y
science Of meteorology, express
himself as follows in an editor
article in the Monthly Weather /
view for July, 1904;
"The wonder is that the inietin
utterances of these oracles can
accepted as forecasts, or that tn
flat failures when they do becoI
definite should not have oo1sign
them to oblivion.
"The time must soon come wh
a general law shall forbid the pub
cation OF weather predictions a
storm warnings, especially those
sensational character, by a
others than properly licensed P
sons.
Writing on the subject OF 10
casting, May 26, 1904, Prot. j.
Pernter, director of the central In
tnte for Meteorology at Nien
Austria, said:
Ordinarily, | do not like to
press myself in O apodistic mann
but in this case / do not hesitate
declare that it is absolutely sure
I certain that, at the present time,