58 THE PLAINS. 



CHAPTEK III. 



CLIMATE. 



EXTENDING over nineteen degrees of latitude, and varying 

 in altitude from almost the sea level to 8,000 feet, the 

 plains present every variety of climate. 



Summer brings its torrid heats, its miasmas and fevers, 

 to that portion of the third plain which joins the great 

 Alluvial deposit ; while the Arctic region itself can scarcely 

 exceed the rigour with which winter lays its icy hand on 

 the high plains. 



Besides the variation resulting from latitude and 

 altitude, the yearly and even the daily extremes of tem- 

 perature are most remarkable, and would seem to result 

 not only in very great discomfort, but in constant sickness 

 to those subjected to them. This, however, is not the 

 case. No part of the world can be more healthy than the 

 middle plains ; and, probably from the dryness of the 

 atmosphere, the extremes of heat produce less effect on 

 the human body than in the Eastern States. 



A summer's day with the thermometer at 110 is felt 

 about as it is in New York when the thermometer indi- 

 cates 90 ; and, no matter how hot the day, the mercury 

 goes down with the sun. One is always sure of a delight- 

 ful evening, when he can sit out bareheaded and enjoy 

 the pure delicious air without the discomfort of dew, or 

 the danger of ' coughs, colds, and consumptions/ and of a 

 most glorious night's sleep under at least one blanket. 

 Eefreshed and invigorated by such a night's rest, the frame 

 can stand a vast amount of daily heat. 



