JACK FROST AND FUNK,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16465, 29 June 1921, Page 7

JACK FROST AND FUNK,

EARLY MORNING SHIVERS. COLD SNAP IN CANTERBURY According to Webster:—“ FrostMinute crystals of ice formed directly from atmospheric water-vapour, as on nights when ihe dew-point is below the freezing-point: seen in the eerlv morning rovoiiug the ground or objects on its surface, or on the surface of vrindowpanes.’’ Everyone in Christchurch shivered this morning. It was one of the coldest days of the year; all uncovered water froze hard overnight, and tho ground was white everywhere. Most, people found it a difficult task to get out of bed. and more difficult still to leave fireside warmth for the chill of the open air. “Frost!” said tlip old man in Llio tram. “ It’s the only thins? that troubles mo now. I can stand slush and ruud and dust and rain and nor’-wea-ters. They’re small matters. Hut when I look lip over the blankets and sec that White Hand Gang kind of scrawl over the window-pane, then my heart sags and my jaw trembles. Perliap it’s age. More likely it’s funic.” “ Da vs like this ought to bo proclaimed full holidays,” said a clerk. “ I’ve got cold feet now, ami J’U have cold feet till five o’clock. There’s only one thing that will do mo anv "ood. and the sooner T have it the Letter.'’ ‘ If it would freeze out of sight. 7 wouldn’t mind.” chattered a young typist, heavily furred and muffed. “ What I object to is the nasty crackling noise the grass makes when I run over the lawn for father’s morning paper. Then there’s the frozen sink and the clammv touch the firewood has. Why did T ever start work?” “ Never feel it.” said a red-faced man who might have been a butcher or a steamer skipper. “ Born and bred down Invercargill wav. This is nothin ' - to tho stuff I’ve seen there. Ground frozen hard, clothes as stiff as boards, icicles on your whiskers, and wind with an edgo like a bushmnn’s axe. Onlv way to get about is bung inco it. More notice you take of these things, the more harm they do you.” The tram conductor fumbled the tickets and punched as if his fingers were all thumbs. Ho suggested that it would bare been a good tlrinfr if the early morning earthquake bad burst up an old geyser and caused a volcanic outbreak. “ Anything for a bit of heat, as Sam Weller said when tho cigarette ash went in his eve.” All the grumblers had n lot to be thankful foi. The sun shone hriohtlv rin’hk through, and on the open side of the street, even 7«eforo noon, it was fairlv warm and certainly drv. No wind came up to keep noses red. there was not enough thawed mud to make sJnshy streets, and the rainstorms of last week staved away. Speaking fur safety, like a weather prophet, there may be another stiff frost to-morrow, with snow on the higher levels, but on the other hand the cold snap may close up as suddenly