Evening star., 1901-12-20
Mercury Plays Franks Among the
Magnolias and Oranges
FHIRfYDEGREES BELOW ZsROIN NORTH
People of Washington Have No
Monopoly OF Cold Wave.
HE WEATHER FORECAS

ought 10 make Washington benevolently
inclined toward her sister cities.
Jacksonville, ensconced by tradition I'M
der magnoIias sunshine and orange bios
SONS, is blowing it's fingers and toasting it's
toes today, while the mercury in the tube
coquettes around the Goth degree above
zero. In far-away New Orleans by the
gulf. paradoxicaI as IT may seem, the
swarthy skinned Creoles have for the
nonee cast aside the habilments char
acteristic of their cline, and are emulating
the Esquimaux. enveloping themselves in
heavy bearskins and other warm pelts
not usually in vogue in their distinctively
southern habitat.
As if ashamed of the achievements 1t has
worked in the sunny SOUTH, the ther-
mometer is giving an almost pyrotechnical
exhibition of its wonderful register amid
the usually frigid regions bordering on the
lakes. From this section of the country
come reports that, in comparison. make
the average citizen hereabouts feel as If
he were dwelling amid the tropics, not
withstanding his present uncomfortable
surroundings The mercury In the section
bordering on Lake Superior has, it would
seem, almost reached the unattainable in
atmospheric performances, and hoVers
around point in the tube marked 80 de-
Srees below zero.
From other places come exceptionally
low thermometric readings. so that the peo-
to feel that they are enjoying a monopoly
OF Jack Frost's company.
The man who presides over the destinies
OF the weather. officially known as the
forecaster. gives no promise of immediate
relief.
Fair and continued cold tonight and
Saturday. with northeasterly Winds" was
the dismal Encouragement he offered to
the anxious inquirers who sought informa-
tion today.
Even colder weather than now exists is
predicted for Florida and the central south
tonight, and warnings to this effect have
been sent out to different places in that
locality. 1t is feared that the onslaught of
the cold has done irreparable damage to the
orange belt, and the loss may run up into
the thousands. Already much loss has been
caused TO this branch of industry.
No Snow in Sight.
There is no snow in sight for this section
of the country. The light fall of the beau
tiful'' here yesterday rendered walking a
precarious undertaking today and was
dangerous &c pedestrians and horses alike
The slippery asphalt pavements covered
with frozen snow and ice were the cause of
many catastrophes to both man and beast.
Falls were frequent but so far no acci-
dents beyond a severe shaking up have
been reported.
The bracing cold weather, emblematic of
Iuletide has had tendency to bring out a
slippery condition of the paVements, and
the streets and shops have been crowded
all day. The buyers seemed to regard the
weather conditions as ideal for their pur-
pose.
Owing to the continued cold weather of
the past few days many of the smaller lakes
and ponds contiguous to the city are frozen
over, afording an opportunity for those
who are fond of skating to disporting them
selves upon the ice.
1t is regarded as somewhat unusual that
Ice has not been formed on the Potomac.
Rivermen explain this by pointing out that
there Is an unusual quantity of mud in
the water. which. owing to the swift cur
rent. requires nearly zero weather to freeze
Therefore, unless the water in the river
clears up sufficiently and the waters reeede,
the chances are that it will afford no skat-
ing space during the present cold snap.
Work of Charities.
The cold weather which Washington is
experiencing just now has greatly in
creased the work of the Associated Charf-
ties. and the agents of that organization
are kept busy investigating and caring for
the many needy cases which are daily to be
met with among the deserving poor of the
city. So far the charities have been able
to meet all the appeals that have been made,
mainly through the assistance rendered by
the Citizens Relief Association. which now
co-operates with the associated organiza-
tion
AT the Central Union Mission 1t Is stated
that. while the humber of nightly dodgers
has naturally increased during the cold
spell, there have been, perhaps not more
than score of persons seeking help in
general charitable way. The municipal
lodging house on 18th street has had lately
fuil quota OF dodgers every night
Contributions Needed.
There is constant demand upon the re-
sources of the Associated Charities and the
ficers Of those organizations state that it is
only through constant contributions that
the poor can be cared for. Mr.. Charles F.
Weller, secretary of the Associated Char
tiles, has recently made a tour of those
sections of the city in which the really
poor people live. He found in many in
stances that the little one-roorn and two
room houses were in bad repair, and that
it was practically impossible for the ten
ants to keep warm. Yet but few If any of
these people have made appeals for help.
Generally speaking, 1t may be safely
stated that there is little actual suffering
among the poor. Washington takes care
OF It's INDECENT population perhaps better
than any other city in the country. The
people are quick in their responses in any
case of severe need. and il is believed
the usual good record will be maintained
throughout this winter.
Sad Story of Loss.
While there have been really no dramatic
incidents connected with the present cold
snap. as far as the agents OF the charities
know. there have been a number of strik-
Ing instances where charity has worked to
truly good purpose in a number of families
where aid was desperately needed, and yet
where ;he people benefited were reluctant
to admit their extremely destitute condition
One instance was cited today at the Office
Of the Associated Charities. A man with
a wife and four children came to Washing
ton about a year ago with a capital of
$1,000 He invested the money in a little
business enterprise. The dull summer sea-
son came and he did not prosper On
the contrary. he went into debt, and finally
his small stock of goods was sold to pay
Of the creditors. leaving the erstwhiIe
storekeeper without a penny The man
sought work at once He was unsuccessful
until recently he secured a place on the
list OF substitute street sweepers. Ia this
way, by working one or two days each
week. he has managed to elxe out an exist
ence for himself and his family.
Secretary Weller found that the man
who recently was living In quite re-
spectacle and comfortable style now abides
with his Wife and two children in hoyel
composed of two rooms. There they have
a small cook stove and but one bed Sey-
erai of the children were compelled 10
sleep on the floor with insufficient cover
ing. The cold weather brought actuaI s,,f