Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-07
RAMBLER'S NOTE BOOK.
A Week of Springfield Life Reviewed

In Somewhat Lively Styie-Rout of the
Weather Prophets-The First spring
Poem-Production Of the Lady of
Lyons-Ths Bookwalter CoIIec-
tion-Coiquitt and Leonard for
IssS-An Ebb of spirits,
Notes, News and Opin-
ions on Divers
Subjects.
Citizens of Ohio were joyfully informed
at the commencement Of winter by the Ell
tire Ohio press that the present winter was |
to be the mildest for years, and were fur
ther told that 1t would only be necessary to |
lay in two-thirds of their customary supply |
of coal. believe George Twiss, the weather
prophet of Columbus, was the prime mover
in giving out this ceeerful bulletin. George
had fonnd that the tails of raccoons and
ground squirrels have less hair on than
usual this year; that the corn shucks had
thin and tired appearance; that the water
was not cold enough to drown five pound
kitten on the I'd of December; that the
squirrels gave the hickory nut trees the
grand shake this year and failed to lay up
their usual supply of nuts; and vast num-
Der Of other signs, which all pointed to a
mild winter Our friend Mr.. Drury. of
Springfield, also thought that it would be a
mild winter; indeed we were entitled to a
mild winter on the ground of having had
three severe winters hand running. Con
fding citizens who believed in the open
winter theory, and who laid in only two
thirds of supply of coal, were hustling
| frantically around after that other third
last week, and 1t is more than probable
that before the winter is over they viii
want several thirds besides.
This winter has been more uniformly cold
than people realize. In 1850 We enjoyed
an exceedingly mild winter in Springfield.
l remember that on the a9th of January a
bed of crocnses were up and one of them in
full bloom in front yard at s7s West
Pleasant street. l remember writing the
following effusion on the subject: Sweet
little stranger, SO graceful and lovely,
springing 50 bravely from out the cold earth;
like to the children Of greatness and genius,
hedged by the brambies surrounding their
birth. Wasting thy perfume, and shedding
thy fragrance, thou hast made lovely thy
bleak little spot Stopped by no danger,
and pressing on bravely, sweet is thy being,
content with thy lot. Learn here lesson
proud man from this blossom, when sharp
distresses thy pathway entwine; struggle on
bravely, and 90 forth more toldly, then will
thy life be flower divine!-
1t will be observed that the above is
! poetry. notwithstanding the fact that nine
out of every ten readers probably read il
through without discovering the fact. 1t is
poetry, however; do not hesitate to char
acterize ii as such. Itcan be proved before
/, jury of intelligent American citizens that
it is poetry. IL is probably the toughest
spring poem ever written. l do not put il
in the form of verses, because the managing
editor is sitting near by with large ant
effective club. Any member of the
staff who allows himself to break oui
, into spring poetry is fined SAL
per line for every line thereof
Our society editor (alias the Jukt
de Beauseant) has paid out over $4,000 in
, fines for this cause in the past few months
He will not pause in his rash career how.
: ever, and as spring is coming on it is moi
at all unlikely that his entire fortune will bt
swept away In this manner. As the above
: poem is in prose form. satisfy myself
E will escape the fine. If the crocuses would
suddenly pop up and burst into full bloom
: Just at present would write poem on
/ 81 hat oh
will be observed that a hard winter ba:
$ some advantages
|, There has been more good Ice for skating
this winter than for many years. Contin.
: ued cold weather and little snow have done
, the business, and skaters have had their i'll
f of amusement We used always to have
a an ice rink or skating pond in Springfield,
but there has been none for some years.
+ This is probably due to the popularity OF
roller skating, and to tell the truth the ex-
posure of ice skating has carried many a
young girl to an untimely grave. No young
{ lady should be tempted for minute to in.
/ dulge in ice skating after night
A young and very witty society girl In
Springfield was heard to give utterance tt
the following highly original and pithy OBJ
5 servation concerning her own personal
charms She said: II may not be very
handsome, bnt I'm dog-gone stylish"-and
she is. too. The remark brought down the
house.
1t may not be generally known in this
] city that Rev. Fslconer, pastor of the First
z Presbyterian church studied law be
: fore adopting the ministry as his profes-
S sion. DIR. Falconer is one of the ablest di-
e vines in the Presbyterian church. Any
, legal questions which come up in the dis
cussions of the Presbyterian conference are
I usually referred to him for an opinion.
Prof S. jerome Uhl, the artist has just
cleaned and revarnished the picture of Gen.
Samson Mason in the public library, which
has wonderfully freshened and frightened
the canvas. The picture was painted in
, 1883 at Paris, by Prof. Uhl, from small
photo. Prof. Uhl said: II only had lit
tie three inch photograph of Gen. Mason to
paint the picture from representing him in
a standing attitude The cOuntenance was
only as large as ones finger nail. In paint
ing from it used a jewelers. magnifying
glass and made many sketches Of it to
thoroughly familiarize myself with the
!, features and expression" Prof. Uhl is
: | fttipv nm a vary fine Studio IN the Hahn