New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-16
COLD WEATHER.

COLD WEATHER.
The Winter has come upon Us swiftly and
suddenly, and it seems only yesterday that we
were condoling with our readers upon the tor
rjdity of the atmosphere. We have cast our
linen jackets and gone into wooden; caulked our
windows, kindled our coal fires, end made gen.
orally ready for our Information. Since IT IS
certain that, while man docs not live by bread
alone, he must still have bread to live, the hISt
consideration which occurs to Us IL that the sea-
son of nor. production finds tho cost OF living
enormous, and all subsidiary comforts nordi-
natcly expensive. TO keep ourselves duly sup
piled with oxygen, we must eat considerably
more in cold weather than in hot; and although
we are not obliged, like the Esquimau1, to
Gorge ourselves to repletion, yet robust diet Is
necessary enough TO make us think OF the butch
ers prices with alarm. Clothing, still greater
Winter necessity, is not to be had ior an oid
song. Coal, the sine qua non OF comfort, may
vet fall great deal without being at all cheap.
All families of moderate means, supported Dy
fixed incomes which have not been adequately
increased with the increased cost of living, VIII
be forced to exercise no little skill anu pru-
dence TO get through the Winter comfortably
and without slipping uneonSciously into the
he'll Of debt. general famine is impossible
and will probably be impossible at least for q
century in the United States; but this fact does
not preclude the possibility Of many cases OF phi
waite want. sometimes concealed with instructive
selfrespect and the pride which CANNOT forget
the DAYS which were better because they were
independent. But it is needless for us to sug'
rest the duty Of watchful, sympathetic and
unos,en,stous charity. II is not an American
habit to permit any to suffer whose want Il
apparent; and both our public and private
charities are munifcent, and sometimes thought
lessly and injuriously lavish. We, therefore
regard all priyation, short Of complete desti
tuition. with the feeling, that after all, 1t may
be necessary discipline. There ID
prevalent notion that, as people
We are nggardly; whereas, there Is no ranol
under the sun which spends lis money vi tn sucl
reckless freedom, and which buys 80 ire
quen,ly withou; any prudent computation @
the cost. In no other country do the mechanic
eat flesh three times day. and in no other d
the wives of mechanics wear silk dresses an
French hats. We did, undoubtedly, just subse
onen,ly to the Revolution, have our era OF rigi
T domestic economy, although. even then, we nm
DR.. Franklin mourning over the e1travaganc
Of people still poor, and still heavily in debt
( Perhaps We are not in such pressing nee
a. our ancestors were Of his caustic oautiont
for we are certainly richer than they were
but, like them, we are under the pre-
sure of heavy public debt; and, like then
NO have just emerged from long Oh
exceedingly expensive war. Domestic econom
alone can repair the waste Of hostilities, and Ia
suspended production Of two OF our most IN
portant staples. And this public duty rlgldl
recognized, will make the burdens Of the famil
, easier TO bear, and save many circles from irr
| liability. anxiety and deplorable contention.
. For let us recolloct that the harsh climat
which drives us within doors and keeps US ther
= is, or may be, the nurse of many manly an
b. womanly virtues which are unknown TO sur
nier and softer regons-that it Is pecularl
friendly to intellectual cultivation, and afford
the best opportunities for refined and alleyiatin
u social intercourse Letters have been preserved
: social freedom perpetuated, and the materi'
prosperity OF mankind advanced, mainly throug
y the fundamentally Of those harder Norther
9 races which now dominate over the who
4 globe-races intolerant of Slavery, incapab
a of subsection, firm without lack of intelligence
and earnest without passion-the builger
q the adorners and the conservators Of Home
Our political strength is in our domestic Gu
y ture, and the hustings are what the hearthston
makes them We may well welcome, then, th
season which suggests so many sources an
affords so many opportunities Of quiet an
rational and enrolling happiness-whch draw
8 close together those who are bound by the tel
derest human relations-which gives us tn
, long evening hours dedicated to the culture {
the mind and the affections, and during th
course of which occur our most ancient an
, our dearest holidays
. Tbo cnIlou,ino hit of Testimony il from