Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-23
A WARM DAY.
Sweltering Sunday Brought to Q Close
With u Rafting Storm.

1t was but q natural thing for any one to ex-
pect rain storm after such hot day as yes
terday turned out to be, but no one had any
right to look for such severe one as that
which came swooping down on the town last
night There is but little doubt that it was IS
hot day as has been experienced this sum-
mer. Otherwise it was perfect, and many q
picnic party went strolling out of town into
the woods, or toward the wharves, anywhere
that seemed likely to be cooler than in the
region Of the asphalt Of the streets. But it was
not much cooler anywhere. The sun sho ne
down with determined persistency, as II bent
upon melting all the starched linen in exist
ence and rendering all the handkerchiefs in
the world limp and moppy. 1t succeeded, as
Tar as the city is concerned, and 1t did not
look from the sky as il there was anything like
relief anywhere around here for many mile.
THE THERMOMETERS.
It was frightfuiiy hot There were some
Thermometers that modestly registered the
heat to be somewhere in the vicinity Of eighty,
but these were not at all numerous or popular,
for it is a peculiar thing about humanity that
when 1t is sweltering from the heat it wants all
OF the visible effects of the weather to be pa
raded out in all their strength, and it does no
tolerate anything in the way OF reductions for
appearances sake. 1t wants all there is going.
same boat to pity itself. That is why those
Thermometers which register the very highest
and the very lowest temperatures that are to
be found are the best for dealers to keep in
stock. They are a comfort to have around.
The majority of the thermometers. however,
told the truth yesterday when they shot up to
the marks around ninety and stayed there DUR
ing the greater part of the day. That was
about the average temperature. 1t may have
been hotter in places, but they are not to be
taken as samples. Shortly after 4 O'Clock a
darkish-looking cloud appeared in the west
and there were blissful prospects of rain. but
that seemed to be sent only to tantalize the
folks who longed for a storm and to brighten
those who were out walking or riding or row.
ing or sailing-no, there was not wind enough
to sail anything-dressed in their best clothes
and wearing their new straw hats.
THE STORM.
But it came later on. 1t was about 9 O'Clock
when it burst upon the city with all OF the force
Of summer thunder storm, accompanied by
plenty OF lightning that shimmered and flashed
necessarily for about an hour, while the
thunder roared and smashed as il it had for
gotten how to make a noise and was trying its
lungs 1t really did seem to be making up for
lost time, what with the thunder and the raj n
which came down in torrents until the cutters
were .choked and the sidewalks were over
flowed.
1t rained in sheets, instead Of the regulation
drops, or even '.pitchforks," which is vorite
way 1t has of, raining in some places 1t was
not satisfied with simply raining water, but it
must go ahead and pelt down a few hundred
pounds of hail, in way that made the florists
groan and the owners Of skylights scurry up
the roof ladders. Trees went down in num-
bers, limbs were blown off in scores, and the
streets looked as if they had been swept by a
genuine cyclone when, at 10 o'clock, the storm
passed over and the city was left wet as the
proverbial rat that has been so indiscreet as to
fall into the water and lose its life.