The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-12-24

But Folk \ !, Tales es of Snow, Ice
and Cold Weather Retain
Their Grip.

Poets and storywrlters always tell
Of Christmas with the ground well
covered with snow, and merry sleigh
Ing parties with, gingllng bells, riding
over the smooth white carpet to
Christmas parties when the "yule'-
logs are burning brightly In the great
fireplace in the hall. Or again OF
the thrilling glide over the smooth
hard ice on lake or river or nearby!
pond. The shouts of the skaters and
the happy laughter OF children coast
Ing down q convenient hill. fill the
air. Everyone knows II Is Christmas
because new sleds. new skates, new
sweaters and red Fmittens, are seen;
eyerywhereHa as evidence OF Santa
Claus annual visit. Sounds OF Joy.
and celebration; are heard from every
house, in the evening bright lights
and holly are seen In every
window. Fall! young boys with angelic
voices wander around the streets
singing beautiful Christmas carols.
Inside the houses the sweet and Low.
able daughter of the wealthy old gem
tleman Is accidently standing direct:
~ beneath the mistletoe. while the
poor but honest young man sees his
opportunity. ~. 4
Truly Christmas Is an ideal time
when peace and good will to; all men
ts the spirit in the air, and the great
and the small are equally humble and
worship the Christ child together. !:
This picture OF Christmas is a firm.
tradition in our minds, instilled there
blythe literature Of our race. SBut;ou
literature begins with the old folk
tales Of our Saxon: ancestors. who
lined in, a wild and stormy coast where
snow was abnnda liant In De- ember Our
American literature began in the
bleak New England States and still
Gears the marks of the cold northern
winter. Il II, : .;.afSs ...lr;
but Christmas In West Virginia is
usually far differenti from the day the;
poets would have us believe;it Is. Rain
ind isleet or snow and slush, or "a damp
tawswindy mixture of both Is usually
our lot "A green Christmas Is q bring!
or OF bad luck. according to popular
superstitio Several old sayings are
stiIl heard about this time Of year to
prove this such Jas "a green Christi
nas1makesS awhile graveyard mean
Ing that many deaths will occur3thej
remainder OF the winter; and Win
serSthunder means'a poor mans death
and rich. mans hunger
However, this may be the statistics
show that a green Christmas and a;
fairly open season for December Is
he4general rule for West Virginia. "A
Christmas Swith;a big snowfall and Ice
on the river Is hardly to be expected
this year. The local weather observ-
erbisS the only person who could sup
ply any accurate data, on the past
Christmas: days. The late Glenn Elem.
Ing was the local observer here for
many years, but his records were In.
accessible. Frank P. Hall, the pres.
emit observer. furnished the statistics
forSthe !past,four years.
According to Mr.; Halls records
Christmas day OF :1911ssw preceded;
bylasyerys open December, the day was
cloudy with a. maximum ,,temperture'
ofs45s degrees and minimum Of .2S de.
grees. No snow was on the ground
but recent rains furnished plently. Of
mud for the occasion. -, 4
December 1912 was not so warm aud
Christmas day was clear and cold
with a inches of snow on the ground;
the maximum temperature OF the day
was E45. minimum 81. 10y n
Ninteen hundred and thirteen was!
aimiserable season and Christmas day
was edlngiyi raw and .disagreeable
with a chilling rain all day long, turn.
Ing TO ssleet and snow at night. : The
maximum Temperature was 3s, the
minimum 81, totals precipitation 1.36
inches. s;,tisy * 10,
The early: part OF ecember; 1914,
was warmer with plenty of;rain. By
Christmas the, rain had turned to snow
and the day was cloudy With inches:
fof snow on the ground. The maxi
mum temperature was 4, with min.
I,,sny,, M oostN - ~ telrF - y y