<h2><span class="h2line1">ETCHINGS BY JACK FROST</span></h2>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p19.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="441" /> <p class="caption">43. Graceful feathers with curling ends</p> </div>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p19a.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="444" /> <p class="caption">44. Strikingly beautiful example. Evergreen twigs shooting out into clear glass</p> </div>
<h2 id="c3"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER III</span> <br/><span class="h2line2">ETCHINGS BY JACK FROST</span></h2>
<div class="verse">
<p class="t0">“When icicles hang by the wall,</p>
<p class="t0">And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,</p>
<p class="t0">And Tom bears logs into the hall,</p>
<p class="t0">And milk comes frozen home in pail.”</p>
<p class="lr">—<span class="sc">Shakespeare.</span></p>
</div>
<p>In zero weather, in mid-winter, when
the earth is frozen to a great depth
below the surface, when in driving over
the unpaved country roads they give forth
a hard metallic ring; when the trees are
all stripped of their coverings, with the
exception of a few forlorn brown leaves,
which cling tenaciously to the skeleton
branches, which crack and sway in the
chilly blasts; then indeed we may be fully
assured that nature has utterly succumbed
to the advances of the Frost King, and
that “Jack Frost” himself has arrived in
earnest.</p>
<p>How he tweaks and nips exposed ears
and noses, and how they tingle and ache
because of his stinging caress. Jack Frost,
we read, is “the very personification of
frost and cold.” All of us are more or less
familiar with the mischievous pranks of
Jack Frost, and they are quite separate
and apart from those of the gentle white
hoar frost, which is frequently seen early
in autumn, upon the first still, cool mornings.</p>
<p>“Jack Frost,” as the great Frost Spirit
is familiarly known the world over, is a
most important, if rather mythical personage,
and very few of us are really familiar
with the works which he creates in his
more serious moods, and the really wonderful
methods which he displays. For, with
all his mischief-making, he finds abundant
opportunity to work out and display
much really fine artistic ability in his
choice etchings and decorative schemes.</p>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p20.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="440" /> <p class="caption">45. One of Jack Frost’s masterpieces</p> </div>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p20a.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="442" /> <p class="caption">46. A mass of feathers scattered upon glass</p> </div>
<p>The night time seems to be most favourable
for the finest efforts of Jack Frost;
usually in mid-winter or early spring. He
prefers to select a still, cold night, zero
weather, for his best out-of-door display,
but it is usually in the coldest winter
weather that he applies his very choicest
designs upon the glass of our windows,
and just how charming and interesting
they are, you may judge by the photographed
designs herein shown.</p>
<p>Upon a still moonlit night, when Jack
Frost is astir, if you chance to be out
of doors, especially in the open country,
you will be made aware of his presence
in many ways besides the tingling of your
ears. Suddenly a sharp mysterious report
will occur in the forest, and a great tree
trunk is cleft mysteriously in twain. Again
an ominous cracking, as loud as a rifle
report comes from the still ice-covered pond.
It is merely Jack Frost indulging in a bit
of rifle-practice.</p>
<p>That barren field, brown and unattractive
by daylight, how it glistens and
scintillates as the moonlight floods it. All
last summer’s withered seed pods and
grasses; the fluffed-out goldenrod, and
many others are rejuvenated and hung
with sparkling, pendent ropes of jewels,
all the creation and work of the Frost
Spirit, who has simply paused to caress
them with his icy breath, in passing, and
lo, they are beautiful. Later, when the
morning sun touches them, they all, like
Cinderella, are shorn of their finery, and
become as before, just mere commonplace,
brown and withered seed pods again. But
with infinite patience, as soon as it is twilight
the following night, the Frost Spirit
steals forth again and restores once more
his magic, fantastic pictures by the rays
of the wintry moonlight.</p>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p21.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="434" /> <p class="caption">47. Sometimes Jack Frost sketches oak leaves</p> </div>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p21a.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="441" /> <p class="caption">48. Detail of frost crystals largely magnified</p> </div>
<p>The heavy frosts are a recognised and
most important factor in creating remarkable
changes in rocky formations of the
earth’s surface. Large masses of rock are
constantly being split and reconstructed
by its mighty blasting powers, and great
sections of solid material are converted in
the same manner into soil by the secret
action of the frost, which works continually
with the other elements of heat and water
to effect these changes. These powerful
agents working year after year cause vast
and important changes to occur in the
formation of mountains and valleys. So
great is the power of frost, that it has
frequently been utilised in blasting; when
water being poured into the crevice of a
great rock, and allowed to freeze, the rock
was readily split, as desired.</p>
<p>All vegetation succumbs readily to the
withering blight of the frost with the
exception of the evergreen varieties. The
cause for this is, that the juices of plants
naturally expand when touched by the
frost, and at last burst, which destroys the
vesicles or life of the plant, which soon
blackens and dies. Of all the pranks in
which Jack Frost indulges, his wholesale
destruction of the beautiful flowers and
plants is the greatest to be deplored.
But with all the marvellous works of the
mighty Frost Spirit, nothing is quite so
fascinating and interesting as the curious
phenomena or frost formations which he
creates and deposits upon the window-panes
in mid-winter. Jack Frost is a
finished artist, I assure you, and his etchings
are dainty and attractive beyond words.</p>
<p>If you have entered an unlighted room,
and seen the moonlight filtering palely
through a frost-etched window; then you
know its charm. How it glittered and
sparkled, the delicate frostwork. You were
attracted no doubt and marvelled at the
dainty tracings, but few of us have really
had an opportunity to study the detail
of these frost designs minutely, or have
considered that there were more than three
or four designs at most.</p>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p22.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="439" /> <p class="caption">49. Twigs and leaves</p> </div>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p22a.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="451" /> <p class="caption">50. Branch-like arrangement of twigs and delicate fern-like leaves</p> </div>
<p>It is only quite recently, in fact, that the
beautiful etchings of Jack Frost have been
classified and photographed in all their
perfection. Happily this has now been
accomplished, by the aid of a compound
photographic camera, and it opens up a
new and fascinating field to the camera
expert as well as to the student of frost
crystals. Marvellous indeed is the variety
and detail displayed in these attractive
window-pane etchings furnished by the
Frost Spirit, and if one is housed some
day, in mid-winter, zero weather, one may
watch the entire growth and development
of these exquisite frost etchings from start
to finish.</p>
<p>To do this, place a lamp or candle before
a frost-covered window, in a cold room,
or unheated by furnace, of course not near
enough to the glass to crack it, but just
close enough to melt the heavy frost curtain
which may have formed previously
upon the glass. After this has been allowed
to dissolve gradually, you will observe
a thin water film or formation which
has been left upon the outer edge of the
glass, the centre of which will be clear.
Do not disturb this film, for it is in part
from this that the frost crystallisations
form and develop.</p>
<p>As soon as you move the lamp away
from the glass, the pictures instantly
begin to grow and develop. Delicate,
feathery etchings of ice crystals first appearing
around the outer edge of the water
film, and according to the temperature of
the room, form rapidly or slowly. Exquisite
tracings, and fern-like leaves shoot out as
by magic toward the centre of the glass, but
as soon as they reach a dry place upon
the glass, they instantly cease. If you
observe very closely, you will discover
that meanwhile, in the little open spaces,
between the bolder fern-like designs,
more delicate feathery forms are gradually
appearing, formations which sometimes
resemble fine coral branches. As soon as the
water-film ice crystallisations are completed
they are closely followed by the true frost
crystals, which form upon the various
dry places upon the glass, delicate lines and
stars and also in a thin, dew-like deposit,
which rapidly freezes, and assumes a granular,
snow-like form. This granular frost
develops very rapidly, and soon covers all
the unoccupied, clear, dry places; but one
curious fact worthy of observation: it does
not intrude upon, or approach near to
the separate and individual designs or
masterpieces, of the frost already formed
upon the glass, but rather draws away
from their immediate vicinity. This strange
habit of the granular frost is well shown
in the photographed illustration, where
it will be observed that the granular frost
acts merely as a background or sky effect
for the real frost pictures, as in a painting.</p>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p23.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="441" /> <p class="caption">51. Moss-like arrangement of frost</p> </div>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p23a.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="411" /> <p class="caption">52. Twin freaks</p> </div>
<p>Classified, there are about ten distinct
types of the window-pane frost. Representatives
of each and all types never appear
at any given time upon one window; and
strangely enough the designs are never
precisely alike on any two panes of glass.
Reduplications of any previous design are
extremely rare, and would only occur
when a multitude of identical conditions
occur.</p>
<p>This is rather singular, when we consider
the different factors which go to
form the window-pane frost. Certain panes
of glass vary in thickness and in surface
topography, also in the arrangement
of minute, invisible scratches, and the
accumulation of dust particles which
collect from day to day, all of which affect
the arrangement and collection of the frost
crystals. It has been observed that double
windows and furnace-heated apartments
are not favourable to frost formations;
but in rooms which are allowed to cool off
at night, and in rural dwelling houses
which are not heated by steam or furnace
the Frost Spirit loves to work, and decorates
their windows with his choicest etchings.</p>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p24.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="443" /> <p class="caption">53. An unusual design</p> </div>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p24a.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="443" /> <p class="caption">54. A powdering of small flowers</p> </div>
<p>The beautiful frost studies illustrating
this chapter were photographed in northern
Vermont, where the winters are long and
the cold very intense; affording the very
best opportunities possible for the development
and study of the frost etchings.
These studies are, of course, somewhat
magnified, yet you will have no
difficulty in recognising many familiar frost
designs.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic35">No. 35</SPAN> is a linear type, and of rather
common occurrence, easily recognisable.</p>
<p>In <SPAN href="#pic36">No. 36</SPAN> the photographer scratched his
initials crudely upon the window-pane;
instantly Jack Frost began to elaborate the
crude work, with much better effect.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic37">No. 37</SPAN> is easily suggestive of a strip of
very costly hand-made lace.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic38">No. 38</SPAN> is a very beautiful arrangement
showing two distinct types of window-pane
frost. Observe how each type never intrudes
upon another. The white fern-like
type is raised from the glass, and was formed
in a very cold room where it slowly developed
and grew for days.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic39">No. 39</SPAN> is another striking arrangement
of the two types; observe the very delicate
fleecy patterns of the frost which forms
a background for the fern-like scrolls.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic40">No. 40</SPAN> shows a perfectly developed fern;
while in <SPAN href="#pic41">No. 41</SPAN> we have a strikingly beautiful
example of a group of ferns; this type
is heavily laid upon the glass, and develops
in zero weather.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic42">No. 42</SPAN> shows very clearly, in detail,
the granular formation of the frost which
has drawn away from the true frost crystals
forming in detached places, in order to give
them room to complete their elaborate
patterns.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic43">No. 43</SPAN> shows an extremely graceful
feather effect, with beautifully curved scroll
like tips.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic44">No. 44</SPAN> is a very striking arrangement of
window frost, showing exquisitely arranged
branches, resembling evergreens, shooting
out into the clear spaces upon the
glass.</p>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p25.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="442" /> <p class="caption">55. A maple leaf etching</p> </div>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p25a.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="442" /> <p class="caption">56. Find the frost spider</p> </div>
<p><SPAN href="#pic45">No. 45</SPAN>. One of the most beautiful and
striking masterpieces of Jack Frost.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic46">No. 46</SPAN>. Singularly suggestive of a mass
of white feathers thrown loosely upon the
glass.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic47">No. 47</SPAN>. Another masterpiece from the
brush of the Frost Spirit, a perfect oak-leaf
design.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic48">No. 48</SPAN>. This is a largely magnified
specimen of window-pane frost, showing
examples of frost crystals greatly magnified
and in detail.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic49">No. 49</SPAN>. Another arrangement of leaves,
showing also branch-like twigs.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic50">No. 50</SPAN>. A very delicate pattern. Note
the perfectly formed leaf design with its
delicate background of feathery tendrils.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic51">No. 51</SPAN>. A remarkably fine feathery design.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic52">No. 52</SPAN>. Two very freakish specimens of
frost etchings. Suggesting somewhat the
artificial “flies” used by fishermen.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic53">No. 53</SPAN>. Like a delicate bit of seaweed.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic54">No. 54</SPAN>. Like a delicate powdering of
small flowers, scattered over the window-pane.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic55">No. 55</SPAN>. Perfectly formed leaf designs.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic56">No. 56</SPAN>. A design worthy of study. Find
the spider.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic57">No. 57</SPAN>. Two types. Suggesting gray
moss clinging to rocks.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic58">No. 58</SPAN>. A very rare design. An almost
perfect spider’s web, formed of thick, granular
frost, with beautiful moss-like ornamentation
in lighter design.</p>
<p><SPAN href="#pic59">No. 59</SPAN>. One of the choicest and most
delicate designs photographed which might
have formed in the ocean instead of upon
a window-pane. <SPAN href="#pic60">No. 60</SPAN>: this beautiful
etching was made in northern Vermont,
and is very like a white forest of fir trees.</p>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p26.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="437" /> <p class="caption">57. Two distinct types of window pane frost</p> </div>
<div class="fig"><ANTIMG src="images/p26a.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="447" /> <p class="caption">58. Curious design suggesting spider web, with moss-like ornamentation</p> </div>
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