The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-03-12
Snow.
There is great variety in the quality

There is great variety in the quality
and fibre of the sGow as it falls at diff
ferent temperatures, in quiet, or cease
Iessly worried by the wind Hail is
the coolest corn," declares an ancient
rune. However that may be, by the
| chatf that is driven in our faces we
know that they are threshing up yon-
der this afternoon. At some other time
it is not chatf, but heavenly grain (such
as the horses of the Homeric deities
may have munched). that is lavishly
scattered abroad. To walk upon such
snow is very like attempting to walk in
a bin of wheat, and dry. craunching
sound attends each footstep. Some
times 1t SHOWS not flakes, but little
fasces of crystalline fagots; sometimes,
also, miniature snowballs, well packed,
ready made for the sport of the invisi-
bic sprltes of the storm. Again, by
the tlneness and softnesS of the flake, it
appears that the old traditional goose
wife, who lives in the clouds, is pluck
ing only the down from under the
wings of her flock; she is not SO pains
taking and fastidious at all times. Oc-
casionally | am reminded that there is
lapidary in Heaven, who takes the
rough gem of the snow, and by secret
deXterlty-cutting, polishing, and en-
gravlng-causes it to wear thousand
lovely forms and devices. Perhaps
these are the
Beautiful things made new, for the surprise
OF the sky children
which Saturn promised there should he
on his regaining the empire of the
skies. Or 1t may be that these crystal
stars and wheels, in all curious and
fantastic variations, are experiments in
pyrotechnics, frozen fireworks, in
which the rockets are made to take on
ly descending curves. | sometimes
please myself with ina ginning that when
these exquisite fragments come to a
common restingplace On earth, by
some recondite law of attraction or cor
respondence they fit themselves togeth-
er, point locking into angle and side
matching side. Might not an ear di-
vine y gifted detect faint musical re-
port when these morning stars of the
snow celebrate their union? .'And
they all sing, melting as they sing, of
the mysteries of the number six. six,
SIX" With unadvised haste the Muse
gave out the following
''Six petals has the lily stainless white,
And six the wandering blossom of the snow;
II these their constant order could forego,
Sun, moon, and stars would break their sacred
plight
But Science appears, raising the ques-
ton whether the snow crystal invaria-
bly, sings the song of skies, invariably
follows the law of the lily's intiores-
cence. The snow which falls in these
obvious crystalline patterns is of the
lightest and most diaphanous quality
A broken branch lies upon the ground,
completely covered with this delicate
counterpane, yet every twig and bud is
still plainly defined. | have fancy
that | would like to see half-blown
crimson roses inclosed, but not con-
cealed, in such cool white shrine.
The season which most regard as for
biddingly ascetic,-has it not its touch
es of refinement and luxury? Some
times, for several nights in succession,
there wiz fall light film of snow, not
adding, practically, to that already
upon the ground, yet sufficing to re-
move all stains and blemishes of the
day. Thus Nature takes care of her
complexion in winter, so renewing it,
from morning to morning, that it still
presents an infantine softness and
smoothness of teXture-Edith AZ.
Thomas, s7a March atlantic.