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CYRUS finds Pete Walker masterpiece: Doodlebug essay and Sunday School lesson SCIENCE/Varmitology: Doodlebug Should the federal government step in to help preserve the doodlebug? By Pete Walker From page two of the Saturday, July 17, 1971 issue of the Green River Sprite Has DDT done away with the doodlebug? This serious question is being studied by the Southern Kentucky Saucer Sighting and Varmitology Society. President W.K. Neat, Columbia says extensive research has been going on for several months on the scarcity of the old fashioned doodlebug. The society believes after much study that the federal government must do something to preserve the doodle bug. For years the doodlebug forecast with accuracy the course that a young man's life would take. How did a mere bug accomplish such a feat? The doodlebug could be caught by two methods. First, and more sporting, was the placing of a straw in the bug's hole, and then watching carefully for him to move the straw and gently lifting him out of his hole. This method took skill, perseverance, and a steady hand and developed character. Many boys who caught doodlebugs by straw grew up to be captains of industry, newspaper people, missionaries, and boy scout leaders. On the other hand, some young men caught the doodlebug by hollering down his hole that his house was on fire and if he didn't come out he and his children would burn. Clearly this was plain fraud. Everyone but the poor bug knew you couldn't burn down a hole in the ground. Now, youths who favored this method almost always turned out to be politicians, auctioneers, lightning rod salesmen or insurance agents. Colonel Otley Gilpin of Coburg says he believes 99 out of 100 county and state officials got their start on the way to elective office by first practicing on the doodlebug. Many a poor doodlebug thinking that he and his family would shortly be burned to a crisp has come out of his hole only to be squashed under the foot of a future leader of the people. Colonel Gilpin reports that High Lo Brown, his neighbor, says there are still a few doodelbugs up around Tallow Creek near the Casey-Adair County line where he grew up. If this is true, the government should establish a doodlebug preserve and start a restocking program for the rest of the state so future generations can have a guide as to how a youngster will turn out. From the Saturday, July 17, 1971 issue of the Green River Sprite. CYRUS Central Ohio Bureau Chief Footnote: The essay above by the late Pete Walker, is by one of the Great Baptist Democrats of his Age. Pete Walker was, among other things, a great humorist, combining the best of Mark Twain, Will Rogers, and Ed Diddle. This essay is one of his best. I believe that it was also the text of more than one Sunday School lesson Pete Walker gave at the Columbia Baptist Church when he taught the Boys' Class in the Intermediate Department, then headed by Avery Ashbrook. He'd alternate the Doodlebug principle with other stories learned at Gradyville, including his fable of the "Two Worstest Men." But this footnote is about the Doodlebug. More on the "Two Worstest Men," later. Confirmation of this fact could be made with one or more of the following: Lynn "Whitey" Lea, Glenn "Blackie" Lea, Don "Eighty-eight" Yates, Curt Yarberry, me, and quite a few other fine Baptist boys. Pete usually concluded his Sunday School lessons in 25 minutes, which left plenty of time to get to Grover Gilpin's G&M Grill, located where Reed Bros. Insurance is now. He'd tell us to tip-toe up the steps like Squirrel Hunters, so that Avery Ashbrook wouldn't catch us sneaking out. His early release program allowed us to examine the movie posters at the Marshalls' picture show, beat the pinball machine, and have a Coke or a cone of Sealtest Ice Cream, while Pete had coffee and a few cigarettes with the community leaders, including a few from the nearby Methodist, Christian, and Presbyterian churches, before repairing to the balcony of the CBC by the time the Doxology began, for the real test of the being a Baptist, back then. - Ed Waggener This story was posted on 2005-12-04 12:30:04
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. (AD) - Many Reunion organizing efforts are also advertised in our REUNIONS category in our CM Classifeds. These are posted at a very low cost. See RATES & TERMS More articles from topic Local History:
Question perplexes Frankfort, KY lawyer: Was there ever a store at Joppa? Statue of Adair County great Edgar Allen Diddle unveiled at WKU LOCAL HISTORY: Does anyone have information on WPA murals here? Cyrus: Adair Countian Meets Royalty! CYRUS: Six room house in Columbia sold for $4,835 in 1944 CYRUS: All the news . . . a community newsletter primer CYRUS: Diddleism about LWC was compliment, wasn't it? CYRUS uncovers ancient Harold McKinney document on rural etiquette CYRUS. Basketball: John Burr, LWJC Coach LETTER: Add Paul Loveless to list of Adair Veterans View even more articles in topic Local History |
 
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