San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-02-15
Our Editorial Bllzzard--.Home Truths
for Home CONSUMPTION.


feel like INDUCING in one. Our subJe'
naturally suggests itself as "Blizzards
Texas, their Consequences and Remedy
In the first place it must be quite clear b
this time that billiards. do come In Texas
All new corners of the past year as well a
older settlers, certainly now realize thu
however il might be classed in summer, our
in winter can scarcely be ranked as ''semi
tropicap, climate. In ante beltam days /
was common ut the North to describe al
advocate of Southern ideas and institution
there as northern man with southern
principles" In like manner good deal OF
the weather of late might have been happily
characterized as southern weather with
northern principles. The capabilities OF
this climate in the way of bad weather, at
occasionally manifested, are not only calcu,
lated to surprise visitors but actually to
..astonish the natives" however long set
tied in the country.
The main trouble in Texas, save during
the summer. arises from the sudden changes
of temperature. Not that it is worse than
anv other part of the United States, save
perhaps the Pacific slope, in this respect
Rut for obvious reasons the changes are
more felt here. Often in the winter, the
thermometer registers 700 to 800 above
zero. A ''norther" then comes on and In
the course of few hours it may fall as low
rs 200 above, rarely lower, though this
winter il reached II . and has been known
70 get down to 100 and even SO. OF
course such change from summer heat to
so far below the freezing point must tell
most unpleasantly on the human constitu-
ton. At the North the changes in winter
NAV bo and no doubt are equally sudden
and violent, but as they seldom start above
the freezing point they of course are not so
keenly felt.
The above state of facts is not recognized
IA il should be abroad, nor as it would seem,
even at home. The facts stated while un-
questionable, are really rather exceptional
The normal condition of the Texas climate
(our present observations relate to this part
of the State), is soft and mild as general
rule. Yet the eacepti0ns should certainly
be kept in mind as of tirst-class importance
to human comfort, health, and prosperity.
1t should never be forgotten that we are sub
ject to invasions of cold, which, following
periods of summer temperature, make as
good houses, barns, stables etc, as warm
clothing end bedding, just as indispensable
for the time being as in the northern states.
WITH these conditions, with adequate shelter
for man and beast-our brief inclement sea-
sons would be felt as scarcely an unpleasant
ripple on the surface our generally genial
climate, But when, az has thus far been
generally the case, theattemptis made to do
without all these condensation balloon"
houses, scarcely superior to tents, are the
prevalent style; when flimsy fnery is
substituted for good honest wooden clothing:
when no preparation is made for winter by
providing supply of fuel remand, and
wood-houses are nearly unknown; when
cattle and sheep, and often horses, are left
unsheltesed, and too often uufed, to the
sweeping, pitiless northers so that multitu-
des of them perish-we say i'll view of all
this, that. for the time it lasts, there is
probably moro suffering in Texas in the
winter than in any other state in the Union.
How intense the suiferings of the poorly
housed and clad people! 1t is quite certain
that most of the sickness and death we have
originate right here. Influenza. diphtheria,
Gatarrh, and pneumonia are the natural pro-
ducts of the state of thingswe have indicat-
ed. And how terrible the suferings of the
poor dumb bru:es TO whom man thus
proves false as a protector, and how i'm
mense the loss in dollars and cents from
this heartless i'm providence
These are facts And be it remembered
that Texas is not responsible for them.
What can be more absurd and unjust than
10 hear people, as we often do, denouncing
our grand ana nOOle SNa'e' Win ITO suOA'
winters and generally mild salubrious climate
for their own shortcomings Her climat,
it is true. is not perfection, but the mair
trouble lies with her people. In the langu
age of the old hymn, ''only man is vile
Let him but do his part, and the country
will be found good enough. And surely
the time Is fully here when a reform in thu
points we have suggested is entirely prac
ticable. A country which even occasionally
YIELDS two bales Of cotton to the acre and
other things in proportion. can surely fur
nish al who will labor and manage vel
Nth substantial, cOmfOrtab.e dwellings and