Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-05-04

age Britisher about India-its
size. its climate, It's geography, and so
on. When it is known you are COM
ing out here, he writes. some fond
mother will tell you that her boy is in
India, you'll be sure to call to see
him." or perhaps she may ask you to
take out parcel to him, quite forget
full OF the fact that her boy may be in
Madras and you may be bound for
station In the north, thousand odd
miles away.
He agrees that India is hot. but
AYERS that in a country of SO vast an
extent there are many varieties of eli
mate. On the plains in cold weather
November. December and january,
1t can be bitterly cold at night. Even
the days can he cold, though it Is al
ways warm I'm the sun. The normal
temperature of the day for the ALA
habad district during January aver
ages about SO degrees, while the mini
mum temperature on the grass fell to
about 20 degrees On the other hand,
in May and June It is hotter than one
Ii, es. the temperature in the shade
ranging up to 100 degrees.ur even
hi her.
: To take the climate OF what is now
called the United Provinces, and re-
ferring only to the districts on the
plains, the hot weather begins, say,
In March, and gradually gets hotter
as the days go on The Loo hot
dry wind from the west, blows all day
long. usually dying down in the-even-
ing. Advantage is taken of this. and
the door and window frames on the
west side of the bungalow are filled
up with screens of lthas khas, sweet
smelling grass This is kept wet. and
the hot dry wind. blowing through
1t, comes into the house fresh and
cool.
Dust and Rain Storms
During the hot weather there are
occasional dust storms-the high wind
swirling the dust along so that 1t il
often impossible to see more than a
few yards and these are as a rule
followed by a few drops of rain, and
nearly always by at least slight fan
in the temperature To be caught
out In a dust storm is a matter OF con.
siderable discomfort. the sandy grit
being dashed In ones face, finding it's
way down ones neck and into ones
ears. There is also the danger OF
falling trees. uprooted by the force of
the storm. Into the bungalow also
the dust finds its way through every
crack and Granny.
Towards the end of June, when
everything is dry and scorched and
dusty, one hegins to look longfngly for
signs Of the rains. They are due at
this time. They often begin with QUITE
theatrical effect. clouds banking IN
for day or two. followed by a crash
of thunder, the flash of lightning. and
torrential ,downpour. This is n
tremendous relief after the fierce, dry
heat OF the preceding weeks The
khas khas screens are taken down
The Loo will not blow any more
Myriads of insects and frogs start
their Internal chorus, Dried up tanks
fill up with water and. strange to say
at once have fish In them. Dry baked
ground and places inches deep in dust
in a few days time are bright with the
brilliant green of new grass. The
trees are cleansed OF their dusty coat.
Ing, and vegetation springs up quickly
all around. The temperature drops
and while It is raining Il is pleasantly
cool, comparatively speaking, Should
there. however. be long break, say
for week or ten days in August,
that will he far the worst time OF the
year--hot and steamy and sitting
When life Is Burden. +,
The best years are those when the
rains are fairly evenly apportioned
throughout July, August and Septem- I
Der, Stacking off in the latter month.
and with few showers In October.
this both for comfort and for the crops |
In general. If no rain falls for a week