Evening star., 1928-03-03
Sleep of Texas Horned Toad
Stirs Wide Press Comment

| Not since Mark Twaln's famous lump.
| ing frog Of Calaveras has The country
| had such an issue as II finds in the
| sleeping horned toad OF EaSiland, Tex
| Can horned toad live 81 years without
| food or drink That Is the question
| Public opinion seems cvasive. but IN
| clincd 10 divide AS between scientists
who say "Impossible!" and cycwit-
nesSes who were present at the opening
| OF the Eastland courthouse corner stone
| In which horned toad had been placec
more than 80 years before.
| Admitting that The learned doctors
know whereof they speak" the San An.
| tonic Evening News insists. But
| there's the toad" and reminding IT.
readers that there are witnesses 10 the
| imprisoning." draws the conclusion
| THAT fact. apparently well verified
| puts the distinguished naturalists much
In the pos!tion OF the expert taxidermiS'
In John Godfrey Saxcs poem. who
sharply crticizcs a fellow craftsman
performance on stuffed owl~~un,i
| the bird winks at him" The Water
bury Republican recalls the story o!
the man who took A good look at Il
giraffe and stouily declared. There
amt no sich animalt"
Expressing willingness Ito stake nui
| reputation AS scientist upon the mac
curacy OF the story. the Columbus ONO
State Journal says. we imagine there
was hypnotist or practical joker !i
| the crowd
! Science would deny" atilrms the
Omaha World Herald. N It were In
terested In such things, that man car
take a rabbit from an empty hat But
we know he can We've seen the
.l.,t.a Il a la ~
more astounding things than that too
The Texans have their horned
! reptile and. what's more important Stlll
their corner stone. Long after th'
zoologist has been gathered io he
fathers. 1t will be there 10 give Its trAti'
mony As for us, We are more con
vinced than ever that the hand Is
| quicker than the eye"
we think IL IL the same horned
| toad Is The verdict Of the Cincinnati
Times" Star. which explains There are
matters concerning the Information ol
warm-b -blooded animals that are still ii
| mystery To scientists, and reptiles FOL
low other than mammalian rhythms IN
the law Of their lives. We thrill with
the hope that some gigantic creature oil
the chrbonlfefous age. htfmeticailt
| sealed intact IN Ice or clay. may ye'
come to life and mock by It's contours
and conduct the facsimilea of the
museims" The Rochester Democrat
and Chronicle expresses sympathy fdi
| creatures shut up In htdeous prisons
there to lansnish for ages IN IA mental
| agony that cannot be- fathomed," and
issues the call, Who viii start move
ment to challenge every heart with II
| grain Of pity-a movement that may
| well take fni It's slogan The release Ui
every horned toad In this generatlon'2'
lie slept without considering that he
really needed food and drink at inter
walls. ana that, out nf reapect 10 Yoolo-
gists. he should have died " remarks tht
Atlanta journal lie must have been
| "A little dihmhyrd 10 awake from hn hdc
qtiatr hhinbei and nnu cttlyb,ds
| excited over HIN And The Baltimore
sun auBprhts, "All Ut this II Iathet
flue illustration of uninlentiunui but
extremely effective publicity DO the
un,islai' II the cry, The toad took tie
advice along with u hair from rip Va,,
wrinkles beard II simply went Ia slice,
for 81 years and a"oke in find itseII
famous
AFTER all, why worry?" asks tht
Duluth Herald What does II maital
hnW long toad can live sealed up ~
h corner htont! Texans Ahouid he calm
aud keep their well known self control
This, Ia be aute. Ia teAas uuehlion. huI
ia Iank oulaidet may be itar,iuued nt al
irast ooidiy igiioied, fof daring ~ hua
geal that lhe wlinie uiehtlun might hs
referred 10 The committees un teaoluliu lone
ni thn nsmniatiH national .unVeniul,
(which meets at iinislan Tile t'a,
t.aasIssp sallslm susseeIs !hat 'pst,