New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-20
WINTER AT LAST.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune
CENTRAL NEw-YoRK, l.So feet above tide level }
Thors day Feb IL, 1859.
Ner- York,

Thors day; Feb IL, 1859.
Thermometer, g. M, p above zero
Winter has fairly come at last after delaying and
coquetipg in the most unbecomng manner and assum-
ue all the undecided and antazing airs of young and
courted Spring. iii as such conduct suits the sged and
wripkled front which painters and poets assign to the
snowy season. we have fallen in love with it in spite Of
all the proprieties. The repneye thus far enjoyed
however, was spoiled by its uncertainty. Day after
day we walked freely dry ground and admired the
blue heavens and yellow fields only here and there
spotted with patches and drifts of snow worn like the
remains of hanpuvning but to keep up the decencies
of the season. oitered the north sidewalk of our
village street in the rays of the low but genial SUM- yet
there was an everpresent dread OF the morrow, q
recollection of the last three savage Winters, and
certain awful ooking-for of cold and storm, which
spoiled the pleasures Of the hour.
Now that the mild weeks are over, and the nippng
and eager air from the Red River and Lake Winnipeg
has been brought hther by the steady north wester,
we are relieved from apprehensons, and our
minds are at ease."
In all the thousands of human dwellings, over the
hill country Of New-York and New England this morn
ing the fires aye blazing with vigor unknown for a
year past while in the still air their smoky volumes
rise in steady columns to the upper atmosphere, which
|
millonth of degree. Few vAtuIe on the roads, bat
thcse who do make little noise, for the creakng Of
the spow under their heavily loaded sleds msy be
heard half mile. The domestic animals are housed,
or stand with bristing coats about the sheds aud
stacks Red.nosed frosty bearded pster-famias comes
in oldfDgered from the milking, and sits down to
read the almanac by the sacred hearth Tor rather by
the odorous cooking stove for hearhs out of date
bere). Expect-some-cod d-weather-abont-tha
Gays, suys tue propneuc record and it is JUSTIFIED
Thank fortune for good woodpes and tight houses,
and for the comfortable reflection that in these our
rural towns want of necessary fuel or food rarely
sfcts the poor In the cities tens Of thousands to
whom the mild Winter has seemed provdental COM
pensation for failing business and scanty employment
must shrink in dismay from this keen February air.
Our thermometer has not reached zero this Winter
until to-day Last Winter at this date it had been at
that negative point fifteen times aud once as low as "a
below zero.
Thus far the rural prophets have had their credit
maintained. Judging from husks of corn and coats OF
onions from phases Of the and last Fdays OF the
months from the architecture Of beavers and muskrass,
or whatever "signs" they have consulted, the general
prediction has been of mild Winter. One of my
weatherwise friends, however held different opinion
Consulting like the soOhsayers Of old, the bowels OF
brutes at killing time" he found the pigs "mets
10 be email at the front end and thick at the other,
whence bis augury is that the butt end" of the Win
ter is to be in February and March. AbsH omen as
Fred. Bayham says; yet there are two months 70
come which may change present ideas OF the WIN
ter of 1873.
Ofthe signs drawn from the observed fight of birds
we have sny negative information as yet No white
owls have been reported l have not seen the pune
grosbeak that gay crimson plumaged northerner VINO
sometimes in severe Winters visits our groves, anu
feeds amey on berries in yards nor the little red
poll. The snow buntipgs those " III wars fogei' or
-wes.her birds. as they are called in Northern Eu-
rope. usually SO common during our Winters, drifting
and scattering about in restless, uneasy hocks
the snowy fields and gardens, have hardly been seen
here since November. On the other hand, nocK VI
blackbirds not long since visiting then iour
footed friends in our barnyard, an unheard-oi occur
| renee in January.
The mildness of the season suggests earnest WISHES
| that such might be ususly the case. our "noio
| Northern country lies under o heavy disadVan"se
from the prohibition imposed on outdoor laoor our
four months Winter, owing to which smooth farming 70
almost impracticabe, and labor lies idle tor almost ono
third the year. This was little felt during the nrS' ae
cades Of our short history, for choppng ana
fully occupied during the Winter all the anus "'u '
lage and employ az oth'r seasons NO" al
this is substantially over with the Winter occopaoH'
Of the farmer are but fewto cut ard draw his
hold fuel closely econonzed j. BY the iron boxes
in which be universally burns it; to 'iier his ca.'s
perhaps 10 break colt or two-ths'e are aioos' Ills
only occupations. The cheapuess manuia''1io'
prevents recourse to handweaving orsuiar
pracced in the Winters Of Russia. Tberesuti' tha'
quements are to regulate thesuppy VI "V'''
many working men must lie lille 1rto1r W1ater mon'''
if the necessities of Winter only are regarded s nee
fol labor is hardly enough during oar hurryns
20 put in ard harvest the crops. Neanwhiie such n'
provements as good and permane't fencing 'ran'ng'
smoothing rough lands, and simlT work aoo' uui'"s
Winter in England, and sueh ss lave M" year D'en
able to do here find no coGvener; seas'ni i'' WIG"
snow aod frost permit us undertake. nein, 'ue crops
make an imperative cal for every man ana nH'''
The various planting and harvesting Hiacaioss ~.e-
viate this evil BY furnishing whist are pr'c1;ay EN-
| cent Summer aborers, which copsuine "''"Ds :"
Winter The thrashing-m.chiDe however seems a
more doubtful ben. fit, and I am inclined % oele'9
that return to tie fail would be step % Oh
our smaller farms. It was always pisasah' solh'
a1d sight-.he measured bes. from the o'rn n'''
through all the snowy dsy-tae Patisn' Ho.hea P'o-
aton Of the yard waiting round the ooof' i'f tue
quert distribution of chsff and straw As .npp'rn5
mare labor in the dupsessoD and lssng TO better and
oo,s,.,, care Of stock The use Of the aa has