The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-12
10, PUNxSUrAWNEY!


To the EDIyoR OF The SUS-Sk: ]
have been reader OF Ths Sun for fifteen
years. 1 wish to cudgci 1t for its coui sc
concerning the grounding. for be-
lieve that Il Ii partly the fault Of the es-
teemed Manhattan luminary that the little
nosticate and multiply. Allow me to give
you basis for the complaint.
Punxsutawney. Pa, my native town. To-
Gated In the central western part boasts
OF the only Groundbog Club In the world.
| was In at the organisation OF 1t In 1902.
and, was Its poet laureate and secretary
until 1903, when II had q membership Of
$50 II was organized for the purpose OF
discriminating the woodchuck Every year
in September the club calls q meeting and
conducts a hunt. The foothills Of the
Alleghanies are secured for miles and
miles and the proceeds brought to CEN
trail point. where . great feast Is pre-
pared. In this manner Punxsutawney
came to be recognized as the official
claimed. Is the main office Of his weather.
works.
This claim was challenged by other
towns In the Keystone State until August,
1909, when, under the auspices Of the
Grounding Club. . great hunt and feast
were held on the third day Of Old Home
Week. The club advertised that the offi-
ClHI WeatneTWOTkB OF DIT ct
would be transferred to Punxsutawney
for the day, and that II would guarantee:
that the only real weather prognosticator
would produce ffty-seven varieties OF
weather In three hours. The demonstra-
ton was given before Edwin s. Stuart,
then Governor Of the State Justice John
=. Elkin Of the State Supreme Court,
Professor Alexander T. Ormond OF Prince
ton University. members OF the State
Legislature. men prominent In politics.
society. finance. neteoroloeists, astrologists
and marmotologists. Fully 10000 people
could testify that Il was a huge success,
for from ffty-seven great foats were dis
pensed that day ffty-seven varieties OF
weather. including rain, snow, hail, sleet.
billiards., fog. backward. cloudy. partly
cloudy weather; volcanic action, thunder.
lightning, &C.
The parade was called the Circumgy.
ratory Pageant OF the Prophets and Me-
teorologists OF the Punxsutawney Weather
works II included the ifty-seven floats
aforementioned, 100 prophets and me-
teoroiogists afoot. and 200 animals from
the jungle. known as the Coon Hollow
Bunch. Brer Grounding. ensconced In
his observatory, took his position along
side OF the stand occupied by Governor
stuart and the other dignitaries. As each
float passed In front of the Governor the
particular weather brewed therein was
turned on. lie WAS so well pIeaseO tnht
he asked to have the parade repeated.
which was done. the whole show consum-
ing n period Of over Ave hours
During the day the hunters had been
busy with spade and mattock. and that
night at the Governors banquet over 400
marmots were served As to the delecta-
bility of the grounding as a table delicacy
let those hereinbefore mentioned and some
900 others attest.
Now here Is nv Crouch" THE SrN
was invited to send representatives to that
banquet. but the invitation went unheeded
The club could have condoned that. but
when YOU made comment about that same
BANQUET from second hand Information you
referred TO the patron saint OF the Punk
sutawney GroundhoR Club as rank
'aker. an lmpostor and fat dullard. The
weather you have been having in Little
nld New York and elsewhere In these
United States this winter executing in
south Florida. shows how greatly you had
moderated the activities OF King Arctomys
Monax. and am delighted to read In THE
SrN your call to gourrnets TO lay for him
next fail during the "clovering'' season.
The invitation to Join the Punxsrtawnev
Grounding Club II hereby renewed see nx
that TIVE SrS has come to realize the
situation. and unless the author 81 VIVA
YOU characterize as THE Crime OF Fehri-
arv 9" Is suppressed. or at least mini
-ri7ed here Is one native Of the Old Eav-
stone State who will remain In the land o.
flowers. where. heaven ha p~a' snd. tho
h'dow OF the woodchuck can never come
a,hwart c. n FREAs.
BROWNSVILLE Fla. March Z