Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-07-18
THE Year 1916.
The Year Without summsr-A Rsmaykabls
Phenomsnon-0ne of the Coolest Years in
the History ofths Universe.
BY CHARLES L. SIMPLIFY.

Baltimore County Union.
As the summer of 1900 has passed
into history as one of the warmest
on record, both in Europe and
America, aud one whose effects was
fatal to hundreds Of human beings,
it will be Of interest to carry the
public back to S5 years ago-to the
year 1S16-when one of the greatest
natural phenomens in the history
Of the world occurred in regard to
weather and temperature and their
appurtenances. 1t is q history of
phenomenon that will interest
any student of nature and history.
1t was year that is celebrated in
history above all others-it was ga
year without a summer"
The first months of this year
gave indications of the strange
weather that was to follow. Jsnu.
AIRY and February were rather mild
than severe, with no unusual or
prolonged cold. There was only
the accompanying ordinary cold and
gloom of the winter months, to
make the first harbinger of spring
a welcome visitor.
March duly entered, and when
the latter part Of this month and
the first Of April had united in fur
nishing beautiful spring weather
and ell nature had commenced to
smile, our ancestors greeted these
indications Of q pleasant season with
the same bright anticipations as we
Of the present era greeted those Of
1900, or any ensuing year.
Under the genial influence of
April. soft aud warm velvet robe
Of the deepest emerald began to
overspread the earth. Wild flow
ers sprung mp in hooks exposed to
the sun and sheltered from the
wind; buds swelled to bursting on
the trees, and the farmers every
where prepared the soil for spring
crops, planted their gardens, and
prepared for the routine that was to
follow.
A sudden change, however, soon
swept over the face of nature. Sud-
denly in one night about the mid
die Of the month q stinging frost
swept over the land, touching the
first born of spring with the icy fin-
ger Of death. The destruction was
terrible. The buds on the trees,
the sweet smelling spring flowers,
the tender vegetables in the garden
ALI fell before the fatal scythe of
the Frost King. Everything that
the bright sunshine had called into
life lay dead and withered. Old
Boreas usupred the rule Of spring,
and blowing his icy breath over the
country covered the lakes and
streams with ice and the land with
q white mantei of snow.
After such q crushing diseppoint-
ment the people turned towards
May with the hopes that she ct least
would heal the wounds Of the fore
part Of the year. The farmer and
gardener again planted and patti
emily waited. Vain hope for the
May Of 1916 was not like that of
any other year. Jack frost again
issued from his northern stronghold
and nightly swept over the land,
filing it with the victims of vege-
table life, without distinction in re-
gard to age, sex or condition.
NortherlY winds swept over the
country with q dismal sweep and
moan, as If they we're chanting the
dirge Of the buried hopes Of the
people. Instead Of the brilliant
hEes Of the month Of flowers. there
were seen the sombre cast Of No.
yember. No brightsunshiny morn
ings, no varied hues Of leaf, grass
or blossom greeted the generation
of MaT, 1916. No delicate per-
fumes Of fragrant flowers, no mer-
~ song Of pretty little hirds greeted