The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-25
HAPPY AT FORTY
 DEGREES BELOW The Many Delights of a Febru-
 ary Month TN FAR CANADIAN WEST Something of How the People Live and Enjoy Life With the Mercury
 Digging Cellars in the Thermometer.

From the Boston Transcript.
 Edmonton, Alberta, stands about 5S.40 north latitude. It is in the midst Of a re- zion of deep, black prairie loam. which grows excellent wheat of both spring ard lies all around, is extensively mined and | is good domestic and stationary engine fuel. Great areas of petroleum and natural gas are not very far distant The rail- way service is about to be pushed from here away up into the regions usually al- lotted, by American fancy, to the musk OK and that white purst, the polar bear. In fact, those regions of the Athabasca and the Peace rivers have long produced the best hard wheat. These items are specified now simply to indicate that AL berta would be a most desirable province for adventurous people to settle in it if if were not so far north.
 The only possible objection to it, for such people, is it's climate. This is usually presumed to be so uncomfortably cold that life there would not be worth living, though the endurance might yield wealth and health Now, 1 am of the opinion that the climate is one of the chief merits of this region. To deny that it is cold in midwinter would be absurd. Yes, and often very cold. But to me, at least, the cold is not distressing. but enjoyable February is mdwinter here. It is, to my taste, a far less unpleasant midwinter than that of Boston or New York Much depends on whether one prefers clear, pure air, while austerities of scenery. bril- liant blue skies, hard snow walking and driving, to sush, mud, murk, landscapes patchy, with earth appearing through grimy snow. As for sensing cold, 1t is far more uncomfortably felt on the sea- coast at 10 to b degrees below, if one be appropriately clad. which goes as mat ter of course. This is but a matter Of some heavier or extra outer clothing.
 Wears Light Underclothing.
 Your correspondent Is wearing the same light underclothing here that he wears all the year round, save his usual winter addition of long pair of heavy woolen stockings, coming above his knees. He wears a suit of ordinary tweed, fall weight. A fur-lined overcoat is the only garment assumed in deference to the ther- mometer's reading.
 Though 1t was thaWing in the sun here yesterday, and it is mild now, last week the temperature was never higher than Is degrees below zero mostly lower than 20 below, and nearly 40 below for two days and nights. l never put in week anywhere that suited me better climatic ally Yet it was comfortable. Of course, one had to protect ears, chin, and nose in walking about at 30 or 40 below. But that was only matter of turning up l high fur-lined collar, which all ages and sexes wear here, even if the collar be but sheepskin. If one wears overcoat sleeves that falls to the knuckes one does not need gloves or mittens. The body is not cold in walking in those low temperatures, but merely aware that cold is fended off. 1t does not seem to me that this curious and pleasant sensation is wholly due to the fur-lined outer clothing At low temperature the atmosphere seems surcharged with electricity, which ap- pears to aid inexplicaby In diminishing rigor. This is matter into which science might perhaps peer with consolatory ef fects.
 Every time one's fingers touches a metal object such as match box or radiator there is 8 distinct crackle of electricity l If this happens in darkness one sees the spark If two persons clasps hands after a little walking the effect Is similar People might thus find hundred or more
 
 except possibly, for the Mormons, who have, approximately, large settlement in the province This surcharging With { electricity may account for the sense Of l activity and well-being which strangers l notice in themselves. Eyes surely sparkle | here more brilliantly than in southerly | regions. Bremen may be said to fairly | shine They had to deal last week with | a large fire which the thermometer de- | clared 2S degrees below. The task did | not .'fazez" them a bit They saved half | the block and no firement were frozen, l much The ruins stand today covered l with large ridges of ice and adorned with innumerable stalactities of the same, all very chaste Perhaps 1t is advantag eous to have pumped fluid freeze prompt ly to the walls. Here is idea, gratul- tously placed at the disposal of Boston fire-fighters.
 Beauties of the Sky.
 That night your correspondent walked a mile and quarter without gloves, car rying cane. Hands not cold. To see the display of sky all nlaid with pa tines of bright cold" was worth coming 2o00 miles 1 for. An incredible number of stars. AIT the larger ones thrilling and if much 'iiated. The wide valley of the Saskatch- evan, here running through bottom lands POO feet below the prairie level showed im- mensely in silver austerity Absolute silence, save Tor the cr1Splng or one pair of rubbers on hard snow until Il turn of long,. wide Jasper avenue brought ears within range of a megaphone steadfastly l delivering the assurance of a Hot time In the old town tonight Nothing more incredible shall one ever hear. The music seemed echoing from a hoary antiquity when the paleocrystalic ice began.
 A bedroom, of which the window had been open all day and evening, awaited the walker of the snow The room was not uncomfortably cold, so hot was the 'adiator. That window stayed open all light though the heater was promptly