The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-07-13
Tricks oE rAE oPnssuM.

RlCkS OF ] ttE OTD 2oDN'
How Wen Known Expression Origi-
mated.
Perhaps every human being who
speaks or understands the English Ian
guage, has frequently heard the eX-
preston, playing possum, but also
perhaps not one in hundred knows
how it originated or what 10 has espe-
cial reference to. 1t is natural freak
Of the opossum, or 'possum, night
prowling little animal very common in
this country, and seems 10 be its prin-
cipal weapon Of defense when danger
approaches and it cannot get away II
defends itself by becoming entirely
submissive. as it neither fights nor runs
lway, but drops dead in its tracks to
all appearances, and remains as still
as death until the last enemy disap-
pears, when it comes suddenly TO life
and gets a lively move on it-for
possum. Not long since some chill
lreu, acquaintances Of the writer,
were visiting at a neighbor's, and re-
| turning after nightfall through
piece of wood with their dogs, came
! across a 'possum SO suddenly as TO give
him no chance TO get away, and it
therefore dropped, as they thought
dead However, they carried it home
/ and shut it unfc. shc night. nymorn-
'ug 30 had ceased TO play dead but was
playing the afflicted 'possum TO perfec-
tiOn, so much so that the folks con-
cluded he was badly hurt, or really
sick. aud with but little life left in it,
o. ,I l,o ,ri,, 10 ogr,, ,,geef,y on - ,orol,,Iod
to give it the freedom of the yard
for the benefit of its health. The
change was beneficial-immediately
so for just as soon as Mr.. 'Possum
found himself free, and all eyes turned
away from him, it became at once the
healthiest, most animated and live
liest of its kind, and before any one
was aware of it was skipping away at
such rate that he could not be over
taken, and made good its escape
Ihey seem to have no disposition to
bite, although well fixed for it. The
writer once found one in a snare which
had been set for catching rabbits. The
snare pole was too slender to raise it
off the ground, and so it was resting in
a half-reclining position with the
string around its neck, to all appear
ance dead, when 1 approached it.
Supposing it dead 1 proceeded to un-
loop the string from around its neck
without care. After getting it out it
was discovered that it was not dead,
nor even hurt but had been engaged
in cutting the string above the loop,
and if 1 had been a few minutes later
would have been free, or if it had been
aggressive and bit me while taking it
out Of the trap | would probably have
given it its freedom without further
| parley, as it would have taken me by
surprise. Although playing dead it
will be observed that they watch you
very closely through their half-closed,
keen little eyes. In carrying them, by
the tail of course, they keep a rigid
hooll-lilSe curl on the end of the tail,
evidently to sustain or catch them
selves by in case of a fall They also
raise their heads and keep their noses
between their fore legs, seemingly to
avoid the bad effects of the blood run
ming to the head These manifesta-
| lions are proof of life and not death,
but the 'possum seems not to under
stand that, and so furnishes the evil
hence Of life while feigning death
Mechanical News.