Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-31
THE PANIPERO.
A South American Storm Which CooIs OFF
the Tropical Atmosphere.

A strange natural phenomenon is the
pampero, South American storm wind
which is described by the author of
Hearts of Oak who first made its
acquaintance during stay at Montevideo
A light breeze had been blowing from the
northeast, but had steadily increased in
force, and brought with it heated air of
the tropics, which, passing over a treeless
pampas country, exposed to the burning
sun rays of a clear sky, so warns up the
atmosphere ON the shores of the Rio de la
Plata that its effect upon human beings is
exceedingly bad
This state of things generally lasts for a
week, or longer, until the sitting heat be-
comes unbearable and the inhabitants are
seen resting In grass hammocks or lying
on bare floors, incapable of exertion. How
ever, relief is close at hand. A little
cloud mo bigger than mans hand is
first seen to rise above the waters, then
the heavens grow black with clouds, and
the battle of opposing winds begins.
The pampero advances with its artillery
well in front; forked flashes of vivid light
ming, followed by peals of thunder, bear
down upon the foe, who, quiet up to the
moment of attack, is fercely discharging
its fiery breath on the surrounding regions.
The inhabitants now climb on the azoteas,
or fat roofs, to watch the struggle and to
be the first to participate in the delicious
relief brought by the pampero to their
fevered bodies.
Far out on the river a curious sight may
be seen; the opposing waves, raised by the
rival winds, meet like rush of calvary in
wild career; their white horses with foam
al,
other and send clouds of dazzling spray
inky sky renders the scene most imposing.
Gradually the northeaster gives way, fol
lowed closely by its enemy, the pampero,
which throws out skirmishing currents of
ice-cold wind in advance of its final on
slaught. Then comes a roar of the ele-
ments, and deluge such as no one would
willingl y encounter, and cooler weather is
established for the time being.
How the yokes Family Came to Go Upon
the Stage.
Victoria Vokes mas been telling a friend
how the once celebrated family came into
theatrical existence my father" she
relates, "a hearty old gentleman, was a
manufacturer of naval and military uni
forms in London. A friend of his was
Manager Creswick of the Surrey theater,
who once gave him an order for a lot of
trappings for a gorgeous company of
ajor-generals who were to appear in a
spectacular piece. We children were all
taken to see this spectacle. Mr. Creswick
gave us a box. | was a baby in arms, but
| went with the rest, and on that very eve
ming | made my debut before the admir-
ing public In the piece was baby. At
the time that the baby should have
been brought off to be kissed by its perse-
cuted, her-way-to-Siberia mother it
was taken with the collie and the manage
ment were in quandary At that point
| lifted my voice and crowed at Fred, who
was trying to stand ON his head in a cor
ner Of the box, to the agitation of my
mother, and Creswick saw his salvation.
He rushed around to us.
Lend me your baby, Vokes, he cried.
g But, my dear sir exclaimed my
astonished father.
3" oh, that all right. Mrs. Vokes can
stand in the wings. Now give me the
baby and save the scene.
Il was deposited, with my legs and fists
going like windmills, in Creswick's arms,
and my mother followed Fred clinging to
her skirts, and my father bringing up the
rear. | was placed in the arms of the
afflicted countess and slowly carried to
| footlights, where | was kissed and wept
over All through | crowed heartily. A
big round of applause greeted my efforts,
and when | was snatched from the en-
| brace of the afflicted countess by one OF
the fercest of the major generals the action
was received with storm of misses from
pit and gallery. was restored to my
legitimate mother and my debut was
over.
For the next five or six years we chill
dren had the run of the Surrey theater, and
my fathers business with theatrical peo-
pie increased until, by degrees, the flavor
| of stage permeated the whole family. We
| became accustomed to hearing about first
nights and the legit and fat parts, and as
| we went to the theater so often our games
| in the nursery were In imitation of what
we were constantly seeing and hearing
| Then first one of US, then the other, and
sometimes all four of US, Frederick, Jes.
sic, Rosina, and myself, would be given
parts in pantomimes- happiest occur
rencencs of our little ives-and we took tc
the footlights as though we had been born
there, and one day we were described III
all the papers as the clever little Vokes
| family. That sealed our fate. Father
business was not as prosperous as it haC
been; big money was offered for us, ano
we became professionals.
A Clergyman Astonished.