The Story of an Unknown Man (Chekhov A.P.) The air smelled of snow, snow crunched softly under feet, ground, roofs, trees, settles on boulevards- all was soft, white,young, therefore houses looked differently, than the day before. Lanterns glowed brighter, air was clearest, carriages knocked quietly, and soul was uptighted by the feeling that similar to, white young and downy snow.