Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
IGNORANCE PREDICTION
GROUND HOG TO FORECAST
WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY.
Awakens From Slumber. Energies
From His Den and Gives
Valuable Tip.

According to popular superstition. a
long-range weather prediction Will De
made at close range today by the ground
hog. In the ecclesiastical calendar FEB
ruary is Candlemas day. In the an
mails of folklore it is ground hog day.
and many American farmers have an
abiding faith in the forecast that will be
made by the little animal. According to
the belief. if the ground hog comes out
of its burrow today and sees it's own
shadow reflected in the sunlight. it will
retire and remain in darkness and soil
tude for six weeks. In the meantime.
according to the superstition, the earth
will be visited by rain. snow. ice. wind
and other stormy conditions.
But if the ground hog does not see it's
shadow when he comes out tomorrow the
animal will remain in the open. and
springike conditions will set In at once.
A Virginia farmer who came to wash
inStOn several weeks ago has such a
firm belief in the prognosticating abili-
ties of the little creature that he pro-
posed to a representative in Congress. 1t
is said, that law be passed making
ground hog day legal holiday.
Candlemas day. according to the church
calendar. is observed in the Catholic
churches. and the candles used in re-
ligious services are carried in procession
before the mass and blessed.
1t is said that in Ohio and other parts
of the middle west there are secret So
cieties that appropriate the name OF
ground hogs and that have their annual
meetings on ground hog day. The meet
ings taken up, in part with wise
saws about the weather. new members
are initiated and the annual banquet
takes place.
Actual Indicator.
Practically, it is claimed by some that
ground hog day is an actual weather in
dicator because the state of the WIN
ter up to February gives good ground
for prognost cations as to the weather to
be expected after it has passed. If ground
hog day is clear and cold the ground
hogs shadow Is apt to be seen But If
it he moist and cloudy. there may be no
visible shadow at the moment OF i
o'clock noon.
During the last fall the American
weather prophet ground hog predicted Il
mild winter. and SO far the prediction
has been verified. He had reasons which
he regarded as absolutely certain, but
which, he is bound not to reveal except
- members of the order But these pre-
dictions only hold until ground hog day.
when new observations must be taken.
II has often been noticed that winters
have been mild up to the crucial hour.
bee ONE suddenly severe. The blizzard
season about nine years ago was such
a winter.
Hour of IL.
Those who have observed the folklore
forecast February in past years say
the indications themselves are sometimes
doubtful on ground hog day. Shadows
observed before or after II o'clock do
not count The prophets must observe
thu, weather and their watches at the
sam. moment. or mistakes may be made
Sucl, mistakes are known TO have oc-
Cured in the past In such cases the
truth can only be learned from the way
the weather finally turns out. If cold
winter follows ground hog day, than 1t
may be regarded as certain that the
ground hog saw his shadow. even if his
prophets failed to see it. But if spring
puts in an early appearance. 1t is proof
positive that the ground hog did not see
his shadow. Certainty is a great thing
in prophecy. and. of course. the certainty
in regard to ground hog day is that the
ground hog himself cannot make a mis-
take.