The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-12-26
CANADA IN WINTER.
c EOrresp0ndent.

By 4 Tribune Correspondent.
Abont two weeks ago the fine weather,
which had stood by us SO beautifully, sud
denly left us-took French leave, l sup
pose it wouli be proper to say-and since
then the gray lady of the North " has
been robed in the purest of ermine.
When the snow first began it was decor
our enough, but before night it was tossing
and careening about the houses and whirl-
ing around in our well like back yards in
the maddest fashion Imaginable. All night
long the storm ragged, and in the morning
oar double windows were mutlled half way
to the top in snow. AS the wind died down,
the glossy tin roofs refused to hold any
longer their great drifts, and dislodgcd
them with Il dull roar upon the pavements
b. low. And not upon the pavements only,
that would have been innocent enough, but
upon the unsuspecting heads of the pub
lie. | do not know of any sight that is
more amusing to comfortably housed per-
son than snow, slide and its consequences.
It's not dangerous, only very surprising
and provoking to the victim, and am sure
there ale few moments more bewildering in
tie life of man than those in which he is
crushed 10y small avalanche of snow from
steep roof four or or five stories above
his head. But since snow has to get down
somehow, and since, with the total deprav-
lily of inanimate things, it usually selects
that moment to slide when f4ultlessly
attired gentleman is directly under, where
is the harm of making 4 study of human
nature by watching? Under such circum-
stances the victim hops from foot to foot,
he spreads out his hands, he erects his cane,
he even swears, but he never runs; l can
not imagine why he does not. 1t would
ltl,
do but he never does Iun. But after ice
is mixed with snow, as is often the case,
these slides cease to be amusing, and the
city sees that the caves are cleal ed of it.
WINTER PLEASURES AND RECREATIoNs.
The sleighing is superb, and the clear
bracing air makes ga promenade in 4
Sleigh as some of my French friends ex-
press it. highly enjoyable. The sleighs are
very different from those seen in our home
cities. The runners are solid and so low
that when seated you are only about a foot
above the ground. Over the back of the
sleigh and almost sweeping the snow,
hangs robe, which give the turnout quite
Il Rus SIAN appearance, and this is enhanced
by the driver as he sits clad in a great coat
of some coarse fur and high cap of IL
same. 1t is wonder full 10 see how warmly
people are clad here. The very beggars
who come To our door are suugly wrapped
in cloaks and fur hoods. The Intense cold
has taught Canadians a lesson which we
III our almost equally cold climate are so
slow to learn. From head to foot Canad.
ian prepares for the biting cold, and the
effect of this care is seen in the health peo-
pie one every where meets
With this month commences one of the
Winter amusemepts-snow- shoeing. A
party of young folks select moonlight
night, and meeting somewhere near the
walls-for snow shooting is not allowed
within-they sally out with their shoes
upon their backs and when once out enjoy
long walk, or as they call it, "une course
en- raquettes,' which often extends over
three or four miles, and over the fields and
country roads. Ii is grand fun to walk
wight over fences or clear any obstruction
with bound, though to do this gracefully
one must be expert in managing his long
shoes. Both ladies and gentlemen have a
regulation dress for these expeditions. All
veal moccasinS and double stockings, and
the ladies short dresses. as long ones bring
their wearerS to griet very speedily. !
think nothing can lie more magnificent
than the moonlight here. 1t is totally diff
ferent from the soft luster of the moon at
home, and think no one would apply the
adjective "slveryH to it. 1t is rather
golden, and as the full noun shines out of
a cloud it sparkles through the sharp air
with the radiance of diamonds. II llumes
the darkest places, and pervades the house
through every window from which the cur
tain is araWu, until, waxing in the night,
Ono thinks it is morning.