The Topeka state journal., 1903-02-02
BAD DAY FOR THE GROUND HOG

Director Jennings says he places no
faith in this proverb but today he was
willing to admit that he expected some
severe weather in the next few weeks.
1t seems, according to the book of pro-
verbs, that February . has a good deal
TO do with the weather. Page 81 is Civ
en- up to things that happen today
which govern some days to come
February is first referred to as "dou-
bic faced" Then comes the assurance
violent winds in February herald
fertile year" Those who raise fax may
take this as absolutely true. February
bright and clear gives a good fax
year. Here's a bunch to pick from.
IF the ground hog is summing himself
on the ID of February he will return for
four weeks to his winter quarters again.
st. DOrOthea. the 6th, gives the most
snow When the cat in February lies
in the sun, she viii again creep behind
the stove in March. When the north
wind does not blow in February, it will
surely come in March" Another pleas
ant assertion is. If February gives
snow fine summer it doth foreshow''
Those who absolutely believe in the
ground hog must take the following
into consideration: There is always one
fine week in February Those who like
to swear at the elements will find justi-
flcatiOn for a few eXpletives in this "Of
all the months of the year. curse a fair
February" The Germans score with
another proverb as follows Heavy
fruitful year"
The geese and sheep get into the
proverbs as follows: If on the End
of February the goose finds it wet, then
the sheep viii have grass on March 25.
To counterbalance that is the follow
ing; When drops hang on the fence
on the End of February, icicles Will
hang there on the 25th of March Look
out for thunder for every thunder
with rain in February there will be
cold spell in May
The French have contributed the fol-
lowing to the literature on proverbs
February rain is only good to fill
bitches 1t is also said that "Febru-
ary makes d bridge and March breaks
The chapter for the month ends with
the following:
February doth cut and shear.
February fill dixie.
Be it black or be it white
But if It be white
It's the better to like"
Another assurances is: where the
wind is on Candlemas day there it Will
stick till the end of May The Scots
get in with a proverb that viii relate
to Sundays mild temperature 1t is
Who dOffs his coat en- winters day
will gladly put it on in May
If anyone knows what the Irish mean
by this they win know what to expect.
a haw year braw year" and the
Scots say. A haw year a snaw year"
The proverbs must have been for
warm January for the month just end
ed was mild The mean temperature for
/ the month of JanuarW was 31.2 There
have been warmer Januarys. according
to Director Jennings tables. The warm
/ est January for seventeen years was in
/ 1900, when the mean temperat ture was
/ BAL January, 1886, had a mean temper
ature of 324 January. 1898, a mean
/ temperature of BIT and January 1901
mean temperature of 1913. The cold
/ est January on record was in 1888 when
/ the mean temperature was L. That
month the thermometer hung around 20
( degrees below for several days. The
/ coldest record for a. day in January was
! in 1892 when the mercury reached %
1 degrees below zero. The highest ever
recorded in January was in 1894. when
| the thermometer registered 70 degrees.
For last January the rain and snow
measured 44-100 Of an inch. The highest
4 temperatur was So on the 9th and the
/ lowest zero on the 18th The wettest
January was in 1891 when the precipi-
tation amounted to 258 inches.
The ground hog win begin Immediate
} " to control the elements He saw his
shadow this morning and Immediately
the following forecast was sent out by
the weather bureau. Snow or rain to-
night and Tuesday"
The wind this morning was north
blowing ten miles an hour. The rain or
snow is expected to come in from the
/ northwest The holrIv farnrera lures