The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-12
THE DRIVEN SNOW,
And How IL Abides with Us I'm the
Fields, on the Streets, and
on the. Housctops.

The Sparkle OF the Sun upon the Snow;
DAZZLING MorninG-sIe,ghs upon the
Streets, SIeds upon the HilIsides, aud Lots
OF Fun for the Boys-Snow on Roofs; Pend
ing Uangers-Street-Car Diflculties-Tbe
Old Hare In Market-Notes and Comments
ON Life In Richmond-The Snow Else
wherc-Our Storm a Southern Institution,
&C., &c.
The sky was bright and blue yesterday
morning, and with the streets all covered
with spotless snow. the effect was daz-
cling rather too much so, indeed-ald
hundreds Of people, to save themselves
from amateur snow-blndness, proceeded
TO purchase blue or brown glasses. The
trade In this article was quite brisk, and
many citizens appeared on the streets thus
disguised.
sLEIGHISG.
The sleigbing, particularly on Franklin
and Grace streets, was very fine. Rich
mond enjoys the celebrity OF having more
one-horsc riding machines than any city OF
ITS population in the country, and yester-
day mcny OF these were placed on runners
and were made to appear in the procession
of sleighs which was all day, long moving
up and down the fashionable streets.
IL was awful Jolly for the boys and girls,
and it afforded fine field for counting, but
IL was hard lines on the horses. working
I'm snow IL at best laborious TO them, ana
when you consider that comparatively lew
are shod to encounter ice, or rather snow,
it will be understood that they are having
very little fun this weather.
THANKS.
The owners and drivers Of coal-carts,
omnibuses, hacks, and seighs almost took
possession OF the street-car tracks, which
had been cleared for the cars.
They should, perhaps, have returned
thanks to the street-car company, but
they said that what with the snow thrown
from the sidewalks and that thrown from
the tracks there was nowhere else for them
to co..
SNOW Oh ROOFS.
The weight of snow on some houses Is
about all that they are able to bear. The
safe plan is to have il cleared of promptly.
1t will cost very little to have it cleared oil;
to allow il to remain may subject the roof
to n strain, break the tin, let in the water;
and while such a consummatiOn will bring
joy TO the heart Of the timer and plumber,
it will Just rs surely bring tears to the eyes
of your wife.
As remmisence OF 1857 land to help on
the boys who are making business OF
cleaning off roofs), it may be mentioned
that the roof Of the Danville depot was
broken by the weight of the snow upon it,
causing the company no little loss and in
convenience. II was crushed in the night,
but for which circumstance no doubt loss
of life would have attended the accident.
That was the building destroyed by the
fire Of the eyacuation; the predecessor OF
the present freight-dep0t building.
CoAsTING.
Providence seems to have specially de-
signed the hills about Richmond for coast
ing. There is no cramping for space. The
hllsides are ample, and what is calculated
to make the sport exciting. there Is gene
rally a stream OF water af the foot OF the
hills, into which the coaster may or may
not plunge, according as he Is able to
guide his sled with skill.
The coasting is so good. and the chances
OF the snow remaining here long so bad,
that il is feared that some OF the boys VIII
play truant from school. That they ought
not to do. Oh, no. Their fathers never
played trtIant TO go swimming, skating, or
coasting, and they never should-if they
have reason to think they will be caught.
The boys arc all advised to seek the hill
sides on the outskirts. The sidewalks in
the heart OF the city are not tit places for
them. II makes an elderly gentleman very
mad to be walking up the street and to
have boy and sled pass between his legs
almost before he knows it.
THE COASTERS OUTFIT.
When the boy comes out in the morning
he represents in bis outfit an hours hard
work done by his mother. There Is the
cap planted down on his head as deep as it
will 20 there is the comforter around his
neck and ears; there is his overcoat all
| buttoned up tight; there are his gloves on
snug and nice, and bis shoes cased either
| i'll rubbers or Arctics, or, what is better,
| in a pair OF yarn socks, knitted in the
country by some dear old grandma, who is
scarcely aware that nowadays at Oscar
| Wilde germans they are not worn. That
il TO say, they are not worn by gentlemen;
| what the ladies wear no one knows.
However, ghe boys are having fun with
the sleds, and the girls are no doubt sigh
|
to-day But they are not. and cannot be
(unless they are very smaID, for the yicis-
situdes OF a party on sled are manifold,
and in the rapid descent OF hill one never
knows how many times he may be turned
inside out.
SNOW oyERHANGISG EAvEs.
A feature OF the existing snow is the
great masses of it found attached to cor
nices and caves OF houses on the northern
side of streets. The snow was driven
against such houses until it overran the
wood or brick, and in many cases now
depends thereirom TO the extent OF two or
three feet. There was Just little thaw-
ing Yesterday, and few Of these masses
were detached. But unless removed, as
they should be wherever life may be en-
dangered, they will at some time come
down with force that will be very un-
wholesome for whatever person may hap
peu 10 be in the line of their descent.
There Is already an army OF roof-cleaners
out. All persons who employ them would
do well 10 see that they do not go upon the
roofs with creepers" on. The "creep-
ersD will work rum to q TIN roof. There
are roofs in this city that have been most
injurIously perforated by these things worn
upon the shoe-heels Of great, big men.
| THE POOR.
The poverty existing in this city at this
time Is perhaps no greater than 1t usual
ly is at this season OF the year, when there
are many persons unemployed, and when
fuel and provisions are high; but at such
seasons there is always enough to stimulate
the exertions OF the benevolent, and to
open the hearts and hands OF the truly
charitable.
The various societies and church organi-
cations do n vast deal to prevent suffering,