Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-02
EXCITEMENT AT THE ZOO
Intense Interest in the Reappearance of
the Ground Hog.
Sunshine and Shadow and Their Ell
feet Upon the Wcather-Record
of the Bureau.

Zoo this morning, which seemed to peryade
the whole population of that little reserva-
ton of Uncle Sans dumb charges There
were frequent glances at the calendar and
many looks were cast at the sun by such
of the different animals as were so located
that they could see the planet through the
bars OF their cages. Even the large py-
thon, which had been resting in its corner
of the giass-covered cage, and the alligat-
crs, vino lookedsas If they had INDUCED in
dope by the bucket full, seemed to have
some life about them. One of them opened
his eyes and closed them. twice, and then
was perfectly still for three hours and
forty-nine minutes, so that 1t could not
nave been told that he was alive
The reason of this can be readily ex-
planned. 1t was the annual fete champetre
If 1t may be so called. of one of the occu-
pants of the Zoo village. In other words
this Is ground hog day, and the four-foot-
ed friends OF the little animal, as well as
the human beings, watched for his appear
anee with interest. With but one excep-
ticn they did not wish to see the ground
hog appear, as it is well known If he walks
abroad on this day and sees his shadow
1t augurs six weeks of bad weather. The
polar bear walked about his compartment,
casting a red eye upward every once in a
while to see IL the sun would shine. 1t
came out bright shortly before noon and
the bear was tickled almost to death when
a nose followed by two sharp eyes and a
grayish body emerged from a hole in the
grounding village. All around was snow,
and the ground hog, in spite Of Superin-
tendent Blackburn's effort to mold an UNI
brei!a over him. caught glimpse Of the
shadow which stood out in bold relief on
the snow. 1t was SO cold that DIR. Nam
SEN" the ground hog has been named,
only stayed out a moment and scurried
back into his hole.
Fight to n Finish.
1t is now a fight to the finish between the
ground hog and the weather bureau, for
while the latter acknowledges it is cold at
present the forecast is that it will be much
more pleasant in day or so.
The weather man was in excellent form
yesterday in the matter Of his predictions.
not only in Washington, but elsewhere. 1t
was stated in The Star yesterday that the
mercury would probably go down to 8
degrees during the night, which it did,
that being the minimum. At o'clock this
morning the thermometer registered 10
degrees, and last night was the coolest one
of the winter. Christmas morning the mer-
curry slipped down to IL degrees in the gen.
eral hurrying and hustle of the time, with
out being noticed but the weather people
soon fixed it. They might have been nap
ping, in order to let old Santa Claus do his
work properly, but after that they kept
their eye on the treacherous mercury.
1t was not so cold IN Washington this
morning as 1t was in New York, where the
showed four. degrees, which
was the same as indicated in Chicago. At
Albany il was six degrees below. Last
night as was forecasted by the bureau. the
mercury went down to about twenty-six de-
greeS at Jacksonville, while it was thirty
degrees at Tampa, and there was frost as
far south as Jupiter. In Philadelphia this
the temperature at o'clock was
eight degrees. As far as the weather bu-
reau is concerned. nothing at all is known
Of Boston, as no reports have been received
from there sinca the night Of January 81,
on account of the terrible blizzard which
has ragged there, 1t is stated.
The indication for tonight is threatening
weather, possibly snow; moderating tomor-
row. 1t is thought the cold wave will last
two CT three days, and then the capital will
bask again in it's usual mild spring-like
weather.
The First Shock Over.
After the first shock of the cold, which
affected Washingtonians much as does the
sudden plunge of man unaccustomed to 1t
into a cold bath. they rallied and made
hight of 1t. There was a general scamper-
ing about for heavier clothes, furs and the
like, to keep the cold out but further than
This, little notice was taken of the low tenn
perature. Today there are but few express
sions heard such as rs 1t cold enough for
you?' and Regular Klondike weather.
Even the bicyclists have got over their
tlstaSte OF the cold and nave stopped grum-
fling at the inconvenience to which 1t places
Them. They have been seen on the streets
This morning, wheeling along as usual, as
II they did not mind the cold in the least.
A number of sleighs, some of most stylish
trappings. have been seen on the streets,
and Washington has transformed itself in
TO another St. Petersburg for the time be-
Ing. No doubt II this thing continues the
cafes and restaurants will be selling vodki
The street car business has been greatly in
creased by the cod, as many persons do
hot care to expose themselves to the icy
blasts or trust themselves to the slippery
streets. They were running much more
this morning than yesterday, and
there were few delays OF passengers.