Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-07
THE GROUND HOG CAME OUT.
And When He Saw His Shadow Took
His Hole Again

His Hole Again.
Saturday was Candlemas day, and the
ground hog, in accordance with time
hOnOred tradition, says the Baltimore Sun,
came out of his winter quarters to inspect
the weather and see if he should retire
again for six weeks to avoid the rigors of
winter or stay out and enjoy the saIu-
brious air and gentle breezes Of a moder-
| ated season. There is a universal super
stition throughout Christendom that good
weather on this day indicates long con-
unuance of winter and bad crop, and
that It's being foul is, on the contrary, a
good omen. The ground hog has been
credited since pagan times with the
ability to discern by an observation on
Candlemas day the quality of the weather
for the balance of the winter. If when he
comes out to make his meteorological
examination he sees his shadow he re-
turns to his hole for six weeks. Ifhe does
not see his shadow he STAYS out, thus pro-
claiming to all men that the winter is
broken. Saturday he saw his shadow and
hastily retreated, thus demonstrating to
many people the continuance of winter
weather for six more weeks.
The ground hog at Druid Hill Park was
an object of great interest Saturday. The
story published in the Sun last fall of the
rough joke to be played on him was re-
membered by many who went out to
watch his movements on SATURDAY. An
area of ground near the Geological build
ing in the park was walled in so the
ground hog could not get out by burrOw-
ing. Over this was placed an elevated
roof, so the weather prophet could not
have the benefit of sunshine and shadow
when he came out to ascertain the
weather arrangements for the future. The
ground hog came very near falling a vic
tim to this joke.
Mr.. Henry Christler, keeper OF Druid
Hill Park Zoo, while discoursing on the
subject to a representative of the San,
said: 81 looked for him to come out at
sunrise, and had always heard he came
out on Candlemas day at that time. |
watched patiently all the morning, and at
IL 80 sharp he came slowly crawling out
OF one of his regular holes. He had not
been out since he went into winter quar-
tiers October 20. He looked as fat and
saucy as when he went in. He had an in
quiring, intelligent air, and in the absence
of his shadow seemed undaunted by the
bright sunlight which did not shine on
him. On Friday l threw some corn in the
inclOsure to tempt him out, but it then
had no effect. After looking round for a
little while he went to this corn and COM
menced eating. He sat up while eating
llk6 Il oQuliI6I, OHIy more erect. "A beam
of sunlight fell santingly through the en-
closure, and in moving about for the corn
the ground hog crossed it. He saw for an
instant the shadow of his tail and part
of his body. This settled it, and he flew
to his hole. He was out altogether about
fifteen minutes. l am working round his
premises and intend to watch his future
movements closely. He has six weeks to
stay in the ground on account of seeing
his shadow, and his time will be up March
q. Until that time l will watch him
every day from sunrise to sunset.
lie is the only one in the Zoo.
We have had several, but they all
escaped by buuowing. l shall not
believe in the matter until the six weeks
are out. If he does not come out before
that time / shall believe in the ground
hog. l have never watched one before:
have heard of them but never saw one
until | came to the park. A great many
persons were here watching for him to
come out, and about a dozen ladies and
gentlemen were on the lookout when he
appeared. They were much pleased, but
the ground hog paid no attention to their
ordinations. Some of the workmen at
the mansion say that in the mountains.
when the ground hog comes out and is
satisfied about the weather, he barks."