112 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



February 6. They have put the line in order to-day, and Mr. Huntington sent an 

 interesting press despatch. Wonder if our situation excites any comment, especially 

 as we have held no communication with the lower world for three days. 



Tuesday, February 7. A glorious sunrise, and a quiet, warm day. Temperature at 

 2 P.M., 62° in the sun. Change of temperature since Sunday of 121°! .... I 

 have given some time this afternoon to the study of cloud formations. Days like this 

 are so rare that we improve every opportunity for investigation. Gales, storms, hurri- 

 canes, all clear off with a north wind, — a wind gentle and soft as the south wind of the 

 lower regions. How can this be explained? It is S. S. W. to-night, and two miles per 

 hour, — a marked contrast to Sunday morning. Mr. Holden telegraphs from Littleton 

 that we may expect him to-morrow. 



February 8. Smith and I laid in a supply of ice, enough for three days' consumption. 

 Are obliged to look sharp in fair weather and lay in an ample stock of ice, for it some- 

 times happens that we cannot replenish for several days. ... At noon the party 

 arrived, consisting of Messrs. Holden, Cogswell, and Clough. They received from us 

 a right hearty welcome. They brought a large mail, and a contribution of magazines 

 and papers. Some of the dailies are more than a fortnight old, yet we read them with 

 as much eagerness as we do the evening paper at home. The evening has passed 

 pleasantly. We had something to tell our friends of mountain life ; and they, in retiu-n, 

 had much to relate of events occurring since we left the region below the clouds. 



February 9, 9 p. m. Cloudy all day, wind moderate ; temperature high as 26°. The 

 cloud on the mountain so dense that it was impossible to see ten rods in any direction. 

 It is a pleasure to have company in this out-of-the-world place ; and I sincerely hope 

 that we may be able to treat our friends to some one or more of the Mt. Washington 

 novelties,— a gorgeous sunrise or brilliant sunset, a superior show of frost-work, or, 

 failing in these, something in the line of hurricanes. It is a pity that they should be 

 at the trouble of making the ascent at this inclement season, and not take back some- 

 thing of the experience that falls to our lot daily — something to endure, or enjoy, as the 

 case may be. The line has been down to-day between Littleton and Concord : this 

 time it is not the Mt. Washington cable. The papers say that fears were entertained 

 for our safety during the time the line was down. Knowing better than the good 

 people below all about the matter, we had not the least anxiety. 



February 10. The wind high all day, 88 at 2 p. m.,— Holden having the honor of 

 measuring its velocity, Huntington timing him. He acknowledges perfect satisfaction 

 as regards Mt. Washington winter winds. Now, 7 p. m., the wind is rapidly rising. 

 Been cloudy all day ; a dense cloud on the mountain, charged with frost. 



Midnight. About 8 o'clock the wind had worked up to the 90 mile rate, and then 

 commenced a furious bombardment of ice from the summit and frost-work from off 

 the house. The house shook and trembled as the fiercer blasts beat against it. Pieces 

 of ice were driven between the bars protecting the windows, and at last, by one heavy 

 discharge, three panes were broken. As good luck would have it, the broken lights 

 were in the room above. The roar of the wind as it rushed through the opening was 



