The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-01-31
THE GROUND HOG.
The Opinions of Prominent
Citizens of Sedalia and
the State Regarding
Him.
A Strange Peculiar "Critter."

In order to learn a. much as possible
regarding the ground hog, and the various
traditions attached to him. i representa-
tive OF the BAZoo was assigned to PROFOUND
the query what do YOU know abont
the ground hog?" tn every one who would
Ike likely To he able To furnish any infor-
nation regarding his habits and associa-
lions.
Some of the replies to the question are
noted below. and as the various opinion,
are interesting on account Of the variety
Of the excentricities attributed To the an
imal, we feel confident the public gencr-
ally. will I've pleased To learn what some al
our prominent personagcs have To say
upon the subject.
The first person Ia whom the question
"What do you know about the ground
hogg' WAS propounde,l, happened to b. his
honor, Mayor Stevens, who was accou>ted
i'm the criminal court room, on the morn
ing of the day OF the iirst session OF the
convention of the Missouri State Dairy
association. He answered promptly, and
said: 81 am native Of Missouri, and
was born and raised upon farm in this
state. That is why | believe in Sedalia,
and that is also one of the reasons why
am making such n strong fight for a state
appropriation in aid Of the State fair.
Ever since childhood. have been be-
lever and a close student oi the erratic
ground hog, and while have never seen
him actually come forth from his hole 10
take weather observations. and Ia give the
clerk Of the weather pointers a To the
probabilities for the next twenty -four
hours. still, believe that by nature, he is
endowed with a natural instinct, which
! teaches him the weather probabilities for
the following six weeks.
On one occasion. when | WAS a boy,
arose about O'Clock one very irosty mOrn-
ing of February >, in order to watch the
antics OF the festive grounding when he
should make his appearance.
Tradition has il, you know, that he
makes his appearance on that date, and ii
the day should be bright and sunshiney,
thereby causing him TO perceive his own
shadow. that he will skip back into his
hole, and there remain for the following
six weeks. During this period rough and
unpleasant weather will follow. and sailors
are warned by this action of the ground
and bcs.t with many dangers
ou one HoTIiifS oi STbuiil meg udN All
OF Us gallant mariners who plowed the
raging Mississippi and the ,reacherous
Missouri, had watched in vain to perceive
the gren>ome grounding frisking along
the banks of either of the
streams. but a. the dav was clear
and cloudles>, no grounding appeared,
and a great gloom WAS east over the assem-
bled mariners. for the prediction vas
manifest, that rough seas and turbulent
waters would succeed that day. and this
was afterwards verified, when the gallan,
hat-boat "Henry Clay" struck snag
amidst the stream, and all hands aboard.
consisting Of two niggers and a bull pup
were swallowed up by the angry waters.
Yes, sir. the ground hog is better
weather prophet than Prof. Tee"
The next person to whom the question
was propoundesi, was the Hon. J. l.. Erwin
Of Fulton, who was elected 10 the Office Of
president OF the Missouri State Dairy asso-
citation, was also chairman I'll the State
Road convention. and was chosen as the
permanent president Of the Missouri
Road Improvement Association. II
was believed that this gentle
men, from his extensive knowledge
of farming, dairy, country roads and other
subjects 81 like nature, would he also
possessed Of larger fund Of knowledge
and experience OF the ground hog but his
reply somewhat dazed and staggered the