The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-10-07

Theories of Rainbows and Rising or
lowerinc Smoke.


Theories of Rainbows and Rising or
Lowering Smoke.
Not a dainty affair, with silver or satin
trimmings, nor yet with the credentials
of Uncle Sam attached, but a constant
vonapanion, shifting from woods and fields
to s~ities-this, says the Scientific Ameri-
can. was the weather bureau of our grand
fathers; and mingled with the signs and
oE,ens of old, there was just enough Of
fact that the old timer sometimes gets
the best of it now in foretelling the
MeaEEe:.
RAINBOW at night, sailors delight;
Rainbow i'll the morning, sailors warning;
lsa.ahuw at noon, rain very soon.
Just adapt this couplet che next time a
rainbow comes your way. and see for
%goG1'self.
"A combination OF rain and sunshine was
also supposed to bring rain the next day.
AaD.ncr verse which found favor was:
Lv.ning red and morning gray
Viii set the traveller on his way;
Evening gray and morning red
Via pour Town rain upon his head.
Inis is but an adaptation of the adage
that a red sunset is a sign of clear wealth.
er. And if the sun goes.down in a cloud.
rain will surely come the next day.
Ii it clears off in the i!ight, look for
rain the next day. II smoke from the
chimney settles instead of rises, there is a
storm at hand. When SOUND travels a
long distance there is also q storm near,
Never expect much storm in the old OF
the noon. 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 hootine
in he hollow is a sign of a cold storm;
on the hill it for :tells a thaw.
If the hornets nuild low the winter will
be hard. When leaves fall early the wine
ter will be long. When snow falls on a
hard road it will not last long. The last
spring snowstorm never comes until after
the sugar snow which may be recog-
Eizcd by coming in unusually large flakes
and only lasting a 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
and March. Bright northern lights"
bring sever cold. If the sun shines on
the second day of February SO as to per-
nit the woodchuck to see his shadow, it
will go back into its hole and remain six
weeks. II March comes in like q lamb
it will go out like a lion; If it comes in
like a lion it will go out like a lamb. In
other words, one extreme at the begin
ming promises the reverse at the end of
the month. Sundays indicate a bad storm.
Distant sounds heard distinctly forebode
no good weather. If the sun draws up
water" 1t will rain. The pitcher sweating
and the teakettle boiling dry also indi-
cate rain. Cobwebs thickly spread upon
the grass are an indication of fair wealth.
Ter.
Animal life seems, according to the pop
ular notion, to have peculiar warnings re-
garding the weather changes. Some of
these are explainable by natural causes.
1t Is a fact recognized by all intelligent
%stocklnen that cattle have an intimation
of an approaching storm some hours be.
fore it is visible to the human eye. There
is a certain restlessness which the cowboy
has learned to interpret at once. When
you see a pig %pasturing in the field build
for itself a nest you may look for q storm.
Chickens take extra pains in oillng their
feathers just before a rain. Peafowls send
forth their shrill cries as a warning. and
when the quail cries More wet" from the
meadow, the farmer works briskly to get
his hay under shelter. II the ch!ckweed
and scarlet pimpernel expand their tiny
petals, rain need not be expected for q few
hours. Bees work with redoubled energy
just before a rain. II the flies are unus-
ually persistent either in the house or
AROUND stock there ia rain in the air. The
cricket sings at the approach of cold
weather. Squirrels store a large supply Of
nuts. and husk of corn are unusually
thick, and the buds Of deciduous trees
have a frmer protecting coat il a severe
winter is at hand. If the poplar or quak-
ing asp leaves turn up the under side rain
will soon follow.
II the fog rises in the morning, 1t is a
sign of rain: If it settles. a clear day may
be expected. Watch the smallest cloud
you can see: II it increases in size 1t is
going to rain; IL 1t melts away and yam
tshes completely. fair weather will fol-
low.
If the camphor bottle becomes roily it
is going to storm. When it clears, settled
weather may be expected. This idea has
seemingly been utilized In the manufacture
OF some Of our cheap barometers. The
main trouble is they seldom fortell the
change until about the time it arrives.
Last. but not least. rheumatics can al
ways tell it "in their bones when a storm
is approaching, and in this representation
the o~ctogenarian Of today is as firm an
adherent as were his forefathers.