Evening star., 1901-07-20

AprOpOS or the hot spell under when
Washington recently writhed and worried
weather bureau official the other day
showed a Star reporter what was termed
at that much-criticised institution some
highly valuable works upon the subject
of weather proverbs and their appositeness
to prevailing atmospheric conditions. One
OF these works was compiled by the late
General Hazen when that distinguished
army officer was at the head OF the signal
corps. A few excerpts from some of the
volumes are of interest, not so much be-
cause they are so conscientiously accurate
and direct in their application, but rather
because they afford some amusement to
those who may follow the exact meteoro-
logical situation from time to time In con-
nection with these so-called aphorisms,
once upon a time deemed well nigh infalli-
BILE. Exceptions to the general rule are
evidently common occurrences when the
weather is the subject considered. Here Is
one:
"A very clear sky without clouds is not
to be trusted
perience of this city during the recent hot
spell. that maxim deserves severe trans
position of some sort The very clear skies
of those days could certainly be trusted for
at least one thing, to wit, hot weather.
This is another:
"A bad day has a good night"
ply very fittingly to rainy days. but as ap-
piled to hot ones 1t loses its job. Bad days
and good nights as a combination seem to
have placed Washington on the nothing
doing schedule during the heated period
Then there is this little bit of nonsense, SO
readily disputed and shattered by the con-
Fincing reasoning furnished by Washington
weather:
IF the sun burn more than usual. wet"
Here is another:
Much undulation of the air on a hot day
in May or June fOretellS cold.
The writer hereof distinctly remembers
day during the hot spell when the air was
particularly undulating, Upon that day
the thermometer registered somewhere in
the neighborhood of 1O3 degrees In the
shade at ) o'clock in the afternoon. and for
several successive days the mercury kept
up the lick But, alasi Upon second
thought 1t is recalled that the day was the
first one of the month of July. Hence the
saying does not apply.
Another saying runs something like this:
weather"
All reports received to date from I'D the
country indicate that the very useful but
muCh-maligned member of the eouine fsmi
" mentioned was doing his customary toe
and heel stunts during the hot SPELL Ac-
cording to form, however he should have
been In most blissful state of innocuous
Gesuetude
Verify. one can't place his faith in wealth
er lore.
X II
-
west writes the Star that he has in his
possession two antique copper coins, ey-
Identity part of the circulating medium of
this country In the days of its infancy.
One of these coins Is SO old and defaced
that its date Is illegibIe. Mr. Mcdonald Is
OF the opinion that it Is one of the first
pennies ever minted by the then young
American government. The other bears
The date Of 1871. Upon the top of its OBJ
verse side are the words 'Inde'' and Lib"
separated by series Of small stars Under
thls Is the likeness Of woman. face and
bust The right arm is extended holding
what appears to be an olive branch Some
thing Is also held in the left hand but Just
what 1t is cannot be deciphered. On the
reverse side Of the coin is borne the bust
OK the immortal Washington. surrounding
which are the inscriptions 'R T. and &c O."
All these figures stand out in prominent
relief. Mr.. Mcdonald says he has had the
coins IN his possession ever since childhood
and believes that they are valuable, al
though he is not posted on numismatics
and does know the exact historical and
financial worth of his property. He is
anxious for some one conversant with the
subject OF coins and their history to inform
him upon the subject.
There is young couple living over near
Connecticut avenue. said a Washington
Woman 20 star reporter, who manage
their affairs in what consider a very un-
wise manner That Is they spend almost
every cent Of modest income on house
furnishings. table service, clothes and the
like and leave food as the very la st and most
neglected consideration For that reason
am in the habit of feastng sumptuously
before 1 leave to accept an invitation to
dine there 1 happened in about lunch time
last week and Mrs. Blank cordially invited
me to stay and have a bite with her
Knowing that bite was very good word
for her lunches. l pleaded another engage
ment- But she persisted. and finally with
an evident view to tempt me to remain she
called out to the house girl. who was set
ting the table In the dining room: Title
what have We for lunch todayr Tillie Is
nothing If not truth teller Brad she
answered, and the clock licked Violently
for some seconds.
Il didn't stay"
y
Il saw paragraph from Canton a few
days ago that the President had taken q
ride In an automobile for the first time"
said White House attacne ''I think 1t
was the Presidents frst ride in one Of
these vehicles. l don't recollect that he
ever went out of the White House In one
or came back in one. Why he has never