The arctic blast that swept down from Canada and froze the face of the nation last week made Americans look like motley snowmen. Out they ventured in funny fur hats, layered sweaters, mittens, turned-up collars and ski masks. The luckiest ones spent as much time as possible near the radiator, as little as necessary out of doors.
But the cold snap froze the image of a different America onto the front pages of newspapers and television screens: people huddling outside overnight with little but the coats on their backs. Under blankets, newspapers and garbage bags, they slept on city steam grates...