Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1907 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

Bumblobeae and Wasp*. Many young people do not know teat all the male and neuter bumblebees and “yellow jacket” wasps die at tee beginning of winter. Whence, then, comes the new crop in the spring? Nature has provided for that-by allowing a few females to survive, which teey do by burying themselves in some place of shelter, generally In the ground. They lie torpid there all winter and In the spring come forth, hunt for a suitable place for building a nest, and soon have a new colony around them. Sometimes only one female of a colony will survive, but she lays enough eggs to make a very large family. The housefly survives in the same way, by hiding away In some place in the house where it will not be disturbed during the cold months. When the warm days of spring come. It comes ont of Its hiding place and may be seen flying about the house. The fly Is a great pest and Is the means of spreading many diseases. Some housekeepers say that if all that come out fat tee spring he killed and wire screens be put In windows, and doors early the house may he kept free from them during tbe summer.—Chicago News.

Tale of a Fish. “How wonderfully Intelligent fish are! Did I ever tell you about Pittl Sing, my pet Japanese fantailed goldfish?” anted a fish monger. “Of course she comes when called and eats out of your h#nd and all of that childish nonsense, but here’s a thing she did which Indicates thought, reasoning brain work: “One day a candlestick fell from the mantel on to the thick glass bowl in which Pittl Sing was dreaming. The candlestick cracked the bowl and knocked a small hole In it about the size of a marble. Pittl Sing, all alone In the drawing room, saw the water that was essential to her existence flowing swiftly forth through the hole, and what do you think she did? She plugged up the leak with her tail, and in'that position I found her on my return an hour or so later. “She had saved her life, but the end of her tall, from exposure to the dry air, was all shriveled and cracked. I had to massage It with cold cream before the poor little thing could swim again.**—Chicago Chronicle. When Animals Wasp. Animals are said to weep from various causes, says Little Folks. Grief at the loss of young ones and mates makes the dog, horse, elephant, rat bear, deer, monkey, donkey, mule, cattle, camel and giraffe shed tears. Sobbing has been proved in-the parrot though this may be mimicry. The stag at bay and the caged rat have been seen to weep, while monkeys have wept when pitied or from terror. The elephant has wept at the loss of-Its liberty and In some cases also from vexation. The dread of punishment has caused captive chimpanzees and other apes to Weep. Joy, pain, fatigue, thirst ill usage, sympathy, old age, approaching death and petttohness have all drawn tears from animals or at least drives them to a tearful state. A Remarkable Boy. The most remarkable Instance of A human being’s rapid growth and maturity and subsequent decline is one recorded by the French Academy In 1729. It Is that of a boy whose voice changed at the ige of five, whose height at six was live feet six Inches and whose beard was then grown, making him appear to be thirty years old. He had great physical strength and could easily lift and carry a bag of grain weighing 200 pounds. His decline was as rapid as his growth. His hair and beard tamed gray when be was eight years old; at ten he tottered in his walk, his teeth fell out and his hands became palsied. He died at twelve with every sign of extreme old age. Where the Ark Rested. There are two peaks in the range of mountains called Ararat, Great Ararat and Little Ararat, bbt it Is not likely that It was on either of them that, the art: rested after the deluge, says the Chicago News. One of them Is 17,000 feet above sea level, and the other la 18,000 feet, and both of them for about 8,000 feet below their summit are perpetnallv covered with Ice and snow.

rfls believed teat tee resting place of tee ark was on some lower part of the range, for at feet above sea level tee climate Is temperate and harvests are abundant The Ararat mountains are In Armenia and overlook the plain of Arexas. ______ Not What Ho Meant. A gentleman was chiding his son for staying out late at night and said, “Why, when I ,was your age my father itould not allow me to go out of tho house after dark.” “Then you had a nice sort of father, you bad,” said the young profligate. Whereupon the father very rashly vociferated, “I had a confounded sight better one than you have, you young rascal!”—Boy’s Life.