Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-07
SnOW.
BY EDITH II. THOMAS.

There Is great variety in the quality and
fibre of the snow as ii falls at different tempera-
lures, in quiet, or ceaselsssly worried by the
wind. "Hail is the coolest corn, declares an
ancient rune. However that may be, by the
chat that is driven in our faces we know that
they threShing up yondcr this afternoon.
At some other time ii is not chafr but heavenly
grain such as the horses OF the Homeric deities
may have munched). that is lavshly scattered
abroad. To walk upon such snow is very like
attempting to walk in Il bin OF wheat, and a
dry, cradBching sound attends each footstep.
Sometimes it SHOWS not flakes but little ftSccs
OF crystalline fagotS; sometimes, also, m MA
ture snowballs well packed, ready made il, the
sport OF the invisible sprites OF the storm.
Again. by the hncneSS and softneSs of the flake,
ii appears that the old traditional goose-wife,
who lives iii the Clouds is plucking only the
down from under the wings of her flock; she is
not 50 painstaking and fastidous at ali times
Occasionally am reminded that there is 81 lap
idary in heaven, who takes the rough gem of
the snow, and by secret dexterity-cuttine. pol
iShing and aVing-caUSeS it to Wear a thou
sand lovely forms and devices Perhaps these
are the
"BeantIfll things made new, for the surprise
OF the sky children,
which Saturn promised there should be on his
regaining the empire of the skies Or II may he
that these crystal stars and wheels in all
curious and fanfaStic variations, are expert
ments in pyrotcchnics,-frOzen fireworks, in
which the rockets are made to take only de-
sccnding curves l sometimes please myself
with imagining that when these exquisite frag-
earth, by some reconcile law OF attraction or
correspondence, they it themselves together,
point locking into angle and side matching
side. Might not an ear divinely gifted detect
faint musical report 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 followinga-
" Six petals has the lily stainless white
And six the wandering blossom OF the snow:
II these their constant order could fcrego
plight"
But science appears, raising the question
whether the snow crystal Invariably sings the
songs OF skies. invariably follows the law of the
lilys inflorcscence. The snow which fails in
these obvious crystalline patterns is of the light
est and most daphanouS quality. \ broken
branch lies upon the ground. completely COW
cred with this delicate cOnnterpane, yet every
twig and bud is still plainly defined. I have a
fancy that | would like to see halfbIown
crimson roses inclosed, but not concealed,
in such a cool white shrine. The season
which most regard as forbiddingly aScetic-
has it not its touches of refinement and luxury?
Sometimes, for several nights in succession,
there Will fall a light film OF snow, not adding,
practically, to that already upon the ground,
yet su1llcing to remove all stains and blemishes
of the day. Thus Nature takes care OF her COM
pIcXIon in winter so renewing il. from morn
ing 10 morning. that it still presents in
fantine S0ttncSs and smOOthnesS of TEXTURE
March, atlantic.