The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-19
run wnArHnR rnopnErs.


 The tsnacity with which some old beliefs and supsrstitions are handed down from generation to generation is astonishing. In none Is this more persistent than in weather predictions. The weather prophet we have always with us. and though they may fails and though two of them may not agree. they keep on predicting and many will keep on believing in them.
 Of late we are bearing much about the certainty of a hard winter. We don't know whether the coal dealers gre encouraging the predictions. but the prophets are busy. For one thing they tell us that the shucgs on the ears of corn are unusually thick this season and if that doesn't presage long and hard winter. why not? The shucl<s are put on the ears to protect them. and if the ears are to be subjected to ex- treme cold of course nature would in crease the thickness of the covering. just as the loving mother spreads ad- ditional quilts and blankets over her children when sbs finds the night is going to be very cold. lust get around that logic if you can.
 to us is the information that the goose bone is unusually white this seasov, We have not studied the bones. and don't know the connection between their whiteness and premeditated frigidity. but perhaps the wise ones do There is another sign connected with geese. however, that is more pal- pable and that is the information that the geese. as we'll as the ducks, are un- usually we'll feathered this fall. That Is something we may understand When we feel that the weather Is go- ing to be very cold we put on an over coat. if we possess one, and why should not the web-footed fowls do the same thing? There's some more logic.
 Then we are assured from q number of sources that the various migratory wiId-fowi are coming South at an un- usually early date this season, and if that isn't significant we fail to know why not. If the ducks and geese know enough to put on winter Aerb of un- usual thickness. we can see no reason why the other fowls may not fore see that the winter is coming early and strong and so hurry away from the frigid North before the frost hips them If that also isn't logic we miss it. l But now in the face of all this ac- cumulation of evidence there comes to us one discordant note, and that from up in Pennsylvania, whence we get so many unpleasant things. It is of "a man in that State. who bears a we'll established reputation in his cOmmuni- ty for the accuracy of his predictions. He tells it that the hornets have been building their nests very high in the air this summer and fall, and that, he asserts. is an infaIlibIe sign of an un, 1 usually mild winter. If you fail to see the connection between the altitude of the hornets nests and the temperature of the next few months don't ask us, for we don't know very much. about hornets. We know that ene has sense enough to come at you sharp and fore most, and perhaps they know that if the winter is destined to be very mild they can build high and not suffer. We are not sure whether that is logic or not.
 The weight of evidence appears to be largely in favor of hard winter. and those who believe in the predHc- tions must govern themselves accord ingly. At all events it will not be well to let ones thick clothing get cut of reach, and it may be well to stop the useless cracks about the house.