The Mentor: The Weather Serial Number 110; 1 July, 1916

From fishermen waiting for a southerly breeze to a bride hoping for sunshine on her wedding day, the opening pages paint a charming picture of how daily lives depend on the sky’s mood. The narrator introduces ‘Old Probabilities,’ the affectionate nickname once given to the chief of the United States Weather Bureau, whose gentle forecasts promised a simple assurance: ‘It is probable that tomorrow will be fair.’ As the old‑fashioned phrasing gave way to the formal ‘The indications are,’ the book mourns the loss of that personal touch while noting why the change mattered. Readers are invited to share the nostalgia for a time when weather reports felt like friendly advice.

The book then shows how atmospheric forces shape agriculture, commerce and health, grounding the lyrical anecdotes in solid facts. Vivid sketches of observatories—from a high‑rise office in New York to a remote mountaintop site—illustrate how meteorologists turn clouds and wind into numbers that guide policy and protect lives. Its clear, engaging style makes meteorology feel both important and approachable.