We’re having a snow day today here at home. Interestingly enough, the weatherman predicted no snow for northern Georgia; yet, there it is: three inches of snow, and more coming down by the second.
Just for fun, I thought I’d post some excerpts from The Clayton Tribune‘s community columns for January 1899. All were taken from my published transcription of Rabun County’s early newspapers, Rabun County, Georgia, Newspapers, 1894 – 1899.
6 January 1899 issue:
Tiger: “We are having some very cold weather.”
Warwoman: “According to the ruling days the weather will be very favorable for out door labor up to June.”
If you’re wondering what “ruling days” is, the old-timers believed the first twelve days of January corresponded respectively to the twelve months of the year, weather-wise.
13 January 1899 issue:
Warwoman: “We are experiencing a cold snap at present, hope the weather will moderate soon and we may have a pleasant January.”
Bridge Creek: “The weather is very cold and unsettled now.”
20 January 1899 issue:
Upper Tiger: “We are having some more disagreeable weather and the roads are muddy. The overseers are trying to have them worked so that Judge Estes will not grumble when he attends court next month.”
North Chechero: “It is the muddiest time now we have had in quite a time. W. L. Carver arrived home last Friday and reports more mud and it in larger pieces.”
26 January 1899 issue:
Bridge Creek: “Mud and rainy weather seems to be plentiful.”
North Chechero: “I am glad to see nice weather again. The roads are drying out some.”
Vandiver [column] 1: “Rain and mud, no end to the mud.”
Vandiver [column] 2: “We are very proud of the beautiful weather and if it remains fair I think we will have less mud.”
So it seems that no matter what the era, people are always interested in the weather and either complaining because it’s bad or joyful because it’s not. Plus ça change…
Digging in the Roots 