The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-10-21
BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON

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HEN and what is Indian
AWx summer?
M ,WAk Here is case, indeed,
WAN where doctors disagree"
MIA for there are many the
cries as to the origin Of
So the name, the reason for
it and the time when it
occurs. Most people will agree upon
the fact that it means a period of
warm weather in one of the three
months of September, October or No
vember and that 1t Is characterized
by three peculiar elements: BY a
warmth greater than preceding days
or weeks, by tranquility of the at
mosphere and by smoke and haze.
But when an attempt is made to pre-
dict definite time for the appear
ance of Indian summer, then diverg-
ence Of opinion begins.
Consult the dictionaries and you
will find that one such authority, the
Standard, says, "a period Of warm,
dry, calm weather In late autumn
with hazy atmosphere" But Noah
Webster goes intos more detail as fol-
lows: "Indian summer: In the United
States, a period of warm weather late
in autumn, usually characterized by
clear sky, and by hazy or smoky ap-
pearance of the atmosphere, especially
near the horizon. The name is de-
rived from the custom of the Indians
to use this time in preparation for
winter by laying in stores Of food, or
from their belief that it is caused by
a wind blowing directly from the
court of the southwestern god" How
ever, he expands upon the theme by
giving two quotations, one from Free
man and the other from the National
1ntelligencer, in regard to this season.
The first quotation from Freeman, Is
as follows:
The southwest Is the pleasantest
wind which blows in New England. In
the month of October, in particular.
after The frosts which commonly take
place at the end of September, 1t fire.
uuently produces two or three weeks OF
fair weather, in which the air is per-
fectly transparent, and the clouds.
which float in the sky Of purest azure,
are adorned with brilliant colors. This
charming season is called the Indian
summer, name which is derived from
the natives, who believe that II Is
caused by a wind which comes imme-
diately from the court of their great
and benevolent god, Cautantowwit, or
the southwestern god.
Tho ax-pIonof;au from fha Notihn q I
Intelligencer also is based upon an
aboriginal custom. 1t says:
The short season Of pleasant weather
occurring about the middle of Novem-
Der is called the Indian summer. from
the custom of the Indians to avail
themselves of this delightful time for
harvesting their corn. It Is bland
and genial time, in which the birds, in
sects and plants feel new creation
| The sky in the meantime is generally
| filled with haze of orange and gold
| intercepting the direct rays of the sun
yet possessing enough OF light and heat
| TO prevent sensations of gloom or chill
| while the nights grow sharp and frosty
| and the necessary fires give cheerful
| forecast OF the social winter evenings
near at hand.
So here are two authorities dis.
agreeing on both the time-one says
| October and the other November-o1
Indian summer and the reason for the
name. Perhaps the earliest known
reference to the term was that made
by Frenchman, st. John Crevecoeur
in ITS when he was living at Pine
| = VI
"a Snow Storm as 1t Affects the