The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-16
One Summer That GOasn't 19ot.

Chicago Chronicle
1t may be refreshing at the present
time, when humanity is sweltering be-
Meath the rays of sun calculated to
make residents of the tropics cry out for
some shady spot, to recur to a summer
during which the iceman found his occu-
patton gone and when blazing fires were
In request Gay and night and overcoats
and winter wraps a necessity both night
and day. Such a summer was visited
upon the country in 1916. Of course
there are few now living who can re-
call the time and relate their individual
experiences, but happily the records sur
vive and can be referred to for corrobo-
ration of the statements hereinafter
made.
Science during the early part of the
last century had not advanced to the
place it now occupies. In fact the ma
jority of the people knew nothing about
science, and accounted for the phenom-
enally cold summer in such manner as
pleased them best, and were not called
stupid because of their beliefs. Even to
TINS day the summer of 1916 is referred
to in the chronicles as 1.-The cold sum-
mer.' and in New England as ''the year
eighteen hundred and starve to death y
Inc following account of that phenomena
So@ool anu the terror and distress caused
by 1t will be perused with interest
The suns rays seemed to be destitute of
heat and all nature was clad in sable
hue. Men and women became fr ghtensd
and imagined that the fire in the sun was
being rapidly extinguished and that the
world would soon come to an end.
Ministers took the phenomena for the
text Of their sermons and pseudo scien-
tlIlc men talked of things they knew not
or while fanatics took advantage of the
occasion to form religious organizations
The winter of 1S15-16 was very cold in Eu-
rope, but comparatively mild in this coun-
try and did not in any way Indicate the
severe weather that soon prevailed Even
uhe almanacS We're silent, and, although
the usual indications about now look
out for cold weather." or this is a good
time for snow were entered in the reg
uIar portions of the books devoted to the
winter predictions, those used for chron-
icing the pleasanter months had no such
alarming warnings.
January was mild-so much so that for
days the people allowed their fires to 20
out, as artificial heat made the BUILDINGS
uncomfortably warm. This pleasant
weather was broken by a severe cold
snap IN February, but this low tempera-
fure passed in few days and a warmer
condition, similar to the month previous
~ liz 4IdICl came IN like lion. bUt
went out like lamb" There was Moth
ing unusual in the climatic conditions Of
the month which differed from those gen.
orally found in this windy season.
April was the advance guard of this
slrahge freak in temperature. The early
days were warm and bright, but as the
month drew to close the cold increased
until 1t ended in ice and snow and a, very
low temperature. To those who delight
ed IN balmy May days and loved to watch
the budding flowers, the May of 1876
was a bitter disappointment. True buds
came out, but so did the frost, and in
one night laid all vegetation a blacken
ed waste Corn was killed and the fields
nad to be made ready for another plant
lng' put the peoples establishment was
complete when they found ice formed to
the thickness of half an inch in the noo1s
june the month of roses" was that
year a month Of ice and Oscillation. The
Oldest inhabitant" was surprised. for