The Penn's Grove record., 1903-01-30
County Gleanfnes

County Gleanfngs
The absence Of tramps in Salem and
owedesboro this winter has been notice
able enough for comment.
The Comptroller of the Currency on
thursday granted permission tot P. Eos.
ter and others to others to organize the
First National Bank Of Elmer, with a CAP
ital Of $25, 900.
During one week w. R. Williamson,
OF Hancock's Bridge, has bought 6943
muskrat skins, 1913 oppossum, "A rabbit,
three mink, two coons and one cat.
Former Senator James Butcher. Of Sa-
lem, has sold the ocean pier and casino
at Wildwood, to James J.. Davidson, Of
Woodbury., N. J., for $4,000.
Messrs. George B. Rumsey, Charles s..
Lawson and J. Dale Dilworth were re-
elected Trustees for the term 81 three
years, OF the Presbyterian Church in sa-
lem The congregation has instructed
the trustees to secure a suitable memorial
70 the late Misses Artemisia X. and Mar
tina !. VanMeter, who left a legacy to the
church. It is probable that a memorial
window will be placed in the church.
ELMER's PROSPEROUS GRANGE.
One of the most prosperous oranges in
the state is at Elmer. In less that a year
the membership has been increased from
q to 20. On February 4 the first ami
yersary will be observed, when State Mas
ter Gaunt, Of Mullica Hill, and State
Chaplain Myers will make addresses.
These new officers have just been in
stalled: Master, Otis Elwell; Overseer, s.
M. Heritage; Lecturer, Mary Guant; Stew
ard, Leslie Hitchner; Chaplain, Hamlin
Woolman; Treasurer, Charles Richman;
Secretary, John Woolman; Gate Keeper,
Amos Guant; Ceres, Sadie Heritage; POM
ona, Mary Moore; Flora, Lidie Elwell.
How Woodchucks Got Their Name.
Everybody is familiar with the old
superstition about the woodchuck or
grounding, which is said to come out Of
its burrow on Candlemas Day, February
2, to take a view of the weather prospects.
If it sees its shadow-that is, if the sun
be %shining-it goes back, because it
knows that winter is not over; but if it
does not see its shadow it remains but,
because it knows that winter is practical
ly over.
Now, that old story is all nonsense, for
the woodchuck W. comes out of it's
long winter sleep until some time after
Candlemas Day-in fact, until spring is
about setting in. The story comes to us
from Germany, says the Boston Herald,
where however, it is the badger, and not
the woodchuck, that acts as the prophet.
It is merely the embodiment of the farm
ers' knowledge ofthe weather indications,
for they have noticed that bad weather
about February 2 is generally followed
by the breaking up of winter.
Do you know how the Woodchuck got
it's name? A funny story is told about it.
1t seems that once upon a time, g e ago,
the lower animals all lived together in
n community, with the dog as a sort OF
general manager and judge, before whom
all disputes had to be brought for settle
ment. One day a rabbit, whose burrow
adjoined that of a marmot-that is the
~woodchuck's real name, you know-com-
planned that the eyes of the young rab-
bits were continually filled with the dirt
that the marmot threw out Of its burrow.
But the marmot paid no attention to the
rabbits complaint, and the latter wentto
the dog about it.
Now, the dog who was Judge, you
know-had a very keen n OF Justice,
and he at oncezsent word to the marmot
that it must be more careful in the future
and not throw the dirt around in that
promiscuous manner.
A message of this kind would have
been obeyed at nce by any other men,
Der OF the community, but the marmot
was always insubordinate and uncivil,
and it answered the judges remonstrance
by saying that it would chuck the dirt
wherever it pleased.
This answer angered the dog and made
him the enemy of the marmot, which we
see to-day, for he is always hunting it.
And it gave the marmot the name by
which it is now generally known-wood-
chuck.
This legend is not vouched for, but it
is at least as much entitled to belief as
the story about the little animal coming
out of its hole on Candlemas Day.