The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-21

The term second summer" was
also used for Indian summer, but that
was not until some time later. By
1898 the name Indian summer" was
widely used in New England, in New
York by 1909 and in England by
1880. The name Indian summer is an
Americanism, but the season to which
it refers is not limited to this country.
The same phenomenon of delightful,
balmy weather occurs in Europe. In
England it is known as st. Martins
summer or All Hallow summer, refer
ring to the time of the year, If oc-
curing, when it has made the most
impression Est. Martins day, NOvem-
Der IL, or All Hallow Even and the
days following All Saints day, No
vember u. In Germany it is called
Old Woman's summer or st. Luke's
summer, commencing about October
IS, and in the Mediterranean regions
it is commonly called st. Martins
Little summer.
So as nearly as it can be fixed
Indian summer may come any time
between st. Luke's day, October is,
and st. Martins day, November IL,
although the Indian summer type of
weather may be experienced before
or after either date-in September or
even in December. Science cannot find
any fixed period to correspond to pop
ular ideas of when Indian summer is
and it cannot be predicted any more
than thaws in midwinter. Science can,
however, account for its appearance
even if it cannot predict it, and it
accounts for Indian summer by say
that it is phenomenon resulting
from a sluggish movement of the
areas of high and low barometer
across the country, and the f1xation
for a time of high barometer in the
South with low pressure in the
Northwest, giving general southwest
winds and mild weather.
Concerning Indian summer one
scientist says:
In the United States this indefinite
spell is likely to be more apparent in
the upper Mississippi valley where IL
is more inclined to be in strong con-
trast with the climatic conditions that
precede and follow it. East of the
Mississippi valley, the autumn periods
of dryness and tranquility become fr-
regular in their occurrence and of brief
duration The rainfall is normally
light in the western states of our
country that the chief elements of the
genuine Indian summer are not suf-
ficiently unusual to attract attention.
The peculiar haze which may occur
at this time of the year is chiefly
caused by the accumulation of dust and
smoke in the almost motionless at
mosphere. 1t is frequently called dry
fog and usually appears in what is
known as an "anti-cyclone" when
fine dry weather prevails. Minute
diatoms and volcanic dust and the
dust from decayed vegetable matter
contribute to the density of it. 1t ay
also be increased by the smoke from
prairie and forest fires which may he
transported great distances through the
upper atmosphere, while at the same
time the air near the earth may re-
main quite clear, often producing
peculiar yellowish or pinkish effect due
to the blue rays Of sunlight being abb
sorbed.
Indian summer has become part of
the English language even though 1t
is not recognized by science
Even though Indian summer is not
recognized by science, it has always
and probably always will hold its
place in American tradition and Amer
lean literature. 1t is favOrite theme
of poets-especially among the New
England group-essayists and cartoon
lists, all of whom have told in one way
or another of the glories of this sea-
son.