The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-10-09

duOut tHIcC ulieS dUONc US, ulNtuSS lNO
weather systems, which occasionally over
lap each other 1t is difficult TO realize
that less rain falls here annually than in
our Middle States, and | am inclined to
suspect that the comparison was based
on the estimate of a single year, which
did not represent the normal average.
In the chronicles of the country there are
accounts of years in the thirteenth aud
fourteenth centuries, when so much rain
fell that the harvests were destroyed, and
thousands of persous died of hunger and
of pestileuce eugeudered By the rotten
grain On the ether hand, it is tue that
the streams which issue from these noun
tains are remarkably small, and but slight
ly swollen after Leavy rains The deep
bed of spongy moss which forms the floor
Of the forests, holds much of the moist
ure, and perhaps accounts for both facts
An atmospheric phenomenon, scarcely
known to US, is of frequent occurrence
here 1t is called the cloud burst, term
which describes its character. The
clouds, heavily laden, and balled or rolled
together By the wind, suddenly break
a0scn under their eombiued burden, and
discharge a deluge of water, which often
occasions immense damage 10 the fields
and herds. Where the burst takes place
at the head of narrow valley, an ln-
stantaneous food is formed, from ten to
twenty feet In depth, uprOoting trees and
sweeping houses from their foundations.
\ few weeks ago the town of Sk0hlen,
not far from Jena, was visited by one OF
these cloud bursts, whereby thirteen per
sons were drowned and more than twenty
buildings destroyed In countries which
have not yet been denuded of their for
eSts. such a phenomenon is less likely to
occur Richardson describes a cloud
burst which overwhelmed his camp at
the frontier of AShen. in the Sahara, and
our trappers eau tell of others On the
plains.
Hail-storms are SO frequent and so de-
Structive in Northern Germany, that the
prudent farmer always ipSures his grain
in the Hail Insurance CoWLany--a regu-
lar branch OF the insurance business The
hail cloud is recognized at distance by
the hard. cold, yellowish-white color Of
its dropping curtain. It's upper edges
are often of pale browni>h hue. Even
when II passes BY at distance, it chiIls
the atmosphere around it, as an iceberg
chils the sea air.
This morning dawned so brightly. and
the scattered clouds hung so lazily around
the bottom of the SKY. that We felt toler-
ably sure of favorable day for our pri-
vate festival. Al tan o'clock the postil-
lions hoIn announced the approach Of our
friends. aud the post-chaise slowly climb
ed the hill, aud discharged Its cargo of
four ladies. two gentlemen, one child, and
4 supply of meat and drink, at our door
There were cordial greetings, for We had
been separated three DAYS, aud those
whose hospitality We had 50 often enjoyed
or rather claimed : 4 right-were now
for the first time our guests. To hoDor
them. a. well as the day, | had sent to
the landlord at ReiuhardtSburn and or
dered six pounds Of trout, fresh frou the
tank; also secured supply of the
nobler German beverage. IS we meet, and
herewith my duties ended.
Oar guests took possession Of the We
randall and garden the children frst
embraced aud then pulled each others
hair, and thus the festive machinery was
put in motion. In Germany one does
not need TO 60 around with couversa-
tional oil-pot and grease the individual
cCgs and cranks: the wheels turn IS soon
as they touch. 1t is as easy as ruling a
snow ball down steep hill The least
impetus Is Suficieut. The ball Increases
10 volume IS well as in sviftness, and the
only danger IS in attempting 10 stop it.
This, of course, where the material is rot
too composite though, even in this re-
spect. yon can safely combine more vari
Gus elemec.s than IN any ether society
know of.
I, In England. Successful dinuer-party
Is the re>ulI Of consummzte art. The 50
eial ingredients are a carefully measured
and mixed as IN sauce or salad. The
oil Of Mr. A. Is secured 10 neatraIiEe the
vinegar Of Mr.. B. The Misses Y. are
the chickens, those promising young gen
tlemen the lettuce, rich Mr.. and Mrs. So,
and-so the lobster, and somebody else the
mustard The host IS usually the spoon
Here. I an glad 70 say, there Is mere "a
ture ard les calculation. Repelians sub
stances are asoided. Of course. bas the
attractive quality Of the social atoms IS
much greater. Another .dvan zge-it
Is part Of German politeness 70 fdll.,
\ '-wall-foSeF@ or 'SGummy" Is the
Fzre>t app2ritlon Joh2nn2 kinkel. sitb
3 good deal oi truth. calls the h2bitusl
silence Of many really Intelligent English
women ld>isess eftAs iazS. Such per