New-York tribune., 1911-09-10
CH|PMUNK HAS HIS Joke
title "Cuss' Seems to Mimic
Students of the Woods.
LIKE A HUMAN FINANCIER
Amasses More Wealth than He
Needs-In the End He's Food
for Furry Foes.

The chipmunk is the plsything OF the
amps. the poster for the amateur photog-
~,,her and the food supply Of the minor
g., bearers Scsmpering around the camp
.oodpile. q is amusing; sitting on a
,.yrr II is an ornament and in the
stomach OF marten or fox its meat is a
,abit. Sometimes An Adirondack native
ron6ers what good chipmunk IS TO it.
,sf Possibly there is. indeed. some use
!, I.ading a life and fattening up FOR the
t.nsft of others. but the selfshness Of
,ha, sort cf existence doesn't appeal TO
the native.
A practical. prosy man can't help de-
.,ising chipmunkS. and Yet there is some
ming about the seemingly careless little
,-eatures that makes the grumpiest good
.stured. The most sore headed person for
yst IT, and the pessimist snarl to keep
hack a smile Pert. saucy. in a state Of
constant astonishment. and always being
assaulted by weasel hawk and small bows
uitr rifles. the chipmunk is exasperating
IN is defencel lessncSs.
II IL were not one Of :he most prolific
Of the woods creatures. IL would soon he
sxterminsted In this respect IL is like
Inc f0iNluFh IfNIlf anu Aflf AlAdkt fNil7
sinners. tho fool voters who are horn
twice a minute and the leading citizen
vho Is worked for Wis influence by the
corrupt politician who pampers 20 his
Pride Vtiio ne picks his pocket
r a chipmunk IS observed faithfully
ana Voodsmen delight in sitting on logs
20 watch the little "cusses certain feat
Tres are likely 20 become more and more
prominent IN its character. It has the
nost pi,ifIl Of protection-that of color It's
color Is that of the dry leaves. the stripes
or IS pack are like twiCs. and even its
snare IN some measure resembles the arch
Or tho withered birch or beech leaf. Its
s,amperinG is like "a wind gust through
the autumn leaves on the ground, many
a man has seen the chipmunk rushing
among the leaves and tuought IL was a
zsDrvr
Tire criumuuk .ie. however. one OF the
original American fnancierS. From
Watching squirrels save up surplus nuts
seeds and vegetable meats. the original
s. ing man took his inspiration. lie imi-
ts'ed tie chipmuHk. which shows how
prone humanity 10 20 take after the pitt
ful the pert and the incapable-but as II
happened. humanity pitched on the one
worthy quality Of the chipmunk, and
some few have learned 70 amass money
'ust as the chipmunk amasses food sup
ply. and. ike the chipmunk. humanity
frequently amasses much more than II
has any need Of. one man saving not only
his own share, but that Of many others
besides.
TIE industry Of the chipmunk is one Of
the humorous features OF wild life II
tries 10 impress on all behoders that get
ting something 10 eat. that rushing around
after beechnuts. buck cherry seeds and
other things is the biggest Job in the world,
and IL pauses only 10 see If the onlooker
appreciates the fine dignity and wisdom of
the perky little creature whose great aim
in life is TO get all the unearned incre-
ment OF the forest before anything else
has chance at it-this. long after the
chipmunk has stored away all it can pos
s.bly eat. as we'll as food for worms. fungi
and other corruptions