Southern world : journal of industry for the farm, home and workshop. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1882-18??, June 15, 1882, Image 12
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M World, jun^ is, 1882.
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Written specially for tin* Southern World.
The Insert Assassin.
BY R. K. H.
It has often t>een observed that among an
imals and insects arc found the similitudes
of human passions, tliouglits, actions—the
gentle housewife in the brooding dove; the
selfish tyrant in the mastering beast.
I once watched a poor little worm as he
crept nearer and nearer to the cunningly
disposed web of a spider. This artful insect
lay hidden in his hole, like the assassin in
ambush, watching his unconscious victim
slowly approach the snare. A moment—and
the worm lay struggling in a vain attempt to
disengage himself from the clinging web-
then the spider sprang upon the poor strug
gle^ seized him by the head, shook him with
all Ids might, and retired to his hole again.
The struggles of the worm were now frantic,
and seemed to be as much the effect of pain
as a desire to escape. The spidcragain sprang
upon him, seized and shook him, and aguin
retired. After the third repetition of this
torture the little worm lay still—I examined
him; jie was perfectly dead.
Tlio spider was, of course, only providing
himself with food in a perfectly natural way;
but his apparent cruelty, and stealthy cun
ning were suggestive of the assassin.
It is the female spider who spins the web,
and, I expect, catches most of the prov
ender; she only lets the male spider stay
with her to keep her from being lonesome,
nnd when she is tired of hint, or provisions
are scarce,—one, two, three, presto! she
ents him up.
It is a singular fact, too, that a spider can
only spin her web a certain number of times,
which, though often computed, must cer
tainly differ with the different species. If
the lost web be destroyed by storm without
or broom within, Madam Spider sets out on
ntourof conquest, to win for herself a home.
She challenges some other spider to “ tome
out and square yourself,” as little Joe says,
and then a pitched battle takes place, and
the victor takes the web.
Once, while gathering Dowers, I came across
a most brilliant specimen of garden spider,
whose large, bright-green body had markings
of gold, red, and yellow. I placed this
showy insect in a toy china castle with tur
rets and roof forming a lid. Next morning
1 went to examine my captive, when, loI
she had dwindled away to half her size, lost
all her coloring, and was clutching a large
bundle of eggs enveloped in a white, webby
cose which she had suspended from the roof
of the castle. 1 immediately commenced
feeding tier on flies, and it was amusing to
see the avidity with which she devoured
them, leaving nothing but u small heap of
wings and legs in the bottom of her dwell
ing. This lasted some time, and my spider
throve finely until one unlucky day I left
home, giving my remarkable pet in charge
of a most forgetful brother, who, with the
bqet intentions in the world, let my poor
little protege starve to death.
In striking contrast to this innocent insect-
mother is the deadly Tarantula, one of the
lurgest of spiders, which infests Mexico, and
is found os fur north as central Louisiana
nnd Texas.
There is an Indian legend of a maiden
who so mourned the death of her lover that
she placed in her bosom a Tarantula, and
was thus enabled to join her young brave
in the happy Hunting Qround. This is only
one of the many legends and fables regard
ing this frightful-looking spider with its
great hairy body and legs—among them
might be mentioned the fabulous disease
called Tarantism, supposed to be caused by
its bite, and thought incapable of cure ex
cept by long dnneing to appropriate music.
The Kastern Hemisphere produces the
Kutips, a murderous spider which builds a
subterranean nest in the sands of the sea
shore, nnd so fatal is its bite, it has been
known to cause death in forty minutes. In
deed, the poor people who gather wood
drifted in by the tide often fall victims to its
venom. Some years ago an entomologist
discovered the Katips on the shore of New
York harbor. It was thought to have been
brought ovor in a vessel—a most disagreeable
occupant certainly.
Mauy of my little readers have, doubtless,
often noticed the spider common to our
Southern States, whose thick, horny body so
resembles the shell of a turtle as to have
given it the popular name of Turtle Spider,
This little spider generally spreads its web
between the branches qf a tree, and of all
the garden spiders its home is most tastefully
constructed. Its web is almost always round,
and connected with the branches by a series
of star-like points which are joined together
at the center of the web, and tufted at regu
lar intervals, giving it the appearance of
being strung with beads. The insect then
commences at some distance from the center
of its web, and no longer tufting its lines,
spins round from one point to another,
always approaching the center, which, when
it has reached, there quietly rests from its
labors, and waits, suspended in mid-air for
any chance luck that may fall to its share.
A block beetle was once observed to have
become entangled in the web of one of these
interesting little spiders, who finding the
hard shell of the beetle resisted all its
attacks seized the web in its claws as one
would hold n cloth, nnd shook the unwel
come intruder to the ground.
The spiders in Japan weave their webs
across the telegraph poles so thickly as to
impede the messages passing over the wires,
and men have to be constantly employed in
sweeping them away.
AH things in the world are said to be of
some use, either one way or another,
although I know my little readers will agree
with me that it is difficult to see of what
use noxious insects can be; but almost any
young student of history will remember that
upon one occasion, at least, the spider played
a most important part: When Scotland’s
defender, the great Robert IJruce, noting the
perseverance with which a spider, in spite of
repeated failures, persisted in weaving a line
of its web from one place to another, took
courage and made thegallant attempt which
freed Scotland and won for himself a crown.
There is another instance of which I will
tell you, although it has a very sad ending:
A prisoner of state once placed in solitary
confinement, having no human being to
whom lie could speak, and nothing to interest
him, found amusement in training n spider
which had woven its web in his cell. This
little creature became so tame it would
come to him when he called it by name, and
performed many interesting tricks. The
prisoner, one day exhibited his little pet
before the jailer who, being a monster of
cruelty, placed his foot upon the spider,
thus crushing to death the unhappy cap
tive's only friend.
Tiie spider, like the ant, has always been
a model for industry and perseverance—thus
Solomon, that most ancient of entomologists,
places among the ‘‘four things which are
little upon the earth, but they are exceed
ingly wise”—“the spider” who “ taketh
hold with her hands, and is in king’s
palaces.”
Written specially tor theSouthern World.
Every Hoy nn Artist—Every Mind n
, ('till VHN.
Among the many quaint legends of old
that are so fascinating from their very
wierdness is one of an old castle, in which
was a picture gallery, that possesed a strange
and wonderful power over all who desired
gaze upon its treasures of art. In order
to view these wonderful pictures, a crown
of leaves was placed upon the head and im
mediately, what hnd been to him a bare
wall, became a living panorama. Picture
after picture passed before his vision of
scenes and events associated with the old
castle nnd its dwellers. As he looked his
eyes would become tired and brain weary,
but withul, he hud no desire to remove the
crown through whose virtue these scenes of
real life were so vividly pictured. With
avidity he drank in tiie scenes of mirth and
high carnival with which the old house had
resounded, turning only to read that amidst
it all, dark and bloody tragedies had left
their impress, never to be wiped out. Again,
he sees the innocent child, the impulsive
youth, the wayward son, and a blasted life.
Is it possible that here too he must read of
confidence misplaced, hopes crushed, and
hearts broken ? but true it is.
Is it any wonder that at such scenes, he at
times would feign lay uside the crown which
we call memory. But amidst all this dark
ness beautiful and rare gems shine forth, as
the golden rays of the sun break through a
rift in the clouds, giving brightness and
warmth to many a dark recess, and he clings
to memorie’s crown as as atisfying pleasure.
To the boy or girl whose imagination
carries him back to tiie old castle, to wander
through this enchanted hall, and test the
virtues of such a wonderful crown, I would
say.in reality you have a picture gallery of
your own, whose walls are being filled day
by day,with the impressionsof yourown life.
As time rolls on and you wear the crown,
whose leaves are the words, scenes or acts,
which bring to mind certain events in
the pnthway of life, will they recall moments
of victory in the hour of temptation? Ad
herence to duty, even though sin should
allure with the voice of angels, and strew
the path to the pit with the flowers of Para
dise ? If tuck pictures are upon the walls of
your gallery, then indeed you will be loth
today aside the crown that reveals so much
Brightness, joy and peace, for doing right
under all circumstances never fails to bring
rest and happiness. Keep your heart pure and
Oodwill keep you in the dark niglit of temp
tation, under the shadow of which so many
fall, the remembrance of which embitter
the best hours of life, and fill the lost only
with remorse.
You do not want the walls of your gallery
to be filled with such views. Then avoid
the pitfalls of sin that are covered with
flowers; heed the warning of those who
themselves have been delivered from these
snares.
In the hour of temptation, “hove the
courage to say no, however fascinating the
form nnd winning the address with which
you are enticed. Be sure the voice which
persuades you to lower your standard of
duty is not the voice of a friend,” but of
that dark and subtle enemy who delights in
robbing memory of its rightful pleasures,
by beguiling you from the path of “ Honest
love, honest sorrow, honest work for the day,
honest hope for the morrow.” M. B. B.
“Good Luck" cannot be depended upon to
always keep you out of accidents and disas
ters. “Good Luck” will not prevent trains
from running off the track, stcambont boil
ers from bursting, machinery from man
gling, horses from running and all the other
startling and dreadful things that lay people
on their backs for weeks at a time, if they
haply escape with their lives. And how of
ten the*bruises are rendered more painful,
the cuts more feverish, nnd the sprains and
fractures unendurable and tiie bed of conve
nience a rock of torture to him who lias
earned his living and that of his wife nnd
children by daily effort, by personal supervi
sion of his business affairs. But to him who
receives, during such enforced inactivity,
his $25 or $30 per week, honestly provided
for in a business way, the season of involun
tary vacation may be peacefully if not mildly
enjoyable. Any person over eighteen and
under sixty years of age of sound mind and
body and of temperate habits, can by writ
ing an application and investing four dol
lars, insure himself a comfortable pension
should he be accidentally injured. And all
business men, clerical and manual laborers
are liable every day to such injury. There
were 10,000 members in the United States
Mutual Accident Association of the city of
New York, at the beginning of the year; its
incorporators and officers are the most
staunch and honorable business men in this
city and they provide to members indemni
ty against accidents which cause death or
wholly disabling injury. A $5000 accident
insurance, a $25 weekly indemnity at an
annual cost of ten dollars, is a statement that
surprises men who are paying hundreds of
dollars annually to other companies fora
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distress with reference to future contingen
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in the oldest, strongest, largest and best ac
cident association.
jjvjju ci o mm
iperio:
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readers of this paper who write to us
and buy direct. Address
ItOIlIXKOX A- CO.,
Itlclimoncl, Inti.
Mention Southern World.
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and only Vapor
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Send for Prim Elat.
Descriptive and Illustrated circular of our beauttrul
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W. «. SMITH A-CO., SlmiHlleltl, Ohio.
Mention southern World when you write.
VimCHASING AGENCY
For every description of goods for Lathes or domic
men. Artlclcssclectcdwfih taste ami Judgment, an<
purchased at loweat rate*. Head for circular. Addrea
Mute. KATE M. CANNON,
, , P. O. llox 2000 Now York City.
. Mention Southern World.
THE FOLLOWING ACCIDENTAL
LOSSES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN
PAID BY THE UNITED
STATES MUTUAL
ACCIDENT ASSO
CIATION, N0.409BR0AD-
WAY, NEW YORK.
EVANS G. WILEY,
Bank Cashier, Urbann, Ohio, $5,000.
REAMER F. COPELAND,
Com. Traveler, Wnukc8hn,Wis., $5,000.
HARRIS I. FELLOWS,
Physician, Albany, N. Y., $5,000.
Merchant, St. LouisJ Mo., $5,000.
JAS, H, SLEDGE,
Salesman, LaGrange, Ga., $5,000.
$5,000 Insurance and $25 Weekly In
demnity seenred nt nn niintinl cost of
about $10, it hlcli In one-third of the rate
or stock eoiii|>nnles.
$10,000 Insurance nt corresponding
rates.
More titan 10,000 business men in New
Y’ork City ami vicinity have policies in this
company.
More than 1,000 claims have been paid.
All vnlld claims pnid nt sight.
The Association has an assured income
exceeding $100,000 per annum for the pay
ment of losses.
It lias no claims upon its books unpaid,
and lias no debts.
BWAItl) OF IHKECTORN:
CHAS. n. PEET. of Rogers, Pcet * Co.
WM. 11HINCKEltHOFF, of Wm. ItrlnekcrholTACo.
E. E. PERRY, Treasurer.
WILLIAM E. TEFFT.of Telit, Waller A Co.
FERDINAND P. EAKI.E, of Earle's Hotel.
DECATUR M. SAWYER, of Gowing, drew it Co.
WM. into. SMITH, No. 2» Broadway, New York.
E. H. PARKER, of Morohan Ceramic Company.
WM. GIBSON, with Morriaon, Herrltnan A Vo.
LEOPOLD WORMSElt, of Harlem and Westchester
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JAM IS S. LEEDS, Nos. S and 7 Dey street, N. Y.
OEOltOE C. CLARKE,of Tetn, Weller* Co.
Write for Circular nnd Appllrntlon Itlnnk.
Only two minutes’ time required to Insure.
UNITED STATES MUTUAL
ACCIDENT ASSOCIATION, NO. 409
BROADWAY, NEW YORK.
C1IAN. n. PEET,
Of Rogers, Pcet A Co., President.
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