Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-12-02
INDIAN SUMNER
an Writer Makes Ch~~ring
'cment Tint II n Yet TO Come
(From tho Montreal EeraId)

How did the term Indian Summer"
originate. and when does Indian sum-
mer Gomez FIRST and las: there has
bean much misinformation given out on
this subject. There ere writer's who seem
to infer that the phrase is but another
name for autumn or fall. They will refer to
the fine indian summer weather In tho
very first days Of September. They are
wrong of course.
Others again will claim that IN mid
October. In those soft and hazy days. Is
the much -talked-of season. Wrong. all
wrong.
A busy writer, doing a daily stunt. may
be excused for failing into such errors.
especially when the matter Ia admittedly
obscure. but II IL another matter writes
Milton r. Atkins in the Washington
S.ar) when we consult the encyclopedia.
ana are gravely informed that the origin
OF the term is unknown. That's what
encyclopedias are for. to dig out and
present the facts that are obscure.
IT COMES IN NOVEMBER
The season bearing this appellatlon
generally comes in November-anywhere
from the first to the twentieth of that
month.
There may be some sharp, cold weather
heavy frosts and more or less ice and
IL
snow. People will conclude that winter
enough.
But after n few days the cold will mod
crate. the nights being frosty. but the
days warm and mild as in September.
A thick and smoky haze obscuree the
hills. The distant line Of mountains melts
in the sky. The very winds are stilled.
Nature herself seems to be taking a little
breathing spell before the rigors Of win
ter shall grip the land.
It Is time when
1.-THE sound Of dropping nuts is heard
though al the boughs are still.
And twinkle in the smoky light the
waters Of the rill"
In the Congressional Library at Wash
ington is little unpretentious volume,
entitled, "Dodradges Notes." in which
this whole mystery is made plain as day,
and the writer of this sketch cannot do
better than to quote verbatim:
HARD WINTER BROUGHT PEACE
During the long-continued Indian wars
sustained by the first settlers of the
western country they enjoyed no peace,
excepting in the winter season. when,
owing to the severity of the weather, the
Indians were unable to make their incur
sions into the settlements.
THE onset of winter was therefore
hailed as a Jubilee by the early inhabi-
tants Of the country, who throughout the
spring and early part of the fall had beer
cooped up in their little uncomfortable
forts and subject to all the distresses OF
the Indian wars.
"At the approach Of winter therefore
the farmers, excepting the owner of the
fort removed to their cabins on theil
farms, with the joyful feeling Of a tenant
of a prison on recovering his release from
confinement.
"Al was hustle and hilarity in prepar
ing for winter by gathering In the corn
digging potatoes, fattening hogs and re
pairing the cabins
ITO our forefatheIs the gloomy months
Of winter were moro pleasant than the
zephyrs of spring and the flowers of May
THEN WEATHER BECAME WARM
1T, however, sometimes happened tina
after the apparent onset OF winter tn
wsattsr became warm; the smoky time
number OF days.
THY was Indian summer because 1
afforded the Irdians another opportunit,
Of visiting the settlements with thek
distressing warefars.
OF course, NOBODY undertakes to sa!
why this warn smoky spell OF weaths
comes almost every year Just bofors tb'
closing In OF w!nter-not even tn, scien
tifio gentlemen WIN explain 50 many Oh
scurc thing to Us laymen but II scem
both incorrect and unreasonable to Sc
down that the origin OF the tom is un
known. There Is NJ sort of doubt tina
our pioneer forefa'hers gave the seasoI
its nnIne, and that for them It had mos
distressful and sinister Significance.