The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-24
WEATHER TOKENS.
Eow Man Seeks Guidance From Animals
And lnanimate Things.

Eow Man Seeks Guidance From Animals
And Inanimate Things.
The weather signs of our own and other
days would make fair sized volume.
Even the intelligent are apt to take
note of the weather on February 2,
when the grounding is supposed to
fare forth to catch a glimpse of his own
shadow, in the sunshine. Many also
pin their faith to the old dosgerel
coupIet:
Open and shet,
sign Of wet
If the meaning of this seems vague. it
may be said that if the sky is filled
with clouds through which patches of
blue appear, rain may come at any
time.
Thousands of sailors believe implicit
ly in this old rhyme
Red at night, the sailors delight;
Red in the morning, sailors, take warning.
The same valuable forecast is given
i'll the old couplet-
Evening gray and morning red,
Bring down rain on the traveller head.
Equally trustworthy is the old
couplet-
Rain before seven
Clear before 'leven.
Or the old saying
A cold, wet May,
A barn full of hay
The cat would no doubt be surprised
to know how potently it controls the
weather. Many believe that if cat
meows on the doorstep or scratches
wood it is sure sign of rain. Some
say that If cat sits facing the north
and washes its face with its left paw,
it is sign that the wind is in the north
west. The paw used by the cat and
the position 1t assumes are said to in
dictate the quarter from which the
wind is blowing
What country bred boy does not
know that if he kills snake and hangs
its dead body from the branches of a
tree rain will result? Should he wish
to insure fair weather he must bury
the dead reptile.
Should it rain on July 18th, which is
st. Swithin's Day certain old farmers
| III the East look for forty days of rain
| IN the next two months. They also be-
lieve that thick corn husks portend a
| cold winter, and that if cattle lie down
/
the morning it may be accepted as
| proof that it will rain within twenty
| four hours, or if chickens come out
while it is raining the storm will not
last long, but if they keep closely under
cover it will be a long rain.
There are those who swear by the
old saying that the sun shines every
Saturday but one in the whole year.
No date, however, is given for the sin
gle Saturday on which the sun will not
shine for a single moment.
Birds. dogs, oxen and geese are also
supposed to have some of occult faculty
OF fOreseelng the weather and forecast
ing it by their actions. Even the tiny
ant is believed to possess prophetic
| powers, and if one finds little hills in
the garden or lawn paths in the morn
| ing they are accepted by some as proof
of a fair day
The old saying that 'all signs fail in
dry weather" must be comforting to
many weather prophets, who, in erring,
want some saying to fall back on.
Rural postmen now carry hags indi-
eating weather conditions, and When
these forecasts do not make good" the
weather prophet says with certain
truth: Uncle Sans got a lot to learn
yet about the weather" And yet, al
though the United States Weather Blu
reau occasionally fails to make good it's
representations, one should not, how
ever. undervalue its service on that ac-
count. One cannot inquire INTO its
achievements without discovering that
it is most valuable government insti-
tuition and that it is steadily increasing
in efficiency. 1t unquestionably saves
hundreds of lives and vast amount of
property. According to one insurance
company, the United States Weather
Bureau saves no less than $50 900 900
worth of property annually.