The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-11-04
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or ineonsidsrsfs

Among the many problems that cannot be
solved by a Geneva conference is the problem
of Indian Summer. This is problem of timing,
Of fixing dates. For no one knows for sure just
when Indian Summer occurs. This is disturbing
thing; it constitutes a distinct social infelicity
1t calls for government investigation, and per
haps for bill supporting this elusive season to
509o parity.
Manifestly, it does not make for good rels-
tionshps among neighbors, for a settled
confidence among nations, to have Indian sum
mer in its present state of utter insecurity. When
Jones says to Smith, Happy Indian Summer to
you" and Smith looking at the speaker with
dark suspicion, replies "That season was over
two weeks ago" we have a situation conducive
to unrest cold war smear campaigns and lying
propaganda.
And when NationA sends white paper
(or maybe a paper somewhat blue around the
edges to Nation-B, and iovially remarks, 'The
High Convocation takes occasion to wish the
Inscrutable Praesidium most enjoyable Indian
Summer" there is likely TO he talk in Tass and
perturbation in Prayda as the comrades whisper
that Indian Summer won't be along for a month
YET. The suspicion is sure to arise that NationA
has some snide scheme afoot; the mention of
summer seems to mean that Nation-A is going
to make things hot; and the word Indian is mani
festly suggestive of tommyhawks. Thus world
peace is imperiIIed Yelled threats are thus band
led about.
Webster, that mine of purest gold, that
curate assayer of actuality, is thrown for total
loss by the phrase Indian Summer. Here is an
authority that will tell you to hairsbreadth where
and how stress falls upon syllable But in this
question Of a season of the year that stretches
anywhere from week to eighteen or twenty
days, Webster is vague and indefinite He says
that Indian summer is period period mind
you, and no hint at all about its length or brevity,
of warm or mild weather "iate in autumn or
in early winter" This would appear to be assign
ing Indian Summer to spot somewhere between,
say November and January Is. For November
is late autumn and winter is still early in mid
January
Now, in this obscure assigning Of Indian Sum
mer TO its spot, Webster is like person moving
about in worlds not realized" Nobody in his
five wits thinks of Indian Summer post
Christmas season, or even as occurring In De
cember This "early winter" business won't hold.
For winter begins on December I'll or 81 and
by that time Indian Summer is long past
But Webster, unconscious of any selfe0ntra-
dictlon. goes blithely on to say that Indian Sum
mer, which is usually characterized by a clear
pearance of the atmosphere, especially near the
horizon" occurs in October, or more commonly
in November But this is no satisfactory de
Scription or ALLEGATION of Indian Summer. Mild
hazy days come often in autumn sometimes In
clusters, sometimes singly Sandwiched between
bad days Which cluster or period of these
balmy and hazy days have the name of Indian
Summer?
Webster, like many persons foggy on the
main issue, is full of crcumstantiaf talk on the
subject He says that the name Indian Summer
is "of American origin the reason for 1t being
unknown IL is now also used in England. In
England, the period when occurring in Novem-
her is called ST. Martin Summer est Martins
day being November 10; when occurring in 0e-
tober it is called ST. Luke's Summer or Little
Summer of ST. Luke est. Luke's day being octo
ber 49,"
October then, or November. Not too early
for the harvest must be well over; not too late
for the first touch of true winter weather puts
an end to periods of balmy and hazy days.
We consulted an old timer on this matter
farmer who has seen American agriculture
from 10 tractors He said, well, Flteli you,
Indian Summer lies between mid-0ctober and
midNovember. II comes right after Sauaw Win
ter. And Squaw winter is the first little spell
of nasty weather tnat comes along AFTER OcloDef
Is. Squaw Winter isn't time OF freezing and
bitter cold and deep snow no it's just a few
days of mean weather rainy mostly, and windy,
and full of cold clamminess. Then as soon
as this mean spell passes we have a week or
maybe ten days of clear weather, snappy with
frost in the mornings mild and sunny during
the day, hut not with the sharp sunniness OF
spring there's a kind of half-blurred, hazy sun
shine. That's Indian Summer"
Dutton Train Whitney, poet who died in 1906,
has done some verse on the subject The first
line of the stanza quoted below is doubtless q
reference 10 Squaw Winter. The other three
lines refer TO Indian Summer:
| bow me to the threatening gale,
Il know when that is overpast
Among the peaceful harvest days
An Indian Summer comes at last
This is satisfactory, but that phrase among the
peaceful harvest days" must surely have refer.
ence 10 the harvesting OF the very latest crops.
We must not stress this harvest time notion,
or well be finding Indian Summer back in
August.
Well whatever be the true place and time
Of indian Summer, II seems that We have already
had several nice Indian Summers this year,