The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-26
CATB1aD AND wH1ppooRw1L1 NOT IN IT
Mr.. Bruner Quotes the Catbird to Show it's the
Albino Grounding.

catbird seem never to- have been
duly recognized, and certainly they
have never been properly appreciated.
Each day since the famous whippoor-
will-catbird controversy began in the
columns of this paper, some new at
tribute of mind and beauty of body has
been discovered for the catbird and
none save the Newton Enterprise, has
said a word for the poor whippoorwiil.
Mr.. A. 3. Stronach recently declared
that the catbird was the original and
only genuine Weather Bureau, or words
to that effect, disputing strenuously
all claims of the whippoorwill to that
distinction.
The Newton Enterprise some two
weeks ago heard whippoorwiIl holler"
and it declared that meant spring. But
it didn't. Mr. Stronach says no catbird
has appeared yet and there is no.sprin5
vet; when the catbird comes, spring
will come.
At this point Mr.. T. X. Bruner, secre-
tary of the Department of Agriculture
enters the contest with his albino
ground hog, and the plot thickens. Mr.
Bruner ignores entirely the whippoor"
will, and recognizes the catbird as only
sort of clerk or agent of His Majesty
the Ground Hog. Mr.. BIuner says:
Mr.. A. b. Stronach, generally very
accurate, fair and impartial in his state
mentS has fallen, / grieve to say, into
an error which does grave injustice to
the catbird, in describing to it astute
modern executive ability as it's chief
characteristic. The bird is modest AM
lays no claim to such distinction
have it direct; the true function of the
catbird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis) is
to announce spring for the territory of
it's habitat, but this function is per.
formed on orders from the ground hog.
eff anyone doubts the truth OF this
position. he will, if he is fair and inn
partial man, be convinced by the fol-
lowing incident which l relate exactly
as it occurred, without adding to or
taking from it:
ION my way home the other evenine
/ was accosted by a catbird, PEI chez
on the new sign board, corner Whining
ton and Jones streets, with this queS-
ton:
WHO is the custodian of the key
which locks in the albino ground hos
belonging to the State?"
II was much surprised at hearing
these words and looked about me for
the speaker.
Here. here" cried the bird, ION the
sign-post!'
why" I said, Il did not know you
could talk"
There are many things in nature
which you do not know, but tell me who
keeps the key"
certainly. will tell you Miss
Bird
I'm married, sir" screamed the bird.
Il see, Mrs. Bird, would have knows
had you used that tone of voice before;
the dulcet tones deceived me-
But the key sir!"
yes, to be sure, but Mrs. Cat"
Don't you call me eat it's only a
nickname given me because / hush the
, hooking bird when he tries to outsing
me. l slip near and give a sharp cat
call, when away goes the knocking bird
they are very shy of cats, you know. !"
mo, 1 did not know. you have told
me that there are many things which
/ do not know: / never like to dispute
point as clear as that, but you are
giving me much valuable information. p"
"Will you ever tell me who has that
/ key?"
We'll, it's just this: had postal card
! from the albino ground hog saying
, Spring wanted to make her appearance
for a seasons engagement in Raleigh,
but that she declined positively to do
SO except in the old time way, that is to
say, under the patronage and protec-
| ton of her old time friend, the grounl
hog. You see Spring is very formal
and observes the proprieties in all that
she does. And now. sir, could avert
cold spell if only ! could get the key
unlock the cage, and let his hogship pa
rade his shadow
| But" / objected, the cold has come
it is upon us now"
| Yes" said the bird, "and on account
Of this discussion in the papers, and
| because of the failure of somebody t.
| liberate the ground hog"
| Fly" quoth l, Ito Curator BrisnleS
and tell him to let you have the key
/ quick, / fear for the fruit crop"
! Good bye" said the bird, 'let vor
| Herman know, or he will lose his job
and it flew away on its mission.
1t is a historical fact that the albino
| ground hog was released from it's cage
late Tuesday afternoon. Hardly an hour
| later the clouds had fled, the stars were
/ peeping timidly out and the new moon
| smiled on drenched and shiverins
world. Yesterday the sun shone, the
boys played "dinahs," the men played
ball and the world was happy
~