Daily Republican., 1882-12-11
WINTER WEATHER.
As lt 10 FOrStOId In Ghe Heading Of
the Goose Bono.

As It 10 FOrStOId In Ghe Heading Of
Ghe Goose Bono.
From the Louisville FOst.
Here it is. The weather Just as it
will coRie In the uhrav0ling Of the days.
Here is the prophechy OF the goose bone
and as 1t is here written 30 will the
weather be. Among weather prognos-
ticators the goose bone alone is infalli.
Bile. The goose is a noble bird, but Its
sacrifices for the benefit of mankind are
lily appreciated, 1t tells and tells
truly, what the coming weather will be,
but in order to impart this information
1t must runder up its young life. Turn
ing back over the pages Of history one
may read how the goose by it's quack-
ing saved Rou ., and If the bold mari.
ner is ever to reach the pole 1t will be
by following in the Jr~il of the goose,
When man has reached the furthest
point to which he has ever gone, the
goo Q spreads its wings and flies On and
on. All theories OF country beyond
the Arctic ice are based upon the mi
grafton of birds Such are the thoughts
that voluntarily run through the mind
when picking up the goose bones TO
read of the coming weather. DO not
think that this writing is going to run
into q panegyric Of the goose or its
bone. What Is here written is simply
done to reveal to an anxious public the
secret hidden amid the translucent mys.
teries of the breast bone OF the goose,
In many parts of the country the
goose bone Is the IL ost honored among
the weather prophets. For years in
Southeastern Kentucky 1t has been
considered infalible. Farmers consult
its mysteries, and accept the revelation
as q guide, Old mes, versed In goose
boneoiogy, say that II has never failed,
and it is said that one O!d farmer up In
the mountains of Kentucky has the
bones duly labeled and laid away for
nearly fifty years, and that their read
ing Is correct history of the weather
for each winter.
The goose bone Is modest. 1t does
not take risk for tEe whole year, but
| for only the three winter months. To
avail oneself of these valuable secrets a
young goose must be found. A goose
of the spring preceding the winter,
concerning which information 10 de-
sired, is the only one that will answer,
and one Matched out near the middle OF
April is the most desirable. Having
found such goose, the first thing Is tC
kill It, Then diVest 1t of its feathers
dress 1t and cook 1t. The flesh may be
eaten and will be found very palatable
but In the carving be careful not to de-
mOlish the breast bone.
In it lies all the secret. Having re
moved the bone, scrape 1t, wash 1t, and
let it dry. Then draw lines dividing
the bone into three divisions, to repre-
sent each mouth of winter, the division
at the head of the bone Chat Is the
part nearest the neck }, stands for De
cember, the middle of January, AnG
the lower end for February. With thil
preparation the bone Is ready to revea
its secrets; but TO read 1t correctly ont
must be vsrsed in goose boneology.
Held up to the light the goose bone II
tr lnslucent. The dark spots represen
cold weather and the darker the spot
the colder the weather. II tie colorint
is light aud murky, like drifting
clouds, wet, snowy weather may b.
looked for. If the bone is free from
these coloratioLs 1t tells of a mild, opel
winter. With that information, taxi
up this years bone and look at II.
What a mystery. Its Honglomerated
discoloration is enough to frighten tht
most skilful goosebonologist. 1t tell
of a very mixed winter, wet, gloom.
and unhealthy, with many rains AM
SHOWS, some bright days and some COLI
ones, but no protracted spells Of cold o
pleasant weather. Good heavy foo
covering and umbrellas will be morC
needed than UvercOatS. AL othe
wea ther prophets who have ventureC
into the coming winter have foretolC
Intensely cold weather. To them tn
goose bone throws down defiance AM
champions them to the issue.
There will not be any intensely COLI
weather. December promises very few
cold days, but the probabilities of snoV
ard rain are very general. 1t will be
month of varying weather, a snow.
Christmas is very likely. After tina
date there will be colder weather, AM
there is promise of good ice at the las
of the month.
The first day of January will be colo
and the month will be more uniform
and colder than December. Some yer!
pleasant weather will be enjoyed along
about the middle Of the month, follow
ed by rain or snow.
February will be more like January
than December, and the month will
probably be more uniformly cold thar
either Of its predecessors. The spou
, at the lower end of the bone are beav
ier, and February promises some OF th'
coldest days OF the season. They vii
occur between the 9th and 18th, ant
during the late part of the month.
Such is the reading of the goose bon'
as correctly as the writer has been abl'
to steer through It's mysteries. LII
promises are Of more unpleasant thar
severe weather, and there will probabl,
be more rain or snow than has beef
known for many winters tits not
cheerful outlook, but 1t is the best tn,
goose-bone has to give, so accept 1t ant
thank yourself that things are nj
OrB0,