Evening star., 1938-02-01
The Maliggned Skunk
Contrary to the Popular Conception He Is Held to Be
the Most Gentlemanly of Animals.

ln1erlOrity complex. He fears no one
and therefore fawns on no one.
Whoever In the beginning gave the
skunk a bad name, whoever changed
the dignified Latin "mephitis" to an
Anglo-Saxon synonym for something
odious, did an injustice to the animal
and a disservice to the world. I can
imagine how 1t came about, and the
kind Of person who did it. It was
some nosy, interfering person; 1t may
have been some primitive new dealer"
who wanted to regulate Mephitis. He
trespassed upon the little fellows inde-
pendence-and promptly the little fell
low let him have it. Thereafter that
busybody showed he was not only
nosy and interfering. but unfair, a
poor sport. Instead of admitting it
was his own fault, he gave the sturdy
little individualist bad name, which
has endured to this day.
A Worthy Cause!
If there were not so many other
matters demanding attention, should
like to dedicate myself to rehabili-
tating this handsome little animals
reputation. The skunk is not only
gentleman in his personal relations,
but also in his civic attitude an exem-
plary citizen. A nation made up of
skunks would be an ideal society.
Every individual would have absolute
self-respect. Because each would be
able to enforce respect for himself
each would extend complete respect
to others. No one would claim to be
underprivileged, and woe to any one
who would assert overprivilege. Woe
likewise to any group that would try
to set up controlling caste of bureau
Gratis.
One afternoon some while ago I was
walking with one of the dogs, a fox
terrier We call Cal" in hillside
field. In the field deep gully had
washed and been filled with cornstalks
to prevent further erosion. On top Of
the packed cornstalks a skunk was
strolling; his jet-black coat with
white stripe down the back, against
the taWny autumn background. was
pretty in the sunlight. 1t was an
unusual daytime scene. for skunks
rarely roam before nightfan.
He saw me and the dog but enter
tanned no concern about us. When
We got within about 80 feet Of him,
ne. without interrupting his ambling
stroll, raised his tail slightly. We
stopped, for both Cal and I know
the skunks ways. Cal dropped a pace
behind me-he Was willing to let me
TX the standard Of prudent discretion.
He was deeply aFltated, he barked
historically, but his paws went, back
ward and he kept himself modified
Tor instantaneous flight. Toward any
other animal, from mouse to an
elephant, Cal would have dashed
headlong
The Limit Found.
When We stood still the skunk
lowered his tail and went on with his
leisurely amble. When We moved a
step toward him. he raised his tail
again. We stopped and the tail went
down again. In proportion as we
In spirit OF experiment, Cal and 1
tried to flnd just what is the margin
OF safety in approaching skunk,
No doubt the limit varies with indi-
Vldual skunks, and with their tempo
rary moods. In the case Of this one,
the limit was about Is feet. When
We were that close to him, the tail
went so high as to be rigidly vertical,
and in the plumed end of it was a
tremor. That tremor OF the end of
the tail, We knew. was the final warn
ing, equivalent to the rattlesnake's
sharp tattoo. Cal and I stood still.
The skunk ambled unconcernedly
down the gully. nosing and scratching
here and there for mouse or a grub,
until he disappeared into the woods.
Copyright, 1881