The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-02
NO SHADOW SEEN
BY THE GROUND HOG
He Went Back Into His Hole, Appar.
emily Much Frightened at tho
Stormy Outlook.

This is ground hog day, linked
with an old superstition, almost as
ancient as the hills, and closely con-
nected with intermingling lights and
shadows.
There was an ancient superstition
which was at one time and perhaps
continues, that If this day. known as
Candlemas, be a sunshiny day, the
winter is not half finished. The Ger
mans said that the badger peeps out
of his hole on Candlemas day and II
he finds snow, he walks abroad; II he
finds the sun shining, he draws back
again into his hole. 1t Is an ancient
custom in Scotland for scholars on
this day to make presents OF money
to their masters and to enjoy 1t as
holiday
In England, Candlemas day was q
holiday in tho public offices excepting
stamps, excuses and customs. 1t was
called a Grand day in the inns OF
court, Gaudy day at the two unfver-
stiles and a Collar day at st. James
being one Of the three great holidays
during the terms, on which all legal
business was suspended.
In this country the ground hog Is
substituted for the badger He creeps
out of his hole on the morning Of
Ground Hog day. II 1t be cloudy, he
continues to wander about and re-
mains outside, fearless Of the weather
indications to milder temperature
and broken winter, but If perchance,
the sun be shining and he sees his
shadow, he hustleS back into his hole
to remain a period of six weeks be-
fore another venture to emerge from
his hole which means that these six
weeks will be cold and disagreeable
and that winter will continue abroad
in the land
A colored man remarked this morn
ing in his characteristic way: mo
sab, de groun' hog nebbah seed his
shaddah dis mawnin'. All nebber seed
my own shaddah."
This is not only Ground Hog day
and Candlemas day. but is known in
the church Of Rome as festival, a
Publication of the Virgin. 1t is said
to have been founded upon Roman
rites in which candles were carried.
The early fathers of the church held
1t in commemoration of the attend
ance Of Mary in the temple, forty
days after childbirth, as commanded
by the law; and it was their custom
on this day to bless candles and dis
tribute them among the people, by
whom they were carried in solemn
processto. The saying of Simeon, re-
speeding the infant Christ in the
temple, that He would be light to
tighten the Gentiles, may have had
some bearing on the subject.
While the day has not reached to
the importance of legal holiday in
this country, it's coming is invariably
remembered by all classes of people
in different ways and moods. 1t is
a varied day. The superstitious may
build hopes and feel disappointed by
the acts Of the little ground hog, gov
erned by the whims Of the sun; there
is a chance for those inclined to lev
ity, to feast on jokes at the expense
of the ground hog and superstitious
people, and those inclined to more
serious thoughts, may dwell upon
thoughts of the Publication day, the
blessed candles and Of Him of whom
it was predicted would be a light to
tighten the world to the Gentiles.
But so far today there seems to
have been more Of levity than sol
emnity which is the usual condition
on this day in this locality-and the
ground hog did not see his shadow.