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Weather Maxims.

WEATHER MAXIMS .

" Those that are weather-wise are rarely otherwise . "—Old saying . IN view of the many Masonic picnics likely to occur during the next few months , I have taken the trouble to compile some of those wise saws , proverbs , weather signs , and prognostications which havo been drawn from the observations of our ancestors , and were believed in by many of them with rigid seriousness . Whether these will prove useful by inducing a little

judicous care m those journeys ol pleasure which are sometimes fraught with many dangers , it is not for me to determine , as the reader may entertain his own opinion as to their value , and perhaps it would be considered impertinent on my part to remind him that our climate is variable , with a decided leaning to the humid , as the author of the following lines endeavours

to prove : — " The south wind always brings wet weather , The north wind wet and cold together ; The west wind always brings us rain ,

The east wind blows it back again ; If the sun in red should set , The next day surely will be wet ; If the sun should set in grey , The next will be a rainy day . "

Others have formulated the axiom that " Evening red and morning grey Are two sure signs of one fine day , " which lines have their counterpart in another couplet , viz ., " An evening grey and a morning red Will send a shepherd wet to bed . "

" Cloudy mornings turn to clear evenings , " says one proverb , and the late Admirable Fitzroy tells us that , 'A grey sky in the morning presages fine weather , a bright yellow sky at sunset presages wind , and a pale yellow , wet , " while we learn from another source that " Sky red in the morning Is the sailor ' s true warning , " but that a

" Sky red at night Is the sailor ' s delight . " We are to expect a fine day ' •when the raven is observed early in the morning at a great height in the air , soaring round and round , and uttering a hoarse croaking sound , " and may conclude the weather is about to become fair , but to see the magpie when starting on a journey ensures a drenching . The abundance of woodseare and honeydew on herbs indicates fair weather , as does floating gossamer . The floating of gossamer , and its alighting on the rigging of ships foretells fine weather .

The clamorous croaking of frogs indicates fine weather . The appearance of beetles flying about of an evening in summer , indicates that the following day will be fair . When the swallow is observed to fly high , the weather will probably be fair . On the contrary , when the swallow or martlet are seen to fly low , and dip the tip of their wings in the water as they skim over its surface , we may conclude that rain will ensue , and probably before the expiration of twentyfour hours .

I collect the following from the mass of wisdom regarding rain . For example , "Rain before seven , lift before eleven . " "If rain begins about noon , it will continue through the afternoon , " and "if at night rain begins after nine , the morrow will show you but little sunshine . " Of the rainbow a Cornish rhyme says : — " A rainbow in the morn , put your hook in the corn ; A rainbow in the eve , put your hook in the sheave . "

The incessant quackling of ducks , geese , and other water fowl is a si"n of rain . An instinct which wains them of approaching changes in the weather is with much truth attributed to animals , and students of natural history have indicated the various signs which they manifest on these occasions .

The much barking of dogs in the night frequently indicates a change in the weather , and before rain they are apt to grow sleepy and dull , and to lav all day before the fire . Before rain , swine appear very uneasy , and rub iu the dust , as do cocks and hens . If the cock crows very lustily it is a sign that the weather will change , and

" If the cock crows on going to bed , He ' s sure to rise with a watery head . " or as they say in the Midland counties : — " If the cock moults before the hen , We shall have the weather thick and thin ; If tbe hen moults before the cock , We shall have the weather as hard as a block . "

Before storms , kine , and also sheep assemble at one corner of the field , and are observed to turn all their heads toward the quarter from whence the wind does not blow . Before wind , swine run squeaking as though they were mad , which has given rise to the popular notion that pigs can see the wind . Here are a few rules with respect to the wind , viz ., " If wind follows sun s course , expect fair weather , " and according to Bacon , " Every wind has "s weather . " A well-known couplet says : —

" When the wind is in the east , 'Tis good for neither man nor beast . " The appearance of sen gulla , petrcla , or other sea fowl in the islands ,

Weather Maxims.

indicates stormy weather . In fine weather the bat is observed to continue flying about very late of an evening . In autumn , before rain some flies bite , and others become very troublesome , and gnats are more apt to sting . When flocks of wild geese are observed flying in a westward or southern direction in autumn , it indicates a hard winter .

When the trees and hedges are very full of berries , it indicates a hard winter . The appearance of rare foreign birds in this country , such as rollers , hoopoos , & c , indicates hard weather , and the first appearance of tho dottrel is a sign of frost . The early advent of woodcocks , snipes , swinepipes , fieldfares , & c , are the prognostications of severe winters .

When the dew lies plentiously on the grass in the evening , the next day will probably be fine ; when there is little or no dew , probably wet . Before rain , moles throw up the earth more than usual . Before rain , the pintados called " Comebacks , " squall more than usual , as do peacocks . It is said in Wiltshire , that tha Dunpickles , or moor buzzards , alight in

great numbers on the down before rain . Before storms , the missel thrush is observed to sing particularly loud , and to continue so till the commencement of the rain , from which circumstance it is in some places called the " Storm Cock . " It is a sign of rain when pigeons return slowly to the dovehouses . If the hens gather on rising ground and trim their feathers , this action

means . When spiders are seen crawling on the walls more than usual , rain will probably ensue . When bees do not go out as usual , but keep in or about their hives , rain may be expected . Edward Roberts P . M .

The Girls Festival.

THE GIRLS FESTIVAL .

THE Anniversary celebration was held at Freemasons' Tavern , under the presidency ot the Deputy Grand Master of England , who was well supported by Officers of Grand Lodge , together with a goodly array of Provincial and Private Lodge representatives . Messrs . Spiers and Pond catered for the large assembly with their accustomed ability , and with due attention to the service brought the dinner to an end at an early hour .

Then followed the usual toasts . The Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe , in proposing that of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , Chief Patroness of the Institution , took the opportunity of making what must be regarded as an official announcement in reference to a matter that has long received the attention of a large section of the Craft—the association of Masonic honours with toasts , in the presence of Ladies or non-Masons . The Masters of many

Lodges celebrating Ladies' nights , or enjoying a summer pic-mc in the country , have not hesitated to call for Mason " fire " in association with the toasts , and any objection to the practice on the part of those who are opposed to it has been met with the rejoinder that the Grand Master did not hesitate to give it when he presided at the Centenary Festival of the Girls School , although Ladies and others outside the Craft were then present . But this

single action on the part of the Prince of Wales was never intended to be followed indiscriminately , and we are only surprised that Grand Lodge has not previously taken notice of the innovation , which , however , is now condemned in no uncertain terms , and will doubtless be discontinued without the necessity of further official action . The Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe said : Many of you may remember the Centenary Festival of this Institution in the

Albert Hall . Very few who wero present on that occasion will be likely to forget that remarkable scene . You will perhaps remember , therefore , that it was under the presidency of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , and that he then gave the first toast of the evening with due Masonio honours , although there were a large number of Visitors present . But I believe that His Eoyal Highness on consideration would not think that was a precedent

to be followed always , and therefore on this occasion I shall follow the toast list in the usual course without the " firing , " and I feel you will honour it with the loyahty and warmth you always drink it , and with which every member of the Craft does drink it , whether in the boundaries of the United Kingdom or throughout the vast dominions of this Empire . I give you the health of Her Most Gracious Majesty tho Queen , the Chief Patroness of this Institution .

The next toast was that of His Royal Highness the Pnncc of Wales , K . G ., Most Worshipful Grand Master , Grand Patron and President of the Institution , the Princess oi Wales , Grand Patroness , and tho other Members of the Royal Family . The Chairman said the history of tho development of the Institution whose Anniversary they were celebrating was in a small way a reflection of the history of Freemasonry in this country , and of the

development of Masonry during the last half century . Especially was this the case in regard to the last twenty years of that half century , and he would ask if the reason for the great development that had taken place was not to be found in the fact that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales had been Grand Master of the Order during that period , and with other members

of his family had lent approbation to the Craft ; and when with the toast was coupled the name of the Princess of Wales they more fully recognised the fact , for while the Prince of Wales was Grand Patron and President of their Institution , Her Royal Highness was Grand Patroness , and had done much on its behalf . The toast was heartily received , the remarks of the Chairman in regard to the Princess of Wales being especially applauded .

The Provincial Grand Master of Guernsey and Alderney Brigade-Surgeon James Balfour Cockburn , M . D ., proposed the next toast , that of tho Pro Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers present and past . The services of the Pro Grand Master in Grand Lodge has extended for so long a period that the history of Grand Lodge itself was , in a measure , mixed up with

him . Having referred more fully to the services of the Earl of Lathom , the speaker proceeded to say that what he saw on Monday last at the Girls School was sufficient , as it must have been to all others who were there , to convince him that the Grand Officers and the other Brethren to whom was entrusted the management of the Institution had rendered an account of their Stewardship that well merited the approbation of the Craft .

The name of the Rev . Sir William Vincent , Bart ., P . G . Chaplain was associated with the toast , and that Brother , in reply , regretted the Pro Grand Master was not present to return thanks for the toast so ably proposed , and so heartily received . He had the pleasure of assisting in the ceremony of initiating the Pro Grand Master , in the Apollo University Lodge at Oxford , ever since which time Lord Lathom had most enthusiastically devoted himself to the work of Freemasonry , with the most gratifying results , as was evidenced by the enthusiasm with which his name had just been received ,