Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-18
weathorwise or Otherwise.


a few remarks in regard to the
weather may not be entirely inappro-
PIRATE at the present time.
The year 1899 was in many respects
4 very remarkable one. The weather
was unusually pleasant.
Now in order to appreciate pleasant
weather. we must have some UNI
| pleasant weather to measure by.
| IL there were no good people in the
world, there would be no bad ones. II
there were no rich, there would be no
poor. If there We're no good looking
people in the world, there would be no
bad looking ones. 1t is only by COM
Darrison, that We arrive at correct con-
illusions.
Referring again to the weather, Jan.
10th, 18th. and 18th OF last week, were
very remarkable. Our people as a
general rule, voted these days the
| worst ever known"
| Now let us see: there are AZ promi-
nent Government Signal Service stat
Ions in the United States. East of the
Rocky Mountains. Every day at 10
o'clock, the Government. through its
faithful and efficient officials in this
city. lays upon our desk Il weather map
showing the weather conditions at
each of these AZ stations. from observa-
tons taken at s o'clock that morning.
| On the 10th inst. we notice that rain
had fallen at 81 stations out OF the en-
tire numher@41. The rainfall at Norfolk
was two one hundredths Of an inch
From this small amount, the rainfall
ranged rs high as one and thirty-six
one-hundredths inches at Palestine.
Texas. The lowest range of thermome-
ter at Norfolk was 81 degrees.
On the next day, the 18th. rain fell
again at 81 st2tions out of the whole
number-4I; the rainfall at Norfolk
being twenty-eight one-hundredths Of
an inch, and from that on up TO three
and twenty-five one hunderths inches
lat Mobile. Alabama.
The lowest thermometer at Norfolk
was. ~.
On the 12th, rain fell at 80 stations
out Of A.: the Norfolk rainfall being
thirty-six -hundrcdths of an inch,
while New York had two and twelve
Ione-hundredths inches. The lowcss
thermometer at Norfolk. being Il.
Now by looking over these maps, we
notice that it was one of the most
general transforms ever recorded. Just
think of 1t. rain falling at 81 of the
principal weather station in the United
States che same day.
Now our people think that 1t WAS the
worst weather they had even seen, and
yet there was not " station in the
United States. that did not have really
worse weather than we had ut Norfolk
| 1t is only by comparison that we ar
rive at correct conclusions. BEFORE we
condemn the weather. as we heard it
condemned last week. we should know
what's going on at the other 46 great
centers in the Unied States Before
we characterize our weather az the
worst in the world" we should know
what's going on at the ether Govern
ment stations.
The fact is our people near the sea
have been spoiled. They have so much
good weather. that they hardly know
how to get along With any ether, and
when an ordinarily bad day strikes this
section. our people, with ono accord
rise UP and say sit Is the fors. weather
known" when the fact is. by COMPARE
son with other sections. it is not bad
weather ut all.
BY the way; 1899 we believe. was
about IL inches short in rainfall: that
is to say. we mean that Is inches is tho
amount still due us from the year 1899.
We expect that a large portion of the
debt will be paid between now and the
first OF June. and We may reasonably
expect right smart lot of bad
weather between now and shat time.
But our people should remember that
when it is bad here, it is worse at i6
other great weather centers in the
United Starcs
The hest way TO enjoy and appreciate
| Ihe DlcssfIIgS We -iiIIvC, II % ffuol about
us and see how our noighbors fare
1t is n positive relief we have been
told. 10 Il homely man when lie finds
someone homler than himself. and we
really believe that il we would look
about us we would, find other people
worse off than we are, poorer than We
are. colder than we are. and more un-
Fortunate than we are. Insted Of brood
ing over The troubles we have, we
should consider more the troubles and
trials OF others. and by doing so, light
cn our own burden.
1t has been said that comparisons are
odious. nut there is no better way OF
ARRIVING at the truth. than by compas-
son. Our weather is all right Our
weather records FOR % years show
clearly that we have the best of any
station in the United States.
When we say the best weather, we
mean The best all-the- ycar-round-
weather.
Instead Of grumbling at the bad
| weather we have now and then our
people should consider the worst
weather which The people of other sec