Douglas Island news., 1905-05-17
aRANDFATHER's BAROMETER,

denClalS or OuClS Odn aIIaSHSuJ ou" constant companion, shifting from woods and fields and skies-this was the weather bureau of our grandfathers; and mingled with the signs and omens of old there was just enough of fact that the old-timer sometimes gets the best of it now in foretelling the weather.
 Rainbow at night, sailors delight;
 Rainbow in the morning, sailors take warning;
 Rainbow at noon, rain very soon."
 Just adapt this couplet the next time 8 rainbow comes your way, and see for yourself.
 A combination of rain and sunshine was also supposed to bring rain the next day.
 Another verse which found favor was: "Evening red and morning gray
 Will set the traveller on his way;
 Evening gray and morning red
 Will pour down rain upon his head.
 This is but an adoption of the adage that red sunset is sign of clear weather. And if the sun goes down in cloud rain will surely come the next day. If smoke from the chimney set ties instead of excepting in dry weath- CT, when, the prophet assures us, "all signs fail"
 If it clears off in the night, look for gain the next day. If smoke from the chimney settles instead of rising, there is a storm at hand. When sound tray els long distance there is also storm near. Never expect much storm in the old of the moon. The absence of dew and an unusually heavy dew are alike forerunners of rain. Not much frost need be expected in the light of the moon. An owl hooting in the hollow is a sign of cold storm; on the hill, it foretells a thaw. If the hornets build low the winter will be hard. When leaves fall early the winter will be long. When snow falls on hard road 1t will not last long. The last spring snow storm never comes until after the %sugar snow," which may be recognized by coming in unusually large flakes and only lasting few minutes. If the hogs melt is found big at the front the first part of winter will be the most severe; if the reverse is true, we may look for hard weather in February and March. Bright northern lights" bring severe cold. If the sun shines on the second day of February so as to per init the woodchuck to see it's shadow, it will go back into it's hole and remain six weeks. If March comes in like a lamb it will go out like lion; if it comes in like lion it will go out like a lamb. In other words, one extreme at the beginning promises the reverse at the end of the month. Sun.dogs indicate bad storm.
 Distant sounds heard distinctly fore bode no good weather. If the sun "draws up water" it will rain. The pitcher sweating and the tea-kettle boiling dry also indicate rain. Cob webs thickly spread upon the grass are an indication of fair weather.
 Animal life seems, according to the popular notion, to have peculiar warn ings regarding the weather changes. Some of these are explainable by nat ural causes. It is fact recognized by all intelligent stockmen that cattle have an intimation of an approaching storm some hours before it is visible to the human eye. There is a certain restlessness which the cow.b boy has learned to interpret at once. When you see a pig pasturing in the field build for itself nest you may look for 8 storm. Chickens take extra pains in oiling their feathers just before rain. Pea fowls send forth their shrill cries as warning, and when the quail cries ''more wet" from the meadow, the far mer works briskly to get his hay under shelter. If the chickweed and scarlet pimpernel expand their tiny petals, rain need not be expected for few hours. Bees work with redoubled en- ergy just before rain. If the flies are unusually persistent either in the house or around stock there is rain in the air. The cricket sings of the approach of cold weather. Squirrels store a large supply of nuts, the husks of corn are unusually thick, and the buds of de- ciduous trees have f1rmer protecting coat if severe winter is at hand. If