The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-14
The Signs Predict Hard Winter
Goosebone and Other Prophets Foretell Waiing Winds,
Deep Shows and Ice Three Feet Thick.

upon the fact that all animals on
tho farm are beginning to show indica.
tions that their coats will be extreme
~ heavy this winten . Horses. cat
cold are growing rougfter and heavier
coats this early In the season.
Unfortunately the ground hog can
not figure in these predictions for a
hard winter. He is the standby Of the
prophet of spring. Without him the
neighborhood forecaster would be lost
and undonc. When he comes out Of
his winter hole and searches the
ground for his shadow every is
watching for Il glimpse OF the sun. In
some communities there is a division
every prophet Ia firm In his wi be-
lief and everybody IL satisfied no
matter how tho weather turns out
later.
The oldest inhabitant is always the
local authority on the weather. II he
happens to be a sufferer from rheu.
matism he is all the better qualified to
progncsticate. Then his twingcs and
pains will foretell falling harometers.
transforms. halt. thunder and light
ming. What he saHs will have a lot Of
weight # he is able to back it up with
ia tale Of how his rheumatic kept him
awake nearly all night with its
twinges and mutterings.
Late in the tall the prophet with the
rheumatism Is in his best form. The
cool drizzly days IF November stir up
his rheumatism and he IL predicting all
sorts of dire weather manifestations
for weeks at a stretch. In the spring
again, along about Ground HOG day, he
Is filled With painful twin&es hat be-
speak wierd weather later on. He new
er neglects to give as many Of the COM
munity as will listen the benefit Of his
prophecies.
Some people carry a sort Of weather
indicator around with them. Their
hair will curl and ktnk Just before a
spell OF falling weather. as the rural
list would put its On dry days. when
there Is no rain within twenty-four
hours. the hair will remam crisp and
dry. The near approach of rain Of
great humidity will soften the hair and
cause II to curl. Aided by a we'll de-
individual has hut little trouble maxi
ing for himself a reputation as a rain
prophet.
Weather is the one topic Of CONVEX
sation that grows out of date.
We are almost as nearly at the mercy
of the sunshine, the rain and the snow
storm as we We're a century ago.
therefore we always scan the Sky
when we set ur in the morning. 1t
is almost instructive, even with the
city dwcller. No farmer fails to take
a long look at the sky when he first
arises for on the weather will depend
his activities. during the day.
II Is easy to understand why tho
nation is willing that millions be spent
on a weather bureau. II we can only
foretell through weather experts.
goosehone prophets. ri husk prog
nosticators or in n other way just
what the weather will he from day
to day. living will be made a great
deal easier for US all. We can get
the hay In out of that thunderstorm
or hold up that shipment Of PERISH
able stun that n solid freeze and zero
will utterly ruin.
If We cannot prevent the coming Of
a tornado We may al least be able to
predict 1t.
The COUNTRY dweller has a thousand
weather signs that the city man never
knows. A red sunset means very lit
tie to the maj in the street hut to
the man among the lanes 1t indicates
rain and bad Weather. Smoke that
rises straight In :he air is another &C
the signs that a farn1er notices and
.foretells bad ~eaiher.A Circles ahou!
the noon and sun. streaks OF greasy
clouds and she peculiar actions of
birds and domestic animals are all
indications Of some change in the
weather to the man whose eye has
been trained to recognize the ~igns.