Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-25

It will hardly DO to assume, from the mild and
SDrfnyIfke weather WHEN has blessed this part OF
the earth for the greater part Of the last fort
nIght that BOreas and the snow king have been
banished for any considerable time. Nature
WORKS upon q system OF averages which must be
considered in every estimate OF coming events.
However great and irregular the fluctuations the
mean temperature Of one season Is very much Ike
that Of the corresponding season In another year.
Warmth In winter and cold in summer are alb
normal conditions, and period OF gentle, balny
weather OUT OF IT. proper course Is apt TO be Offset
by compensatory chill shortly before or after
ward A careful observer who has kept a daily
record for more than twenty years cites some In
teTesting incidents in proof OF this fact. The be-
ginning OF 1858 was very severe. The sth of Feb
Tuary was the coolest day OF the year, and. with
the exception OF day or two, the cold continued
I'LL the 1rst week IN March, when the thsrlnom-
eter rose and stayed az high point TIL the oIst
ON that day heavy snow-stormS fen In various
parts Of the country rs to block railway travel
Then came another milo spen, which, broken Dy
occasional figTrieS OF snow in New England and
The Northwest, was permanent
the next year the winter months were all mod
crate By the 9Th OF February the peach trees
were IN blossom In south carolina, and peas were
a loot out OF ground in Georgia by the 18TH while
robins and blueDiris appeared in the latitude or
Bosom. on the - Of March the mercury dropped
suddenly, and the real winter set In, and stayed
WIN us TN we had thoroughly tired oft
The February OF 1870 was mid Also although
the early part OF the winter had been rather Try
lag March again proved q hard one, but April
was nne.
The whole Of the next winter was fierce, and
through large part Of the country the mercury
went below zero several times during February.
But spring came at the proper time, and even
pretty well north the temperature got here and
there above eighty degrees In April.
The opening OF Is72 was disagreeable, without
being excessively cold, and the month OF February
furnished the worst weather OF the season. In
March there were repeated snaps so sharp that
builders had 20 give up interior work on unfinished
houses; and Easter sunday, the 3ist. was well
coined In New England with an all-day's snow
Storm with April. however, the spring set In and
stayed.
The winter Of Is72-73 was uneven Throughout.
mild aud severe weather alternating so frequently
as 10 give the whole season no special character.
February was distinguished only for a windstOrm
which did great damage in some OF the cities
through which IL swept.
The next winter was very much such season
as the present one has oeen except that there was
more OF an aggregate snowfall. As far north a.
Albany the grass looked green in spots the 18th
OF February; but the thermometer registered zero
toward the latter part OF the month. March was
generally moderate, but April was ntfuL with a
good deal Of wintry weather on the one hand and
seventy degrees OF warmth on the other snow
fell and ice formed in some parts OF the North
down 10 the first or MAY, and shortly afterward
summer came on with giant strides
This record might be continued az great length.
hut enough Is quoted % show that there is no spe
cal favorable significance In the glimpse of spring
We have been recently enjoying. We probably
have not done with winter yet and We shall be
fortunate II we do not get singing reminder OF
rne fact before long The sanguins citizen who
has laid away his ulster in the cedar chest and
sprinkied his rurs with pepper had better square
ms mind for a serious disappointment