THE WEATHER IN EUROPE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1878, 1 March 1880, Page 2

THE WEATHER IN EUROPE.

For the first twenty days of December Paris was lying under heaps of snow, the thermometer frequently went down to Zero, and great distress prevailed. The corns* pendent of the|“Daily News” telegraphing on the night of December 19th, says:— This morning I visited the markets of the Rue de Lisbonne and the Madeleine. There were scarcely any purchasers, and_ there wae verv little to purchase. The scarcity of fruit and vegetables reminded me of siege times nine years ago. Leeks usually two sons a bundle were sold at four sous, and meagre lettuces at from ten to fourteen sons, which in normal weather would have been offered at the rate of two sous piece. Milk, as in

Russia, is literally vended in blocks, and is ■very irregularly supplied from the country. If the frost continues, sledge locomotion will be more general than it has ever been in Paris. The number of sledges which circulate in the Bois and the principal streets is already very great, and many cheaply-constructed vehicles of this kind on iron frames are to be seen mingled with the more luxurious ones which are said to belong to Dutch and Russians. A remarkable feature of the streets this evening is the open-air fires, some of which have been lighted at the expense of the municipality, and others at the cost of the wealthy inhabitants before the doors of their houses. Gentle and simple take advantage of them to warm themselves when out of doors." A correspondent of the “ Globe ” writes: *• Never, not even in the memory of Gie oldest Parisian, has such a scene been witnessed as that presented by the snow-bound capital at the present moment. The reserves of provisions are exhausted, there is no market garden produce, and if the present frcst continues, vegetables will be as dear os they were during the siege. A few cabs and omnibuses have been seen in the streets during the last two days, but the return of the snow has again put a stop to all traffic. Blacksmiths and carriage builders have had a very pleasant time indeed. Horses have been sent to be rough shod, and carriages have been taken off their wheels and placed on runners, so as to enable their owners to get about. It seems a thousand pities that the Canadians who were over here during the exhibition did not open a store and sell their sleighs, mocassins, and snow shoes, so that the Parisians might not have been prevented from leading their customary outdoor life, and so that they might have resisted the incursions Jack Frost has made on their domains of pleasure. The Vienna correspondent of tho same journal writes:: —Winter has set in in earnest. We have had hard frost for the last week with the mercury ranging between S deg. and 20 deg. F. Vienna has put on her winter dress, in which she always look.: best; the streets are clean, the air is delightfully bracing, and there are no evil smells. The Ringis alive of an afternoon with pretty women in splendid furs, with “Beaux Cavaliers” in the gorgeous uniforms of Hussars, Dragoons, or Uhlans, and with stylish sledges driven by showy high steppers. The shops are full of tempting wares from every part of the worldthe December gingerbread, toy, and Christmas-tree fair is in full swing “Am Hof,” and tho shivering Italian chestnut - sellers call, “ Maroni arostati, caldi! caldi 1” from every street corner.