Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-04-25

ter, for Pliny, Juvenal and other authors
of their time speak of ice and snow as
prevalent in all parts of Italy. while
Elian, if we remember correctly, devotes
a whole chapter to the giving of specific
directions of how to fish for eels when
the rivers are covered with ice. These
descriptions of Italian climate apply as
it was eighteen centuries ago.
Ovid can be quoted in this connection
also. We are writing from memory and
with less fulness than we might could we
turn to the authors book, but should any
classicist be interested to follow US he will
find that our recollection is essentially
correct. This poet was banished from
Italy to Thomas by the Emperor. This
place is near the coast of the Euxine Sea,
and climatically includes the region round
about Constantinople. He spent seven
years in exile in this region, and he tells
us that he saw the Euxine or Black Sea
covered with ice that this ice was not
only strong enough to support men, but
oxen and heavy sleds loaded with pro-
ducts. He states, moreover, that the
wine of the country was often frozen, and
that the snow in many places in the for
ests was never fully melted during the en-
tire summer. II is well established fact
that in the year 40l the Euxine Sea was
frozen over for twenty days together
This is certainly most extraordinary
picture to one who has lived in this GEN.
fury in Conslantinople or has knowledge
of its climate. The Alps and the Appen-
mines are the highest European noun
tains. History has no stranger tale to
tell than the march of Hannibal's army
over those lofty ranges. 1t was one OF
the wonders Of antiquity. Livy and
Polybius both bear repeated testimony TO
the sufferings of his troops from the cold
they encountered and the awful obstacles
of the snow and ice. But these noun.
tains are easily passed to-day.
Nor have the changes in the climate OF
Germany been less remarkable. A Latin
historian records that in Caesars time the
Rhine and the Danube were not only
frequently frozen, but so deeply frozen
that the ice was able to uphold, without
cracking, the heaviest Of weights. He
says the barbarians-the native Ger
maus-chose the winter season for their
campaigns, because they could then trans
port their armies, cavalry and heavy
wagons, along these rivers over n solid
bridge of ice. And this is precisely the
state Of things which, until recently. the
New England people have been accus-
toned to see--the picture Of frozen rivers
and lakes used as the highways Of pleas
ure and the mightiest transportation
We might easily continue these quota
tions from the ancient authors in witness
that the climate of both Asia and Europe
has undergone vast change in the last
1000 or 1000 years-a change so pro-
found that it has affected both the char
acter and habits Of the people and the
products of these countries; change
which amounts to one degree for each
hundred years; but we have suggested
enough to give direction to the popular
thought touching a probable change of
the climate in our own country. May it
not be that the causes which operated TO
medify the climate Of the East are now
at work changing that Of this western
hemisphere, and that within 900, or q
600 years the palm and the date will be
growing in the valleys Of the Connect
cut and the Merrimac, and the pomegran-
ite blossom on the shores Of Lake Cham
plain, while the Adirondacks and the
White Mountains shall be covered with
the olive May it not be that the Amer.
ican Of the future shall spend bis summers
under the orange groves Of New Hamp-
shire, and the inhabitants Of Quebec shall
ship Us our tea as they pick it in the
slopes Of the Laurentian hills? Verify,
who may foreiell the changes that may
come to New England and North Amer
lea If the world will only 90 on getting
hotter and hotter?
Bucklen's ArnicG Sdtre.