The summer temperature is everywhere higher than in Europe, with the exception of certain districts on the Pacific slopes already alluded to. The hottest regions of the country are naturally thesouthernmost parts of the southernmost states (Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, etc.). Here the annual mean rises to 75° Fahr., which is almost that of tropical climes. In the valley of the Lower Colorado, in California and Arizona, the summer mean rises to 90° Fahr. In Texas temperatures of 110°, and in Arizona and parts of California of 115°, are no great rarity, and yet here the great dryness of the atmosphere makes the heat seem less oppressive than in humid regions at a much lower range of temperature. In almost all the states of the Union several extremely hot days are to be looked for every summer. And in the more prolonged 'hot spells' the mortality from heat-stroke and diarrhoeal diseases becomes alarming to a degree quite unknown in Europe. The severity of the winter is most felt in the elevated parts of New England, the higher plains of N. Minnesota and Dakota, and the lofty mountain plateaus of the Rockies. There the usual mean may descend below 40° Fahr. In upper Minnesota the winter mean is only 10° Fahr. On the whole, it may be said that American winters are more severe than those of Europe, always excepting, of course, the S. states. In the Atlantic and Middle states the winter is generally steady. Ice and snow may be counted on during one-half of the three coldest winter months. But to the W. of the Mississippi great irregularities are experienced. Mild and open periods there alternate with intense cold and violent storms. As we approach the Pacific increased mildness is observed. Continuous snow and ice are unknown along the whole W. coast from Vancouver to San Diego. Moreover, the temperature is so equable there that the winter mean is only 5-15° below that of summer. In the S. occasional cold storms are experienced, although the thermometer at New Orleans, for example, rarely descends below the freezing point. Yet the S. winter is fitful and at times trying. It begins and ends early, lasting from about Nov. until February. But there is absolutely no periodicity in the various irregularities observed, so that elaborate calculations based on averages may be rudely upset by the eccentricity of certain seasons. It is always well to be prepared for 'any kind of weather' in the United States.

Rainfall. The rainfall is qnite unevenly distributed through the United States. In the E. section it is abundant, while the great W. plains and prairies are often parched with prolonged drought This has led to the general employment there of irrigation, without which agriculture could not flourish. In the strip along the Pacific coast a very plentiful precipitation occurs. The heaviest deposit of rain takes place in the borderlands of the Gulf, namely the S. parts of Louisiania, Mississippi, and Alabama, the E. part of Texas, and the W. coast of Florida. The annual quantity of water amounts to about 65 inches there. But at Philadelphia it is 45 inches, and at

Chicago only about 30. All over the E. the rainfall is abundant in spring and summer. It usually occurs in heavy showers, often accompanied by violent electrical discharges. On the Pacific coast, apart from the regularly recurring winter rains, little or no precipitation of water takes place. But at a short distance inland profuse summer rains are again observed. In the mountainous highlands heavy winter snows augment the annual volume of watery precipitation. The most arid tracts of the United States are in W. Arizona, S. Nevada, and S. E. California. The annual rainfall there descends from 15 to 8 inches and less. Broadly speaking the United States may be said to be favoured by an abundance of rain, with a relatively small proportion of rainy days. Fogs occur in the seaboard states, but they are neither as frequent nor as heavy as those known in many European countries.

Winds. The prevailing winds of the United States are westerly, like those of other countries situated in middle latitudes. Around the Gulf of Mexico the main current of the atmosphere moves in an E. or S.E. direction. Along the Atlantic coast region the predominating winds are S. W. in summer, and N.W. in winter. In a large S. W. district, including Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona, the summer winds come from the S., and the winter winds have a N. direction. In the region of the Rocky Mountains the winds are so irregular that none of them can be said to be 'prevalent'. In the tract between the Mississippi and the Appalachian ranges, both summer and winter winds are S.W. and W. It may be borne in mind that in the United States the S. W. winds blow over an expanse of warm water, while the N.E. winds hail from a frigid ocean, and the N. W. from frozen deserts.

Storms and Blizzards. The regularly recurring winter storms are most violent on the E. seaboard. The term 'blizzard' is employed to denote the blinding snow-storms with intense cold and high winds, which have their true home only in the W. but which are sometimes observed in the Atlantic States. t

Climatic Resorts.

The custom of spending the winter in the South and the summer at the seaside has nowhere assumed more formidable proportions than in the United States, and a few of the more important climatic resorts are named and characterised below. Comp. also the notices throughout the Handbook.

WINTER RESORTS. The best known winter-stations are in Florida, California, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia. A large proportion of the invalids visiting these regions are the victims of consumption, but sufferers from gout, rheumatism, neurasthenia,

A violent blizzard occurred in New York on March 12th, 1888. The snow was piled up in drifts of 10-30 ft., stopping all communication.

chlorosis, anæmia, diseases of the kidneys, affections of the heart, insomnia, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and over-work are often signally benefited by a stay at one or other of the resorts named below. In making one's choice of a winter's residence, the factor of accommodation should not be lost sight of; and it may be stated generally that the sanitary arrangements of American health-resorts are far superior to most places of the kind in Europe. In some of the hotels every conceivable modern comfort and luxury are provided (comp. pp. 357, 440, 450).

In Florida (RR. 75-81) the themperature is equable, the atmosphere is neither too dry nor too moist, the sunshine abundant, and the soil sandy. Consumptives do well there, especially in the early stages of the disease. The only drawback is the possibility of malaria; but the dangers arising from this source have been grossly exaggerated. Southern California has, perhaps, the most delightful climate in the world (comp. p. 445). The air is genially warm and dry, yet not enervating as in more tropical climates, and more salubrious general conditions can nowhere be found. Santa Barbara (p. 443), Los Angeles (p. 445), and San Diego (Coronado Beach; p. 449) are among the chief resorts, the first named showing the least variation between the day and night temperatures, while the other two enjoy an almost total immunity from fog. At San Diego the coast-winds are sometimes inconvenient for invalids with throat-troubles. San Bernardino (p. 448) is more inland and has a rather bracing, but not irritating, climate, which some consumptives find more beneficial than that of other Californian resorts. Monterey (p. 439), Santa Cruz (p. 441), Pasadena (p. 446), Redondo Beach (p. 446), and San Rafael (p. 433), have all their special advantages. Thomasville (p. 354), in Georgia, and Aiken (p. 350), in South Carolina, are much frequented by weak-chested persons, who find benefit in the balsamic fragrance of their pine forests. The advantages of Asheville, North Carolina, have been sufficiently indicated at p. 344. Old Point Comfort (p. 322), Virginia Beach (p. 331), and Newport News (p. 331), in Virginia, are fashionable intermediate stations for invalids on their way back to the North. Lakewood (p. 225), in New Jersey, and Cumberland Gap Park, in Tennessee (comp. p. 341), are also favourably known. Colorado Springs (p. 415), Manitou (p. 417), and Saranac Lake (p. 166) are the chief resorts for the high-altitude treatment of consumption.

Summer Resorts. Newport (p. 68), Nahant (p. 90), New London (p. 63), Narragansett Pier (p. 64), Bar Harbor (p. 102), Long Branch (p. 56), Atlantic City (p. 225), Cape May (p. 224), and parts of Long Island (p. 55) are the most fashionable SEA-SIDE RESORTS. Sea-bathing in the United States differs somewhat from British and Continental practices. Permanent bath-houses on the beach take the place of bathing-coaches, and the institution of bathingBAEDEKER'S United States.

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masters is almost unknown. Men and women bathe together. The temperature of the water of the Atlantic Ocean in summer is so warm (often exceeding 70° Fahr.), that bathers frequently remain in it an hour or more, apparently without harm.

The chief MOUNTAIN RESORTS are in the Catskills (p. 195), the Adirondacks (p. 165), the White Mts. (p. 121), the Green Mts. (p. 117), the Berkshires (p. 136), and the Alleghenies (pp. 341, 343, etc.).

The United States contains nearly 9000 MINERAL SPRINGS. While, however, these waters are chemically equal to any in the world, it must be admitted that their scientific employment for the cure of disease has not hitherto been developed as at the famous European spas. Saratoga Springs (p. 179) has, perhaps, the best claim to ranking with the latter in its mode of life and methods of treatment. The celebrated Hot. Springs, Arkansas, are described at p. 404. Among the most popular SULPHUR SPRINGS are Blount Springs (Ala.), Blue Lick Springs (Ky.), White Sulphur Springs (p. 305), Sharon (p. 158), and Richfield Springs (p. 188). Good IRON WATERS are found at Sharon (p. 158), Cresson Springs (p. 234), Schoole's Mt. (p. 196), and Milford (N. H.). Crab Orchard (Ky.), Bedford (p. 234), and Saratoga (p. 179) have good PURGATIVE SPRINGS. Among well-known THERMAL WATERS are those of the Hot. Springs, Arkansas (see above), San Bernardino (p. 448), Calistoga (p. 434), and Salt Lake (p. 437).

XIV. The Fine Arts in America.

a. PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

by

William A. Coffin.

Marvellous progress in the fine arts has been made in the United States since the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876, when popular interest in Art received a decided impulse; and for something more than a decade the influx of American artists returning in large numbers from study in the European art centres, principally from Paris, has had a strongly marked influence on the tendencies of the American school. Before proceeding, however, to the consideration of the conditions in which American art stands before the public at the present day, it is pertinent to give briefly some account of its earlier history.

Previous to the Revolutionary period we find a Scottish artist named John Watson painting portraits in Philadelphia about 1715, and another Scotsman, John Symbert, similarly occupied in Boston from 1725 to 1751. John Singleton Copley, born in Boston in 1737, began to paint portraits there about 1751. He went to London subsequently, became a Royal Academician in 1779, and died in London

in 1815. He painted many celebrities of his time in the Colonies, and his works are among those most highly valued in early American art. Benjamin West, born at Springfield, Pennsylvania, in 1738, painted portraits in Philadelphia in 1756, went to Italy in 1760, and thence to London in 1763. He was elected president of the Royal Academy on the death of Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1792. He died in London in 1820, and his works, both portraits and compositions, are to be found in collections in the United States and England. At the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia one of his most celebrated pictures, 'Death on the Pale Horse', is in the permanent collection, and the Boston Museum possesses his 'King Lear', another notable work. Charles Wilson Peale, who was a colonel in the Continental army, painted portraits of Washington and other men of the time that are of historical and artistic interest. John Trumbull, son of Jonathan Trumbull, Colonial Governor of Connecticut, a graduate of Harvard and (like Peale) a colonel in the army who had previously given his attention to the art of painting, gave up his commission and went to London to study under West. He is best known as a painter of military pictures representing the battles of the Revolution and the French and English war in Canada, and also painted numerous portraits and miniatures. An interesting collection which includes the most important of his works belongs to the Yale University and is on exhibition in the galleries of the art school connected with the institution at New Haven (see p. 58).

Gilbert Stuart, born at Narragansett, Rhode Island, in 1755, is the most famous of all the portrait-painters of the Revolutionary period, and his work compares very favourably with that of his contemporaries in Europe. He was a pupil of West in London and returned to America in 1792. He settled in Boston, after painting portraits two years in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, and died there in 1828. The best portraits of Washington are those from his hand, and the list of his other portraits is a long one, including many of the best known men in the first Congresses of the United States and military and civic dignitaries. Portraits by Stuart are in the collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (p. 80); at the Metropolitan Museum (p. 42), the Lenox Library (p. 36), and the New York Historical Society (p. 40), New York; and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia (p. 216). John Vanderlyn and Thomas Sully (an Englishman who came to America at an early age) were portrait-painters of note contemporary with Stuart and Trumbull. Washington Allston, born in South Carolina in 1779 and a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1800, went to London to study in the schools of the Royal Academy in 1801. He settled in Boston in 1818, and painted historical and religious subjects as well as portraits, and is considered one of the most talented of American artists. One of the best of his works is the 'Jeremiah' in the Yale University collection at New Haven (p. 58), and there

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