Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21
Teddy and the Waterspout.
DELLA HINE MERIT.

DELLA HINE MERTZ.
Aunt Ruth, mother and Teddy were spend
ing their vacation by the sea- The embryo
man never tired of digging wells in the beau
tiful firm sandwich glistened In the rays
of the sun as though innumerable minute
damon Is were concealed In its grains-Wlth
his cunning little shovel; and, when he had
made the hole as large as desired. running
into the ocean to fill his bright, shiny pail,
gaily painted red with the words, for
good ooy," bravely decorating one side, in
bright blue staring letters, with water to
pour into the well, which in its absorbing
powers was like unto u gigantic sponge ana
kept the little Lao busy, racing to and from
old NeDtune's home in his endeavor to pre-
vent his we'll from running dry.
This bright cloudless morning the happy
trio were on the sands. The ladies occu-
pying themselves with fancy work, reading
and snatches of conversation. Teddy, as
usual, was busiiy engaged in well digging.
Mother and auatie glanced at intervals at
the Presidents namesake, to see that ne
did not come to grief, for in his zeal Tedoy
had been known to wet more than DIE
sturdy tanned feet ami legs; and. although
many people declare that salt water never
was known to give one a cold mother pre-.
ferred &c have linn wait until he was ap-
pareled in his bathing suit before he took
Lis dip"
A group of summer girls. with their es-
corts, sat on pavilion near by.
As mother and Aunt Ruth, worked, read
and chatted happily together. ever and anon
replying to questions asked by Ieooy, tney
noticed that a small cloud had appeared IN
the heretofore cloudless sky, which rapidly
expanded and yelled the heavens. The Ia
dies gave the cloud no further thought. but
suddenly they were startled by the shrlll
scream of womans voice. Looking In the
direction of the Cdvilion, from where the cry
came the Hills saw that it came from the
rosy lips of a beruff1ed, young girl, VINO,
with her friends, had started from their
chairs ond were gazing intently at some
thing in front of them. Taking each hand
of master Teddy, the ladies ran swiftly to
the pavilion eager to find what had caused
the excitement, never once thinking OF look
ing at the sky.
What is the trouble?" asked mother.
Look a dozen voices answered, point
ing to the sky.
Doing as directed they found that the lit
tie cloud. which they had noticed when no
bigger than mans hand. had developed
into a funnel-shaped object rarely seen In
that latitude, namely, a waterspout. This
was not the only one for as they glanced
about them five OF the phenomena were
plainly to be seen. The crowd on the pa
rilion save particular attention to the
waterSpout nearest them.
What is that funny thing in the SKYE"
demanded Teddy. ''WLl 1t harm us?'
Mother told her son what it was and that
1t could not harm them, from where they
were; but added fervently, How glad
am we I'D not go out for sail this after
noonr' Watch the cloud closely. Teddy.
cautioned mother, "for 1t Is something that
You may never see again"
Teddy ga2ed with all his eyes. as did the
others By this time the cloud seemed to
touch the water and what a whirling en-
sued.
It reminded one of the whirI pool at
Niagara Falls. IN less than half an hour
the cloud seemed to part; the lower part
descending as rain, while the upper part
was drawn back into the sky.
1t was a grand but 'Scareful' sight, as
Teddy remarked, and one young woman.
who was nothing but bundle of nerves,
lad Mysteries. to add to the general tur-
MOL. A coach was called and she was
taken TO. not home and mother, but hotel
and maid.
After things had somewhat quieted down.
Teddy. who always wanted to know why,
and who was watching the cloud gradually
fade away turned to his mother, and said
What is waterspout. mother?"
Now. mother was just the one to tell him.
for six summers ego, when she was spend
irg a Jew weeks at c., on the Potomac
river. she saw enc of these wonderful
clouds end being exceedingly interested had
read up on the subject and so felt We'll
enough informed to respond to her sons
query. The people near by remained to hear
what mother had to say. for 1t Is not only
little boys who Go not know what water
spout is
We'll" said Mrs HILL "a waterspout is
a whlriwind over body of water, which
produces the appearance of a solid column
of water extending from the surface to the
clouds. The penomenon is really the cloud
brought down to the earth's surface by the
rapid gyratory-moving in a circle-motion
of a straight whirl and it simply consists of
fine mist surrounding a central axis of rare
faction--the act of expanding a body OF
matter, whereby the bulk Is increased. At
first the cloud has the form of a tapering
funnel, then descending to meet the waters
surface il draws up the water for distance
into its vortex and impartS to it It's whirling
motion. The spout is then complete, and ap-
pears IS an immense column, connecting
sea and Cloud. light in color near the center
but dark along the sides Like other whirl-
winds lie waterspout has a progressive as
times being inclined forward in the direc-
ton of advance. After continuing a short
time, generally less than twenty minutes,
the column Is disunite1, the lower part de-
scending as rain. while the upper part Is
drawn hack into the clouds. The height of
the spout is generally between 500 and
900 feet. Often several waterspouts are
seen at once. The reason being that a series
or separate and independent gyrations are
likely TO arise when the air Is in a state of
Instability, such as is required for the devel-
opment of these whirlwinds. This Is es-
pecially the case in tropical and equatorial
regions. where waterspouts are most fire.
uuent"
Teddy and the others thanked Mrs. Hill.
for her entertaining little talk, and 1t being
supper time. and the rain having ceased one
and all hied himself hotelward.
At supper the conversation was water
spouts. from soup to finger bowls, and
Teddy. during temporary Iull In the dis
cussion, was heard to say. earnestly:
Gee, but waterspouts are wonderful
things! l hope God Will let everybody who
has NOT seen a waterspout live til he has!'