The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-09-20
SNOW AWAY ALONG IN JULY.
How some Church Folk la nains
Made Use of a Climatic
Anomaly.

The congregation OF little church
up among the H0oslck hills Of western
Massachusetts, has an investment IN
what would seem very ephermal 40
eurlty, being nothing less than = snsw-
bank. Winter comes early in that re-
glon and comes In a business suit. He
stage late, too, lingering 20 long that
he wears out springs lap and loiters
even about summers knee. East Haw-
ley hill is, OF the cluster OF hills there
abonts, the bleakeFa and windiest OF
them all. In one certain gully under
the lee Of a rising wall OF earth the
snow drifts early and stays after the
June roses come In the gardens. says
the New York Sun.
Several year ago, following an un-
usually severe winter. deposit OF
snow was found there on the Fourth
Of July, and the interest which its
presence at that season excited put an
idea into the thrifty minds OF tho
church folk who make up the little
congregation Of the pretty East Haw-
ley church. The next year the guAy
was looked after. The snow drifted az
usual, and IDS keeping became a mat
ter Of careful watching. Before the
end of June II was seen that II could
not last much longer, and church en-
tertainment Of a "sugaring OFF" in sum-
mer with real snow was promptly car
ried through. It's fame spread. and
the next year means were adopted to
preserve the snow still longer. Now
the July "sugaring off, is an estab-
lished annual festival, to which ma
tives and sojourning folk. including
the omnipresent summer boarder, 20
from radius OF is and 20 miles. II
The snow shows signs of disappear
Ing before July has arrived means are
taken to keepit. Spruce boughs and
sawdust cover 1t, and so far the sup
ply has never failed The event is reg
piarly counted upon as sure and ap-
preeisble addition to the yearly in |
coms Of shd church.
This year 4 party Of New Workers
bastened'their departure from the city
to be present at the novel ertertain-
ment' The dssy Lad Lad Zen eten Very hot
n New York, and the change on leav-
ing the cars at seven o'clock at the 1T
lie station in the valley, whence wag-
ons were 20 be taken, WAS refreshing.
The church was reached in a drive Of
\ little more than an honr up the hill
and through the woods, rich with
early summer foliage and heavy with
the spicy fragrance of MOSES and
ferns.
A programme OF music and recita-
lions preceded the chief event of the
evening There was curious and
pleasant incongruity to sit plying q
Ian in the hot, lamp-lighted church
and hear outside the unmistakable
sound of snow being gathered up in
wooden shovelfuls. At ten O'Clock, the
adjourned to the sugaring-off
-oom, where on long tables covered
with sheets, were set out fully 200
BANS of snow, white and spotless,
hough rather coarse grained. To each
person was allotted pan and sau-
'er Of hot maple sirup with fork and
poon. The sirup was ladled on the
now In spoonfuls and picked off with
he fork to be eaten as it hardened.
Pitchers Of the hot sirup circulated
onstantly to refill the saucers as fast
IS they were emptied till all were aat-
sfied with the sweet feast.
By II o'clock the company began to
isperse, a train OF wagons, carriages
nd buggies stretching out in all d.
'ections as they departed. BY one
# those freaks Of weather to
which Hawley hill is subject, the
warm, fragrant air had become
chilled by wind that
Fas blizzard-like in its intensity
nd frigidity. The blasts blew out of
he north as if old Boreas were en-
aged at the juggling with his sea-
ons and inclined to give the seekers
Or novelty bit of real winter with
heir preserved snow, The particular
arty of city travellers already referred {
D were glad enough to reach the val
". which they did about midnight,
nc after their remarkable day of trop-
al and arctic temperature, crawl into
Dmfortable beds and sleep soundly .
18th. July though it was, heavy blank c
Is piled over them. {
Turkish Lime.