1902] TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS flb$ 



windy, cold weather ; not only would one's fingers freeze very 

 rapidly, but one's breath would form an icy film on the paper 

 through which it was difficult to make the pencil-mark. The 

 most annoying instrument with which we had to deal was 

 called the Ashmann's aspirator ; it consisted of a wet and dry 

 bulb thermometer, but the air was circulated around the bulbs 

 by a clockwork fan. At each observation it was necessary to 

 wind up the clockwork, to wait for the fan to have full time for 

 action, and then to read the result on two distressingly thin 

 threads of mercury. As all these operations had to be done 

 with bare fingers, a more angering cold-weather instrument can 

 hardly be imagined. 



The trials and tribulations of the meteorological observer 

 were, in fact, numerous, and it was arranged that throughout 

 the winter each officer should take it in turn to make the night 

 observations from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Dr. Wilson nobly offered 

 to take the 8 a.m. observation regularly, but the lion's share of 

 the work fell on the meteorologist himself, who, besides taking 

 his share of the night work, throughout the first winter and a 

 great part of the second, took all the observations between 

 io a.m. and io p.m. 



The most dreaded day for Mr. Royds, however, was 

 Monday, as on that day it became necessary to change the 

 papers on the recording instruments. Anyone who is familiar 

 with the ordinary barograph or thermograph can imagine that 

 when the temperature was below — 20 , with a brisk wind, this 

 task could appear attractive to no one. 



I may remark generally that it is quite a mistake to suppose 

 that one grows hardened or more callous to the cold, either in 

 one's fingers or in any other part of the body ; what does 

 happen, however, is that one becomes more expert in keeping 

 oneself warm. For instance, in handling cold metal one learns 

 when to stop and to plunge one's fingers back into a warm mit, 

 and how best to restore one's circulation ; and so in the long 

 run, when a cold job has to be done, it is done more expedi- 

 tiously and with less suffering after experience has been gained. 



Before quitting the subject of meteorology I may say that 



