The New York herald., 1872-12-01
THE COLD SNAP"
Old Boreas Howling About the Tingling Ears Of
Metropolitans- Cruel, Bitter Snow and
the Slippery streets-The Waits at
Nights Suffering and Dsstitution--
The Tale Of the Thermometer

with q seeming intention Of remaining for some
time yet to come. The uiwelcome visitor has not
received very pleasant greeting from our grumb-
ling citizens. The skies wear frigidity OF aspect
that is positively neartrendng to the person
who has in fond recollection the soft
beauty OF sthe Summer and the dreamy
sadness OF the Autumn. The Winter is
really arrived with all his goomy accessories OF
crmine pomp and glitter. We wake in the morn
ing and dnd, mayhap, the sun shining pleasantly
through our chamber windows, lighting every
object upon which his rays rest with kindly
but deceitful cheerfulness and seeming to invite
US ont from the couch OF Incidence into the free air
OF nature We leave the cOsey enclosures and folds
OF warmth to step upon chilly floor, perhaps; but
hone spurs us on and we dress with alacrity and
issue forth into the morning. Ugh!
HOW BITTERLY COLD!
ntful breeze blows in our face and seems to cut
ercely through the flesh and freeze the very veins
OF life. The nose becomes blue. the ears become
fiery red and the cheeks smart with the
intensity Of the cold. Gloves are fables and
answer not to fend the wind ana the
fingers are numbed to the marrow. How quickly
that morning walk is terminated furnishes food for
the meditatons Of the man who philosophers on
human weaknesses and laughter for the gay cynic
who jauntily watches the lugubrious passers-by
from the warm contentment of his pleasant win
dow. lie has had the sense to avoid the harsh
bufetIngs OF the north wind. But the streets are
thrOnged by those who are the slaves Of necessity
and circumstance and face the keen afiiction
with the courage of desperation. II is amusing to
note the antics which are played with unmanagea-
BILE skirts by
THE TESTING WIND,
and the beauty OF form and gait OF New York's
women is most apparent on these bitter days. when
ated' by the accommodating mood of nature.
They always come out in troops on the
first cold days Of Winter. Rosy cheeks
being in great requisition, and of somewhat
dificult acquisition without the aid OF cosmetics,
the explanation becomes apparent without further
comment 1t Is really refreshing fact, therefore,
that genuine "Od-fashiOned cold snaps' do period
lcally occur to embesh the pale cheeks OF our
city fair ones and make them rival the captivating
roses OF rural fame.
Yesterday seemed more like the traditional
Thanksgiving Day than Thanksgiving Day itself,
and this fact was remarked by many persons past
the prime OF life who walked out through the
fresh, crisp mantle OF snowfakes that had fallen
during the night. 1t has become almost a
part Of the picture % which cannot be omitted that
with snow, wrapped In her wintry Sleep
But in our prosaic., metropolis, where the
very presence OF toll and trafiic seems to
frighten away the jolly nymphs OF pastoral
scenes Thanksgiving days and Christmas and New
panment. Yesterday old men abandoned absently
the habit OF demonstrating and reverted to past
THE .sCoLD SNAPS, OF THE OLD TINE
with the present one. The conclusions arrived at
were that there have been few more severe ones
ever occurred than that Of yesterday.
on the street the advent Of Winter was marked
by the frequency Of heavy. thick overcoats that
area worn number asS arays sn
going and coming in every direction
with their loads suggestive Of
slippery and the tread OF thousands OF feet
polished the iced snow until it was as hard as the
vehicles slid and strained and tottered on in peril
of life and limb. Broadway was as crowded as
ever 1t was, and the steady stream seemed
fastened on faster than usual BY the
PIERCING TONGUES OF THE BREEZE
that hurried along with them and never ceased its
torment. In the Central Park there were several
sleghs swinging along the rOadways, but its gen.
eral aspect was dreary, empty and desolate in the
When night came on the streets presented more
sad pictures OF sin than ever before. The pinched
haggard bad, weak or pleading faces Of the lost
creatures OF pass0n-for many OF whom there was
little hope Of bed or shelter out of the cruel night
haunted one afterwards when they had once been
piteous scenes OF all were those In which the CEN
tral figure was some scarcely clothed waif
crouched against hard, cold iron fence, weeping
in the darkness and asking the passers with =
hopeless accent, for small gift The station
houses were crammed with
DESTITUTE AND HOMELESS PERSONS
who lay sleeping upon the hard floors, ranged In
long unseemly rows. The stage drivers suffered
intensely. Broadway was q brilliant and grand
scene, with Its glaring lights and grand perspective
OF majestic buildings but 1t seemed cold, dreary
and cruel In its beauty, with agony and sorrow
hidden in the throng that continually swept along
the cherries pave.
THE WEATHER wIsEACREs
declared that yesterday was the cOdest day OF this
season and also somewhat colder than its cor
respondent OF last year. The lowest point to
which the mercury dropped yesterday, at about
two O'Clock In the morning, was fourteen above
zero. At the same hour and on the same day ofIS71
1t at nineteen and the lowest point reached was
at six A. M. and nine p. NJ, when It was at seven
teen. Later In the evening yesterday the weather
grew warmer, and at nine =. M. the Thermometer
was at twenty. At midnight there was little
change, and the people in the streets buTeted
themselves and ran brskly in order to keep them
selves from cOngelation before they should reach
their couches, II they happened to be SO fortunate
as to possess any.