Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28
Aunt Dorothy's Letter

Dear Children: What fine time many OF
you have had recently coastng upon your
seds and otherwise enjoying the snow that
fell the week before Washingtons birth
day AS I passed along some of the streets
it seemed to me, sometimes, that every boy
and girl in the city was out having all OF
the fun they could get out Of the fallen
snow. Those who seemed not to have sleds
were offered a ride by those who did, and
as result all were as joyous and happy as
could be. 1t is true that some days 1t was
cold-very cold-but that didn't interfere
much with your pleasure.
Where winters are very much longer than
they are here in Washington SHOWS often
occaslo far more Lardships than they give
of good and pleasure. What would you
think Of winter in which the snow began
to fall about the 10th of November and
continued almost every day until the mid
die of the ensuing March? Such, I have
just been reading, was the winter of 1873,
in and about the city of New York. There
was great difficulty that winter in getting
fuel for fires by which people could keep
warm. All the wood upon New York Is
land was cut down for fuel. Trees planted
in court yards, along lanes and avenues
and about houses of getlemen by way of
ornament, shared the same fate. The bay
of New York was frozen over, a thing not
known of before or since.
lNOHldS jules, Tie writer VI TIE pll VI
history just referred to, tells what he calls
a remarkable incident during this cold
weather. The story is a little funny, and
the writer himself hardly credits it, though,
he says, Goosen Adriance, the man who re-
ported it. bore a good character and the
story was generally believed. 1.-THE case
was this: He went out in the morning on
his farm, which adjoinS the water, and
going along the shore he observed a parcel
of ducks sitting erect and in their proper
posture. Not moving he approached 1t
surprised him. Walking up to them he
found them perfectly stiff, and, as he sup
posed, dead. He carried them home, threw
them down upon the table in his kitchen,
where large wood fire was burning, and
went into the next room to breakfast with
his family. Scarce was the breakfast over
when a great noise and duttering was heard
in the kitchen. Upon opening the door how
great the surprise! The supposed dead
ducks were all flying about The room.'
There seems to be some confusion in your
minds regarding the award of prizes. You
will notice that your league president offers
prizes, to be given at the end Of the month,
for creditable work done by you. Having
your name on the roll of honor does not
mean that you are to receive prize. From
the contributions sent in the best stories,
letters, drawings, ETC., are selected for
publication. On the roll of honor we put
the names Of those who do very good work.
but whose contributions are not always
printed. certain number of prizes are
given to those sending in the best work.
Not to all whose work appears on the chill
dren's page The awards are made the
last Saturday OF the month and printed on
the next Saturday, which is the first Satur-
day of the next month. During the month
we busy reading and studying your
efforts, while you are busy trying to give
good work.
There are three honors for which you
may strive-first, the prizes; second, having
your contributions printed, and third, hav-
ing your name on the roll Of honor When
we print q list of those sending correct
answers to the puzzles it does not mean
that those named are to receive prizes
We must again urge you to be careful to
send in original work only. Nearly every
week we receive at least one article which
we know to be copied.