The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-28
Two New Entries in the Race
For meteorological HonOrs
The Seven Stars and the Flying Ant Claim That They Are
the Only True and Original Foretelers
of Spring.

To the Editor ] enclose an article,
which. if you see fit, you can publish
if YOU wish. I am not used TO writing
for the press for my time is occupied
in estimating how much graduated
sugar at 61A cents a pound, five eggs at
10 cents a dozen, will buy: and how
much snuff at 2S cents and cents war
tax eggs will buy. l wrote the en-
closed article between calls of custO-
mers.
THE SEVEN STARS AND SPRING.
1t is rarely the case when a chief
is in danger of losing his job that his
assistants or employees will not come 10
his rescue. Mr.. Won Hermann foretells
what is to be, and / tell him after Wha;
has been. Now if any one is looking for
a job in the new ''Whippoorwill-C Car :
bird Grounding Weather Bureau" J
will say to such an one that my posi-
ton, which is without pay, is open to all
comersl there's room at the top
Now these warm weather birds ana
the shy animals underground are only
agents, and not signs. They herald TIE
true sign that spring has come, which
is to say-"when the seven stars so
down at dark-cold weather has gone.
Nineteen hundreds years ago star APP
peared in the east as a sign to direct
the wise men TO where the Saviour was
born: this was long before Gray Wood,
or any of the naturalists. who have
given description of the feathered
tribe or animal kingdom were born. The
North star stands as a guide to mar
liners and many others when travelling
in unknown places, but not all know
how to find it. The seven stars, when
visible, cannot be mistaken by any one.
Venus. whose brightness far exceeds
that of the seven sisters, would not do
so we'll every time as guide, for some
have been led on and on to find, like Mr.
Won Hermann, that there expectations
did not materiaiize.
1t will not do TO depend upon tn:
whippoorwill, as the following incident
will show: A farmer had an old ne
gro blowing down in the low grounds
where it would begin to look dark and
the negro would take out his mule ans
go home sometimes before the sun was
down The farmer told him TO alwa-rs
plow until the whippoorWllls followed
which they usually did after the sur
had gone down. The next afternoon
down in the thick swamp, where II
looked dark at midday, a whippoorwil
broke forth with it's shrill notes and the
old negro unhitched his mule and hicd
away for home and found that it was
more than an hour until sunset.
heard one hollow last even, but it was
after sunset, and again this morning
| just executing the orders of his no"
ship, the chief
I agree with Secretary Bruner, tina
| the catbird is sort of a clerk or agent
But / hold that the black martin (no
always black, however), is his chief
admit, however, that his hidden ground
| hog may be a sort of co-partner witt
| His Majesty, the Martin. | think /
hardly necessary to warn anyoii'
against placing too much confidence Il
| the Martin, the State being witness.
Now if my seven stars should fai
before the supreme judges of weathe
| signs. like "Hoke VS.. Henderson" or I'll
| pari materia,' I'll offer one more siGi