, 1862-01-10
The Weather

During the past two weeks has been ex-
cessively cold. Snow has been lying on the
ground to the depth of eight or ten inches,
huge icicles hanging pendant from the caves,
and water freezing into solid ice. On Sat
urday morning last, the thermometer stood
at ten degrees below zero, which was the
coldest day we have had, and we think
quite cold enough. Whewl how the cold
frost bites, and the snow creaks under foot
Sunday the weather moderated little, but
up to within day or two, it hes been uni
formly so cold since the storm set in as to
render outdoor life extremely disagreeable
1t is delig htful sleighing SO far as the snow
is concerned; but so far as the weather is
concerned, it is not SO delightful 1t is
really too cold to enjoy sleigh-ride. An
half hours riding will furnish a man a COM
plete coat of white-the breath congeals al
most as rapidly as in the Arctic regions
Everything hereabouts is decidedly frigid.
Well, we can't have sleighing, and Eear the
jingling sleigh-bells, the merry shout of
joyous revelry, the life and zest of winter
sports, without plenty Of snow; neither can
we to an enjoyable degree, with such con-
fessedly cold weather Why in the world
can't moderate temperature of atmosphere
bring us the season of winter sports, with
out restncting us to indoor life to escape
the freezing cold? 1t is fortunate that such
weather is of short duration in this locality,
for we can see but little use of it. Sleigh
riders can't enjoy it; business certainly re-
ceives no impetus through its continuance !;
the mail coach is obstructed in its course,
cutting off even the stray glimpses of the
world around US which we have heretofore
enjoyed; the teamsters can't propei load
ed wagon Trough foot of snow, nor can
they cross the creeks with sleds the farm
ers are surely not infatuated with the wealth
er, aud the laundry-women can't dry their
clothes.
Some friend, possessing the admirable
quality of being resigned to all things, may
suggest that &" it isn't half so cold as it used
to be back in the States ;" but what if it
isn't? We don't run on cold Weather here,
we don't wear overcoats, mittens, muffs,
furs aud shawls and bundle up with dozen
appliances in order to escape with dear life
We don't have all these appliances to rem
der eigh-ride agreeable, nor an adequate
preparation for the prosecution of business
pursuits through a long winter season. Our
farmers dent have capacious barns, it'll
ample sheds all round them and stalls in
side, for their horses and cattle; they don t
have the big hay-mOws and granaries, with
an everlasting store Of provisions for win
ter and our laundry-folks don't have the
old-fashionel garet to dry their clothes in.
We don't live in houses constructed for the
purpose of keeping the cold out, but to shell
ter us from the heat and secure at all times
free and healthy circulation of air. Our
buildings are not latLed and p'astered and
ce:led, and stuffed with " ool and batting to
make them warm. Either our style is at
fault in every essential particular, or else
the weather is at fault. There is too much
friction and we insist that we have no use
for such weather in this particular locality.