Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-02

says, "Sir Ueeks like May"
Hello Information! What is Mr..
GrOundhog's telephone NUMBER"
While information" Is looking up the
number we'll explain that it was little
boy trying to find out about the weather
who was calling. For today is ground
hog day, the day on which that respected
little creature crawls out of his hole in
the ground where he has been sleeping
all winter to find out if he can see his
shadow. If he can, bad weather, with
sleet and snow. will come for six weeks
more; If he can't, the next six weeks Will
be more like spring than winter
Hello" said Information Just then
1.-The number you wish is Preston 5S7i-D.
It's the Zoo, at Fairmount Park, where
Mr.. Grounding lives. I'll connect you"
Thank you," said the little boy and
waited.
"Hello," came voice over the wire.
Yes, this is the Zoo. Mr.. Groundhog?
Yes, just wait a minute"
The little boy waited and waited. Final
ly there was Il click at the other end,
and a shrill voice shouted into the tele-
phone.
well. what is this?" the voice asked,
Grossly. Yes. yes, this is Mr.. Ground
hog. Go on. Hurry up and say what you
want. for l must go right back outside
again and try to see my shadow"
The little boy was frightened by the
grumpy tone, but he puckered up courage
and said: "I wanted-I wanted-please,
Mr.. Groundhog, tell me if you have seen
your shadow. This Is a little boy call
ing"
"Oh," Mr.. Groundhog said, in a very
| kindly voice why didn't you say who
| you were? Well, haven't seen my shadow
yet and it doesn't appear as If 1 will
~, Chi nrfn %
that is on my coat. little boy. I'd advise
| you to stay indoors today unless you put
| on rubbers and an overcoat."
Aren't you afraid you'll catch cold, Mr..
| Groundhog?" asked the little boy, think
ing of the warm weather that has been
| here almost baseball and marble
weather.
mo. we groundhogs have thick fur
replied Mr.. Groundhog "I'll need 1t, too,
because l feel it in my bones that we VIII
have some heavy sleet and snow tonight.
Well, good.by. Remember that unless the
sun comes out from behind the clouds
before sunset I will not see my shadow,
and that means good weather. By-by."
THANK you, Mr.. Groundhog,' said the
glad little boy. 1T hope you don't see 1t,
but I'm sorry you have to stay out in this
bad weather. Good-by. sir"
The Weather Bureau said that it's un-
likely that Mr.. Groundhog will see his
shadow, Tor speclal warning from
Washington shortly before noon predicted
heavy sleet and snow within the next "a
hours.
This is really Candlemas Day. although
Candlemas Day has lost much of its old
significance as a religious festival and is
now far from generally observed, even in
the Catholic countries OF Europe. Febru-
airy has been observed as the festival of
the Publication of the Virgin from an un-
known date far back in Christian history.
The day is observed at the Vatican, where
the Pope blesses candles and distributes
them in person to all members OF his cleri-
cal family.
An old Scotch rhyme preserves the su-
perstition about the correlation of the
weather with Candlemas Day. 1t runs:
IL Candlemas Day be dry and fair
The half o. winters 10 come and mair:
II Candlemas Day be wet and foul,
The half o. winters game AT Hule.
The trouble with superstitions is that
even when they are disproved they infiu-
ence many actions.