Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-04-06
WEATHER MANS TROUBLES,
Called Upon I'm All Sorts of Suits 60
Tell How the wind Blew.

WEATHER MANS TROUBLES.
Called Upon I'm All Sorts of suits TO
Tell How the wind blew.
That was funny story about Abe
Lincoln and the old almanac. A wit
ness i'm the case testified TO seeing
somebody do something with some
thing else on certain night by the
light of the moon. Mr.. Lincoln, attor-
ney on the other side. iished out an ad-
vertisement for somebody's liver regu-
lator and proved the man was seven
kinds of liar because IL was the dark
of the moon.
Maybe the dodge was not original
with the old rail splitter, but certainly
IL is an important detail in the law
practice of today. The government
weather bureau might well be styled
the Public Witness association" 1t
Is everlastingiy being hauled into
court. Six cases I'm January, SO cases
In the last three terms of last year, is
the record for Government Weather
Observer Common
They got him down there to tell what
sort of a day ii was. And he turns ND
some funny things. does this grave
young man who Is getting bald on top
and who has TO mat his hair to cover
his Uranium.
Eyes, sir" he said with never n
smile. looking for all the world rs If
he were sorry II happened. would you
believe II, they had me down there one
day TO swear in n case what way the
wind was blowing at n certain hour of
the day? And what do you think they
proved by meT'
The observer merely put that cues
ton through custom, for his face in
converse on matters meteorological Is
tantalizingly inexpensive. what do
you think they tried TO prove by me?
A farmer had sued q railroad for the
loss of his barn by fire, he saying it
was spark from an engine did II.
The attorney made me prove the wind
was blowing TO the north at the rate
OF IL miles an hour. The farmer had
proved bis barn was on the SOUTH"
1t is getting to be a regular fad to
get the observer into court He goes
down to the four courts with the same
resignation that he climbs to the roof
Of the Rialto building.
III there is n sewer contractor four
days late in finishing his work. the city
refuses TO pay him. He sues, and they
nab me. Yes. sir. they nab me first
thing"
Then what do they do with you?'
What do they do with me? They
make me tell them how often II rained
and how much rain there was on n
certain day and every time Providence
interfered-of course. we have II all
down on the record TO the hour and the
trace. That is what they do with me.
There was n man putting I'm n shop
front. n new one. big plate glass bust
ness. He had TO have il done on a
Friday night. but he was still sticking
putty In next morning. Away went
the merchants chance for Saturday
trade, and they went to law. That
isn't the worst OF II. They came up
here. the window men did had TO
trot away down TO Independence and
swear the elements were at work. and
then the glass man convinced the fury
he was not TO blame. but the weather
was"
Contractors make public plumber Of
the government weather bureau. There
Is scarcely suit arising over the time
clause in any contract made hut the de-
partment is taken into court. There
is no getting out OF IL. The subpoena
Is issued. n deputy sheriff serves Il.
and away goes the dlgnincd slightly
colder in-winter followed by-spriny-
gentleman.
He has testified In about 20 sewer
cases. III foundation excavations. n
score of plastcring cases-to prove the
weather was too cold for the proper
maturing OF the plaster-and In the
case OF frozen fruit.
Thus are odd uses found for n very
matter OF fact government denart-