The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-02-14
SD. SMITHS LETTER
Mercury Drops to Twenty Below Zero
Notch in the Eastern Part of
State of Washington.
CHM at rIany Places on Pacific
Coast is This Winter Disagree
able and Unhealthy.

daughter has kindly consented to be
my amanuensis.-
I was sick with the grip the first of
December-got out too soon, caught a
very severe cold and was confined to
my bed for four weeks, during which
time l was helpless. My disease, the
doctor said, was rheumatism or neu-
ralgia of the nerves. suffered very
much during this time. I have been
convalescing for the last two weeks,
but have made very slow progress. I
am not able to sit up but a few hours
at a time-am able to walk but very
little by being supported. The doctor
says 1 will be restored to my usual
weeks before I will be able to be out
of doors very much. I attribute my
sickness to my own carelessness in
not being acquainted with the ''salu-
brious' climate.
Minnesotans will please excuse my
sarcasm on the climate. l have re-
ceived many letters making inquiry as
to the climate in winter in Washing
ton. AS am noted for telling the
truth I shall tell nothing but the truth
in regard to our winter. I see by the
papers that the winter north and east
of US in many places has been very
severe. The weather has been cold
accompanied by severe snow storms.
A cold wave seems to have been spread
over a large portion Of the country
and Washington has not escaped that
cold wave. [ have written in previ-
Gus article that the summer had been
an unusual one. So also has the
winter been unusual. The average
temperature in this vicinity is usually
above 80 degrees and seldom below "a
above zero, but this winter it has been
as low as S degrees above, and in
eastern Washington I am informed
that it has been 20 degrees below zero.
This cold weather has done much
damage to water pipes, as they are
but slightly covered-a thing never
before known by the Oldest inhabit-
ants. Small lakes and bodies of fresh
water are affording much pleasure for
young people as skating Kinks. Such
weather as we are having this winter
is very unhealthy. 1t is called the
Doctors harvest time. The rainy
season, although disagreeable, is not
unhealthy because people are expect
ing it and are clothed and prepared
for it, but are not clothed and pre-
pared for such weather as we are hav-
ing this winter. This is why there is
so much sickness, and this is the kind
Of weather we have been having for
about six weeks. Yet there are days
that the sun shines, and it is very
warm. About two weeks ago I was
wrapped in quilts, placed in a rocking
chair, drawn out onto a porch into
the warm sun and sat there for one
hour While sitting there the thought
occurred to me, what Minnesota people
would think to see sick man in Min
nesota comfortably sitting on the
sunny side Of building.
I have been sick during this cold
spell and Of course have not been out
to enjoy it, but if l had been we'll I
should have been out and considered
it much more pleasant than the biz
zards-32 degrees below zero weather
in Dakota and Minnesota. AS cold
as the winter has been, I would much
rather live here than in Minnesota.
Strange as it may seem, a sprig of
rosebuds, just ready to blossom,
gathered from bush in the garden,
was brought to my room, also bunch
OF radishes, beets and carrots just
taken from the garden. Many men
usually leave their potatoes in the
ground and dig them as they want
them to eat through the winter, but
this winter those who left their pota-
toes in the ground had to dig them
with crowbar and eat them frozen
This letter is rather more gloomy than
l have previously written, neverthe-
less l prefer Washington winters to
any place where I have ever lived.
My next letter will be more cheerful,
as it will be spring time and the earth
will be clothed in green and decked
with flowers, and all nature will be
smiling. In my next letter I will at
tempt to describe the richness of the
soil, its composition and it's fertility,
also the depth of the soil and the
wonderful growth of all vegetation
especially the growth of fruit trees.
And I shall adhere to my motto OF
telling the truth and nothing but the
truth. I am not writing these articles