The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-10-14

| siVe investigation OF EngllSn weather
lore, and have published the traditions
which may be of truthful guidance to
an American. They have raked over
the whole language and separated the
wheat from the chaff. In addition they
have printed laws which they them
selves 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 Unit
ed States weather bureau.
The following proverbs, for example,
are given to show how one may pre-
| dict change In weather by the action
of the atmosphere on various things:
When walls are unusually damp rain
Is expected
Horses sweating In the stable is a
sign Of rain.
Doors and windows are hard to shut
In damp weather.
Flies sting and are more trouble
some than usual when the humidity
Increases before rain.
Sailors note the tightening of the
cordage on ships as sign of coming
rain.
Sensitive plants contract their
leaves and blossoms when the humid
ity increases.
A piece of seaweed hung up will be-
come damp previous to rain.
A lump of hemp acts as a good hy-
grometer and prognosticates rain when
1t is damp
Tobacco becomes moist preceding
rain.
When rheumatic people complain of
more than ordinary pains 1t will prob
ably rain.
When the locks turn damp in the
scalphouse surely 1t Will rain.-Ameri-
can Indians.
II corns, wounds and sores itch or
ache more than usual rain is likely to
fall shortly.
When mating on the floor is shrink
ing dry weather may be expected
When mating expands expect wet
weather.
Ropes shorten with an increase Of
humidity.
Three foggy or misty mornings in
dicate rain.
Clarries of stone and slate indicate
rain by a moist emulation from the
stones.
Salt increases in weight before rain.
A farmers wife says when her cheese
salt is soft it will rain; when getting
dry fair weather may be expected.
If metal plates and dishes sweat it
is sign of bad weather.-Plinny.
Three foggy or misty morning in
dicate rein.-Oregon.
A rising fog indicates fair weather;
If the fog settles down expect rain.
Fog from seaward, fair weather; fog
from land, rain.-New England.
Hoarrrost indicates rain.
Heavy frosts bring heavy rain; no
frosts, no rain.-California.
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 un-
usually perceptible rain may be ex-
pected.
When the mountain moss is dry and
brittle expect clear weather.
Sunfiower raising its head indicates
rain.
Rainbow in morning, shepherds tske
warning;
Rainbow at night, shepherds delight;
Rainbow at night, sailors delight;
Rainbow in morning, sailors warp.
ing.
Rainbow in morning shows that
shower is west of us, and that we will
probably get it. Rainbow in the even
ing shows that shower is east of us
and is passing off
Snakes expose themselves on the ap-
proach of rain.
In dry weather, when creeks and
springs that have gone dry, become
moist, or, as we say, begin to sweat,
it indicates approaching rain. Many
springs that have gone dry will give
a good flow of water just before rain.
j. F.. Walker, Kansas.
Drains, bitches and dunshills are
more offensive before rain
Floors saturated with oil become
very damp just before rain.
Guitar strings shorten before rain.
Human hair Ged) curls and kinks
at the approach of storm. and re-
straightens after the storm.
Lamp wicks crackle, candles burn
dim, SCOT falls down, smoke descends,
wells and pavements are damp, and
disagreeable odors arise from bitches
and cutters before rain.
Pipes for smoking tobacco become
indicative of the state of the air. When
the scent is longer retained than usual
and seems denser and more powerful
it often forebodes a storm.
Soap covered moisture indicates bad
weather.
1t has well been known that animals
are able to foretell storm or fair i
weather with an instinct practically
unknown to man. Many sayings are
based On the actions of beasts, birds,
fish and instincts and here are a few