Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-02-05

| THE GRoyND-HoG PRoPHET.-Saturday last
Feb. End, is known as 'ground-hog day." be-
| cause many believe that the grounding or
woodchuck comes out of his winter burrow in
that day, and that ifhe sees his shadow he will
return to remain six weeks longer, as the
! weather for that length of time will be severe,
but if does not see his shadow, he remains
| out as the weather will be good.
On Saturday, the weather was cloudy all day,
so that the woodchuck had but little chance to
| see his shadow, and consequently. those who
believe in the grounding sign" will expect
fine weather for the next six weeks.
This superstitions belief is very old. How it
originated, we do not know, and wonder that
any one has any faith in it.
The Baltimore Sun says it is possible that the
osigin of the idea as to the weather wisdom OF
the grounding may be accounted for in this
wise: February 2 is Candlemas Day, or the
festival of the publication of the Blessed Vir-
gin, and there was once a universal superstf-
ton throughout Christendom that good wealth
er on this day indicated long continuance of
winter and a bad crop, and that foul weather
was agood omen. Sir Thomas Browne quotes
a Latin distich expressive of this idea, which is
thus translated in popular Scotch rhyme:
"If Candemas day be dry and fair,
Ii Candemas day be wet and foul,
The halfo winters game ut Yule.'
In Germany there are two proverbial express
sions on this subject: l. The shepherd would
rather see the wolf enter his stable on Candle
mas day than the sun. q The badger peeps out
of his hole on Candlemas day, and when he
finds snow walks abroad but if he sees the sun
shining he draws back into his hole. 1t Is be-
lieved that these notions are derived ON pa
gan times, and have existed since the very in
fancy of our race. Neither the ground hog nor
the badger however. may be infallible author
ity, as even the goose bone has failed in its
representations of the weather this winter.
ATLANTIC MILITARY INsTITUTE.-From a
circular received, we learn that the Atlantic
Military Institute, at Centerville, Connecticut,
five miles from New Haven, the seat of Yale
College, which, after being in operation for 50
years, was suspended for three years III con-
sequence of the sickness and death Gifts form
er Principal and founder, has been re-opened
under favorable auspices, with the following
facgityI
Rev. j. Evarts Walton A. g., Principal, Pro-
lessor of Ancient Languages and Lecturer ON
Moral Philosophy WIN. NJ, Walton, Associate
Principal, Professor of Higher Mathematics,
Natural and Military Science; Rev. T. ?. Wal
ton, Gent Sna'f., Professor Bale 44ettrbs cFii=
cism; Frederic S. sellew, Professor of Modern
Languages and Commercial Science; NJ. A.
Hart. Drawing and Perspective; r. f. o'Brien,
Penmanship.
Rev. f. P. Walton and his son, Prof VIM. NJ.
Walton, are known by many of our citizens
The former is known as gentleman of intelli-
genes, chaNaetTr and literary attachments, who
has had experience in the management of in
situations oflearning, and the latter as a dis
tinguished graduate OF the Virginia Military
Institute whose talents and requirements, COM
bined with good character, will enable him,
though young, to fill with honor to himself and
usefulness TO the Institute, the chair assigned
him,