, 1913-01-16
CALIFORNIA LETTER
Oakland, Calif., Jan. z, 1919.

Oakland, Calf, Jan. Z, 1912
Editor Sun:
Well, we have had another novel
experience in "Sunny California
Came near freezing to death
nearer than I like to acknowledge.
The very idea ! just think Of COM
ing here to get away from the cold,
and then run into a biting north
wind that cut like q knife. Fol
the past two days we have been
hugging stoves and CRATE 6res, and
praying for the rocks and noun
tains to fall on us and end our
miseries, Is there really no piece
in all this United States where a
man can go to escape the biting
cold and the chilling blasts of win
ter? 1t would seem 30. 1t began
with a wind from the north Satur-
day morning, that whipped the
waters in the bay into foam. and
disturbed its usual plscidity to
such an extent that sailing crafts
were driven onto the shores and
wrecked, sinking such unlucky
vessels as got adrift and were RAM
In d, or rammed other like unfor-
tunate boats. until all either went
on shore or to the bottom. The
casualties we're not numerous, but
they are plenty enough to make
it very distressing. Icicles, from
one to two feet, formed on water
tanks, and wster froze wherever
exposed until it would almost bear
the weight of a man. The old
timers r racking their brains for
a like experience and many Of them
are able to dig up but one such oc-
curaence in all their residence on
this sunny shore. I suppose no
one is to blame for it but the
weather man, and he is such an
irresponsible kind of q fellow that
no one hopes to recover from him
in a suit of damages.
There has really been but one
thing to do-hug the fire and pray.
1 have done the hugging part to
perfection. The other duty l left
to those who we're on more inti-
mate terms with the Powers that
be. MY prayers seem to have a
stronger tendency to go down than
up. I never could account for that.
There are many who are able to
explain that popularity, but I am
not willing to admit their explana-
tions to be correct.
I have talked with . number
of the inhabitants here about this
cold snap, and while they will all
admit that, here and there, the
frost nipped things abit, none OF
them are able to see that the mer.
curry got lower than 36 degrees.
If you intimate that it must have
been at least as low as 80 degrees
in order to freeze things, or form
ice, they stiffen up and look very
boldly ON you if you even hint
that the thermometer was lower
than 36 degrees.
1t is sure a great country, with
it's flowers, and fruit, and (alleged)
sunshine, and all that, but it is
still more wonderful in being able
to 30 aflict people with that pecu-
liar kind Of strabismus that pre-
vents them from acknowledging a
cold snap when it drives them
to the fires, and heavy coats and
furs, and all that, yet, compells
them to still stand up and swear
valliantly that it is not cold. "Coldl
Oh, yes, down at Los Angeles. OF
some other part of the state, but
but not here. oh | no, not cold
here at adjust a sharp wind
that's all. It will soon blow ovel
and be nice and pleasant again.
1 am sure this cold snap, which
has ramped up and down the whole
length of this state for the pas
48 hours, will do incslculable dam
ages in the way of killing fruit