The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-08-04

Without Summer-History of One of the
Coldest Years on Record-Frost Through
out the Summer-Distress and Want Oc-
casioned.
r. II. Martin in Richmond, Va, Dispatch.
The accounts of blizzards in the great
Northwest, and of storms of wind, snow
and cold which have recently claimed public
attention, have afforded both entertainment
and instruction. But the year 1916 pre-
sents record of such phenomenal weather
continuing throughout the whole year as
must claim the interest of the casual reader
as well as the profound thought of the stu
dent of nature and of history. The year
1916 is celebrated in history above all
others, recorded in this +: twas a year that
had no summer.
The first months of this remarkable year
gave no indication of the strange weather
that was to follow. January and Febru-
airy were mild rather than severe, for the
season, with no unusual or prolonged cold
weather Still, without being unusually
severe, there was sufficient wind and wet,
snow and ice, cold and gloom, to make the
first harbinger of spring pleasant visitor.
The dull monotonous days, the enforced
indoor life, and the bleak and barren aspect
of winter create longing and an impa-
tience for the bright sunshine and genial
atmosphere of spring; and, by frequent and
sudden changes from one to the other ex-
treme, heighten the contrast,
APRIL SMILES.
So, when the latter part of March and
the first of April had united in furnishing
beautiful spring weather and all nature be-
gan to smile and cast off the sombre gar
ments of winter to assume the many and
brilliant hued vesture of spring, our ances-
tors of the year 1916 greeted the ap-
preaching spring with the same high hopes
and bright anticipations with which We
welcomed it in 1888.
March had come in like lion, shaking
his shaggy name and filling the hills and
valleys with his roar. He shook the
window panes furiously, banged shutters
and signs, overturned fences, and played
mad pranks with chimney cowls Sudden
ly, about the middle of the month, the lion
and lamb of his dual nature lay down
together and delightful season followed
April, wreathed in sunny smiles and spark
ling with pearly drops in her roguish eyes,
came tripping after. Under the genial in
fluence of several weeks of springike
weather, so softly warm and warmly soft,
avelvet robe of deepest green began to cover
the earth, buds swelled to bursting on the
trees, wild flowers sprung up in hooks ex-
posed to the sun and sheltered from the
wind, farmers prepared the soil for spring
crops, gardens were made, and the seeds of
early vegetables planted All nature re-
joiced in the new born spring.
JACK FROST.
A chance came over the spirit of Aprils
dreams. Suddenly in night, Jack Frost,
seated on the wings of cold and bolster
GUS northwester, swept over the land, and
touching the first born Of spring with his
Icy finger, slew them all. The swelling
bud on the tree, the modest violet nesting
under the wings of the wild thorn, the
fragrant arbutus trailing beneath its warm
coverlet of the last autumn's leaves, tho
tender vegetable in the garden--all fell before
the cold and cruel touch of Jack Frost
Every green thing the bright sunshine and
genial warmth had called into life lay dead
and withered. Hoary old Winter usurped
the throne of Spring, blew his icy breath,
mirrored the ponds and streams with ice,
and sent legions of snow squalls sweeping
over the land.
After so grievous disappointment one
can well imagine how the generation then
living turned their hopes to May for that
spring which April had so fairly promised
and so quickly broken. April at best is a
wild coquette, wilful and capricious in
whose sunniest smiles lurk fckleness; but
May is a modest maiden, sweet and con.
slant as she is beautiful The month of
flowers and bursting buds and golden sun
shine and poesy and love was turned to for
balm to heal the wounds of cruel April
The farmer and the gardener planted aud
sowed in hope and faith,
AN UNNATURAL MAY.
But the May of 1916 was not what she
had beenl She was frosty jade and a
spiteful wench. Her frowns were many,
her smiles few. Jack Frost, issuing again
from his polar lair, swept nightly over the
land at the head of his fantastic and bar
barrie host, who slew every species of vege-
table life without regard to age, sex, rank,
or condition. Northerly winds swept over
the country with a dismal moap-the re-
ou;am of the huried homes of the neonle