The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-16
LETTER FROM UTAH.

CENTRAL CITY, Utah, Nov. 9th, 1871.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Old Madam Nature has
Just arrived in full winter costume, her
robes are of dazzling white, decked with
crystal gems of the most fantastic shapes;
she has locked the water from the cattles'
mouths, and bid the streams their music
cease; meantime her signs infect the
human soul Oh, she is stern old thing.
For days we have been enveloped in a ter
rble snow storm accompanied with hur
ricane, greater than ever witnessed before.
On the 22d as lay asleep sudden gust
of wind blew with such fury that it woke
me from slumber, and without premedita-
ton two barefoot bounced ON the floor and
was soon OH the stairs, regardless of the
uncomIiness of my attire, following others
in a similar dilemma, however our ark
stood the storm. On the evening of the
23d lighting and thunder played promi-
nent part in the great panorama, and two
or three grand avalanches of snow swept
in their flight two poor fellows names
from the living census, who have not been
found! We both read and hear of the
awful grandeur of the mountains of Europe
where every peak bears name, and poets
pen and musicians Tyre their rugged aspect
praise. Yet the highest peak Of the Pyre-
ness is just the same bright as some here
before me. Mount Blanc the celebrated
of the Alps is only about 8, 800 feet higher.
Mount Visto, of the Apennines, only 800
feet. Then if Americans desire the pic
turesque grandeur of mountain scenery,
why bother themselves with foreign tongues
and nations, when they have at home TO-
mantle scenery exquisite as the world can
afford. A Swiss said to me when he first
beheld those western ranges that it looks
exactly like "mine's country" A short
time among those majestic hills is enough
to convince an intelligent mind, that the
greatest atmospheric furies are embraced
within the limit of from 5000 to $4,000
feet above the level of the sea, and within
this space are congregated the vapors and
bus" or rain and snow clouds, from which,
owidg to the electricity, emanates the
flashes of lightning and peals of thunder.
l remember last summer when about 1O,-
900 feet above the level of the sea, was
caught in thunder storm and the light
ming appeared at every flash to stick to the
rivets of the saddle and play about on the
ground, inasmuch that l thought it pru-
dent to retire under shelter of some trees
so that 1 should not be the only conductor
for the electricity, but my Mustang was
like Balaam's donkey, immovable, so I left
him to his fate; yet both survived. 1t is
of no rare occurrence for those OMNIBUS !"
clouds in their onward course to strike
against the peak and burst those floating
fountains of water and go rushing impet-
uously down the mountain side taking
everything before it. This present storm
of snow has verified prior assertions that
elevation has the greatest influence of eli
mate immaginable, for while we have five
feet deep of snow to wade through and to
make snow balls of, only about ten miles
from here-down in the valley-there is
scarcely any, although the city and valley
of Salt Lake are over 4, 900 feet high, show
ing plainly that if Salt Lake City was low
as the level of the sea the climate there
would be very mild indeed in Winter. As
certain Prince of Persia once said to his
father, the King, SO can "Uncle Sans"
sons say to him: Father, at one end of
your kingdom POSSESSIONS the inhabitants
are almost frozed to death, while those at
the other end are scorched with the burn
ing sum-" For in the Northern States and
territories in winter while the inhabitants
thereof are clothed with flannel and furs
those in Southern States are sitting ''just
so" under piazzas, in light attire, con-
versing lovingly with cigarretted black
eyed bellies THos. STEPHENS.