The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-01-01
NJ. Ell racy Says:
NOTHING Illustrates the cnange that has

O1HIN( ILLUSTRATES GIl6 C1ldIlSS GAAdb AAcS
~ taken place in life like snow.
There is about eight inches on the ground,
as write, with more falling. Traffic has prac-
tically come to a standstill and neighborS are
wondering whether they will go to town to-
morrow. AS for making call, or even going
to the movies, it is simply out of the question.
Every one is waiting for the streets to be cleared
Snow has become a nuisance, the one good
thing about it being the temporary work pro-
vided by the necessity of getting out of
the way.
How differently we regarded snow when
was a boy on the coast of Maine! Its presence
meant good business for lunbermen and pleas
ure for young people. One waited inpatiently
for enough to make the sliding good, or to hitch
old Dobbin to the sleigh.
Instead Of worry over how long we might
have to stay indoors we all were anxious to
get out. It was a privilege to ride in the first
team over the road, to hear the jingle OF bells
and follow the wood choppers into the forest
Everything was designed to take advantage
of the snow in those days. 1t meant cheap
and easy transportation. A road was good
wherever it could be broken and packed down.
Horses could haul double or treble as much on
sled as on a wagon.
THE winter was a season for moving heavy
l. commodities Without it, New England
never would have become famous as timber
The home owner who didn't get his wood
out before 1.-THE snow flew" was considered shift
less. Most everybody owned "lot." Those who
didn't could buy stumpage cheap. All this made
the cost Of fuel rather nominal for people liv-
ing in small towns. I never saw coal burned,
except in the homes of city relatives, until I
was grown.
Best of all. winter was the time Of sport
coasting, skating skiing, snowshoeing, iceboating
and horse racing on the ice. AS for travel, there
seemed to be about as much of it, and it was
far more picturesque and enjoyable than in
the summer.
Well, we have left an that behind. Our
modern methods of transportation are not de-
signed for snow. I have an idea that this will
affect the drift Of population and Of course,
the development of business as well as political
power
T HAVE an idea that the next great movement
l. of the American people will be southwark,
where golf can be played the year round and
where it is not necessary to dig a path to the
front door or the garage every few days from
December to March.
Refrigeration tends to bring about the same
result. People used to appreciate the cold of
winter as preservative. 1t helped them to keep
meats and vegetables adding greatly to the
comfort and economy Of living. But electric
ice boxes and cold storage plants Offset all that.
Science has liberated us from the necessity
of living in a cold climate to be sure OF adequate
supplies Of food from one harvest to another.
The ice house has gone the way of the OK cart.
Beef can be frozen as easily in Texas as in
Labrador. or apples kept from rotting.
STILL and making allowance for all these
changes. winter has certain advantages. One
of them is its effect on human character, its
challenge to come out and do battle with nature,
its hardening influence on those who do not
succumb to cold feet