The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-07-17

does not long contir ne in the valley.
and the sublimity of the view is thus
improved BY the dignity which the
white mantle lends to the surrounding
hills. The summer, however, like the
spring, is. in the Engadine, transition
period of very brief duration. Soon
the snowfall becomes more heavy, and
the '.snowing-in" begins. In two or
three days several feet may fall. and
one morning finds the ground thickly
covered with garment which will re-
main for about five months. The time
ut which this, which marks the begin
ming of winter. takes place, varies con-
siderably in different years. but it is
pretty safe to average its durati on from
November 18th to May LIST.
The ..snowing-in" period is often
supposed to be an extremely objection
able and almost intOlerable time. Like
SO many other things, it is not so bad
as it is painted. No doubt the thaw-
ing of fresh-fallen snow is not pleasant,
and the large quantity which often falls
tends to make it still more disagree
able; butin high-lying place, like St.
MOritz, for instance, the water quickly
runs of. and owing to the extreme dry
ness OF the air large quantities of mois-
ture speedily evaporate. This transit
ton period does not last long. A few
days of unsettled weather lead, as a
rule. to the heavy downfall. and then
a spell of calm, cloudless days will
usually follow. Wheef-peA;cles are re-
placed by sledges, snow CATERS are put
on. and visitors, as well as natives,
give themselves up to the pleasures OF
tobogganning. The tobaggan is q
small sledge, about forty-two inches
long, by fourteen inches wide, on
iron runners. The rider drags it to
the top of q steep snow slope. on
which the snow has been beaten down
so as to become hard, sits astride it
with feet slightly projecting in front,
and allows himself to slide. Soon he
is rushing through the air at ire
mendous pace; all his attention is
bent on turning the corners neatly
and with the least possible inter-
ference with the motion of the
machine. Faster and faster he goes
down the steep incline, with q cry Of
'.Achtungr' to warn any one of the
course; at the same time he keeps q
sharp lookout for dangers ahead. until
he reaches the long piece on the level
which ends his journey. Strange to
say, there are very few accidents. al
though the speed is considerable. often
amounting to more than twenty-five
miles an hour. The mode of guiding q
toboggan is either by pressing lightly
with the heels on the side toward which
one wishes to go. or by using one OF
two sticks held in the hands. By press
ing both feet the brake is applied and
the machine readily stopped, except
when the upper surface of the track is
glazed with ice; in this case . halt is
made by running off the course into
the soft snow on either hand.
As q winter amusement skating. OF
course, holds . high place. At the be-
ginning of winter the Kinks. of which
at St. NORTH there are three. and
one each at Samaden, Pontre-
sino and Maloia, are covered
with people. old and young, men,
women. and children. the majority of
skates 6eSore The difficulties of bal
anc'ng on two props, which long ex-
perience has enabled us to manage
-
nary ground. are very mnch increased
when the surfaces in contact arc re-
duced to two narrow edges of steel;
and the beginner on these Kinks has the
misfortune Of having all his tumbles on
the hard. unyielding surface of . solid
mass of ice. But these difficulties are
speedily overcome. and much good skat-
ing can be seen ON the Kinks. So highly
is the amusement appreciated that
many persons como from England for
q short holiday If month or sixweeks
about Christmas In order to enjoy it.
II sometimes happens that NO snow
falls while the i've lakes in the Enga-
dine are freezing over. and. in conse-
Qucnce, skating on them is possible.
Such has been the case for several
weeks this year. Many of the winter
visitors, hale and invalid alike, spend
the whole day. from sunrise to sunset.
on the .nks, and this for the greater
part Of the four months during which
the water continues frozen. Lunch is
partaken Of ON benches ON the ice, and
although surrounded By snow, people
are warmed, aud even scorched, BY the
fierce heat ct the sun, which is not only
kSossAC0 0OWA0 AOSesy Ou suclus Uut 3ASO
reflected from the surface Of the snow
and ice around. II Is thus that 80 many
invalids are here enabled to regain
their strength. The power Of the suns
action Is shown by the bronzed appear
ance Of those who leave the Eneadine
in the spring. whose countenances ex-
cite much attention and surprise from
the pale-faced inhabitants Of the plains.
Very often persons skating find it nee
essary 70 hold up umbrellas and para
soils to shelter them from the heat q
the SUM curious and unwonted sight
-F0rtRi1atly RcrjcsC.
AT > recent meeting Of the Boston
Society for Medical Observation, Dr..
Folsom cted the vital statistics Of
Massachusetts for forty yeara ~ show
ing . decrease in number of deaths
from consumption in that State. Only
about one-sixfh Of the total death rata
Is now caused BY the disease. The doc
tor thought physicians were too much
inclined to give unfavorable prog.
n0etics IN such cases, and he advised