The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-19
OUR CLIMATE.
Observations on the Varieties of Cold and
Heat in This Country.

common to this latitude can scarcely
conceive OF temperature as much be-
low the lowest point reached here as
zero is below the freezing point. Forty
degrees below zero is not a rarity in the
high latitudes. Even in our own Alaska
seventy degrees below has been re-
corded
| The popularity of the cold in the far
than our cold. Even in Wisconsin and
Minnesota the weather, with the ther-
mOmeter at zero, is more comfortable
than it is here at twenty degrees above.
The reason is obvious. The atmosphere
there is dry, consequently not chilly
The people of Milwaukee and st. Paul
are said to suffer less from cold than
those of Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
So great is the difference that those
coming here from that section almost
perish with cold. although the ther-
mometer shows this to be the warmer
by twenty degrees. Persons going from
here up there feel more comfortable,
yet are in great danger of having their
ears and noses frozen as stiff as icicles
before they are aware of being cold,
owing to the marked difference in the
sensation.
A few years ago a gentleman came to
this city from Minneapolis. When he
left home winter had set in regularly,
and zero was in the ascendant. On his
arrival in Allegheny he concluded that
he must be sick and was having a chill.
He inquired as to the state of the ther-
mometer and was informed that it was
only few degrees below freezing point
Then he was certain he was sick. He
consulted doctor, who advised him to
get 4 heavier Overcoat, which he did,
but it was sometime before he could 90
out, even with heavy beaver on, with
out being chilled through and through.
Notwithstanding he had engaged in
business here, he was compelled to re-
turn North before the winter was over.
There his heavy Overcoat was q burden,
and he laid it away to be used in q
warmer climate.
We are probably in about the mean
est and most disagreeable belt of the
globe, as far as climate is concerned.
In winter it is piercingly cold or sloppy
! and chilly. In summer it is furiOuSly
hot or disagreeably muggy. OF course
there are pleasant spells. The patron
age of winter as well as summer resorts
is drawn mainly from our latitude.
Comparatively few Michigan, Wiscon-
sin or Minnesota people 90 South in
winter, and fewer still 90 North from
the Southern States in summer. In fact,
| Southern summer resorts are becoming
quite popular on account of the equable
temperature and general balmneSs.
Even as far South as Galveston, Texas,
the summers, to take them through, are
more pleasant than ours. 1t is true
thev have hordes of mosquitoes. but the
nights are delightfully."- cool and invigor-
ating. The beach is said to be the
finest on the continent and the bathing
unsurpassed. During the day the sun
is hot. bat only where it shines. Wher-
ever there is shade it is comparatively
cool.
The hottest place I ever was in, and
I've been in every nook and corner OF
the United States, is st. Paul" said a
veteran steamboat Captain one day last
summer. My first trip to st. Paul was
by river and we got there on the 4th
of July, and hot-well, hot was no name
for it. | didn't perspire, but simply
scorched The atmosphere was as dry
as powder and seemed to burn my face
and hands like blazing alcohol" >"
did it affect the natives as it did
you?"
30. no. They were used to it. Those
who had gone there from this State
and were acclimated said they rather
liked it, because they didn't sweat Sc
much nor have to change collars sc
often"
Have you ever been in Florida il
winter?"
Have I? Didn't steamboat on The
st. Johns River three winters and coas
around the lakes one summer"
'Its a great place"
''Great place! L should say it is-fo
alligators. sand flies and oranges"
Il mean a great place for invalidS. ,
20, yes. a great place for ''em to die
They most all die. Some few take tn
hint and slide for home in time to say,
double fare"
"You don't mean that the climat
has ANYTHING to do with their dying
queried gentleman who had abou
concluded to send his wife there on &c
count of lung disease that threatene,
her life.
That's just what I mean to sa
exactly, it kills 'em. Why, sir, it vii
make we'll man sick if it gets fai
whack at him before he becomes clima
tized. as they call it. Yes, sir. it kill
horses. cattle aud pigs that are takel
there from the North, and why not XII
people?'
"How does it affect them?"
e They Just get weak and lazy; los
all the snap they brought along wit
them. The doctor tells them that it
natural, that everything has to pas
, through that stage. and then he give
1 them qulnine - keep the malaria away.
PERHAPS you are prejudiced agains
D tbs place"
MAY he l be, bit know sna;
, when | see it sticking clear out of tn
water"
The doughty Captain may have bee
! somewhat preiudiced in his remarks
: but it is fact that domestic animal
r taken from Nothern States to Texas
! Louisiana Florida and portions of Al
J kansas. Mississippi, Alabama, Souther
e Georgia and South Carolina lose thei
1 vigor and soon die
S Experience has shown that it is no
good policy for parsons who have passe
the meridian OF life to migrate to theS
i places. The majority of them do no
5 acclimate well and soon break down
The same is true with delicate children