The Isle of Wight Observer published on 14th July, 1888 remarked on some wondrous new clocks and unseasonable weather. Although we may be lamenting the absense of lovely summer weather, at least we haven’t had to contend with snow in July.

NOVELTIES IN CLOCKS. – We have no doubt many of our readers have seen the amusing little figures on the faces of some of the American clocks exhibited in one of our townsmen’s windows. The movement of the pendulum gives a fascinating movement to a lady holding her fan &c. But this is nothing to what we are promised. We are to have, according to Mr. Edison, a talking clock.

Instead of striking the hour it speaks it. At dinner time a voice issues from the clock which says “Dinner time;” also “One o’clock,” “Two o’clock,” &c., as the case may be. Another device which he is perfecting in connection with the clock is that of a female face which he purposes to set in the face of the clock. The lips of this figure will move at the hour, the head will bow, and the fictitious lady will say, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, it is bed-time.”

THE WEATHER – Although the weather is such a trite subject, we may be excused referring to it when it is so extraordinary as it has been during the last week. On Tuesday and Wednesday it was exceedingly cold, and snow is announced to have fallen early on Wednesday morning at Sea View! From all parts of the country come reports of hail and snowstorms. In London and Oxford the temperature on Wednesday was only 44. A close examination of records fails to show so low a reading in July, the nearest approach being 50, registered in 1879. It is a singular fact that in Norway and Sweden the temperature was higher than in London on Wednesday! A writer in Thursday’s Standard from Loughborough, says on Wednesday morning at 5 o’clock, the thermometer stood at 39.5 – almost without a parallel at this time of year.