Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-11-03
TROvIrENcE.
THE POPLAR DOG.

! THE POPLAR DOG.
| Siroling, few days since. over spot Of
ground, which once bore on its suria, e, an IN
niense grove poplar trees, and beneath whose
cooling shades, we often reclined IN our boy
cessive popularity, those trees enjoyed, and
how fashionable, il once was, 10 have ones
garden decorated with them; and their un-
broaKen shades, emitting their cooling influences
| at the front Of the mansion.
But the grove, was 70 more the last traces
| OF is former beauty were gone; and the re-
inembrancc Of what il once was, was exhibit
ed, IN the majestic statue Of a solitary poplar,
which lowered its branches towards the skies,
and told in the silent language oftru,h, Of the
grace, and beauty, of tho once delightful and
much frequcntsd grove.
The history Of the fall and ruin Of the grove,
affords correct commentary on the freaks Of
fashion; it tells how unstable, uncertain, and
Pickering arc all the notions, calculations. and
fantasies Of man. At the time the poplar
grove, of which we are now speaking, was
planted, that tree of all others, was held in
the highest estimation; and he, who had them
not, was set down az a man ofa corrupt, and
| vitated taste;-as a man devoid of discern
ment, an absolute Lnkumfeede, positive
Noodle. Our fields were lined with them;-
our church-yards were cooled by their shades,
and the streets themselves, were clothed with
! the beautiful foliage of the graceful poplar.
Such excessive popularity, like tina. which is
too often enjoyed by the statesman, was not
calculated to last long. and at an evil hour,
| a general decree of exiernns alton and pros
tration, was pronounced against the mof,end-
ing poplars
Abou, the year 1909, somo wizard, per
haps it was the sagacious Doctor Mitchell
discovered that an offensive worm, vulgariIy
called the "Poplor Dog" infested the tree;
and it was simultaneously declared, through
tho country, that the worm was more poison
Gus than that which infes,s the Nile.
'--- Wbo,r ifeah,
rle' on he ,po'iing win 4, and Goth belle
All corners e he world,'
and war cf persc cut ion and exter nnstion,
was immediately commenced; and, IN a few
years, the numerous poplar groves were pros
trated, and our streets we're no longer encum-
bered with thc;i roots and branches. a thou
| sand dismal stories of the depredations com
mi,ted by the poplar dog, were told; until the
lree became 80 completely an object of terror,
that each school boy stunned il os if it were
| the f,med Upas Of Java.
IL tho midsr of the terror created bv these
dplcfol tales, the credulous and supers'it:ous,
were alarmed toan almost unexampIed degree,
and not a few, were terrified 10 ,her wits end.
| Among others, who suffered IN consequence of
"the poplar dog fever" as the terror created
b. the insect wa, then called, was worthy
mechanic. but a very weak minded man, who
was a. the time engaged in digging a. cellar,
in Broadway, New. York. He had heard
much, and believed more, Of the poisonous
qualities Of the offensive worm, and as he tug
grd at his vocation, he behe'd within a few
yards distant poplar tree; and each moment,
anticipated an attack, from one Of the DEATH
producing reptile. His mind had now become
sadly operated upon, and whilst busily at
work, a small twig fell from the tree, and
struck him upon his cheek.
Terrified, he set up cry Of murder, and in
few moments, became frantic, exclain'ing
that all was over with him, for poplar dog
had alighted upon his face, and lodging there,
was eating its way to bis brains. His terror
was excessive, and the by-s,anders equally
alarmed sont for a physician, who immediate
repaired TO the relief Of the sufferer. On his
arrival, at the scene Of sorrow, he examined
the sufferer, and assured him, that he had re-
ccved no injury, but the man was not to be
appcascd by any consolatory assurances the
physician could offer lie insisted that tho
worm was eating into his flesh, and in the
most piteous notes ofwoe. implored the inter
vening aid Of the Doctor. Discovering tha
the man was labouring under tho effects o
fear, the physician admitted that he had actu
ally been bitten by poplar dog, and promised
TO afford him relief. To carry his views int
execution. lac procured from The tree ,one ofih
worms, and holding il in his hand, unobserv
{ cd by his patient, made an incision in th
/, mans face, and then showing him the worm
assured him that the poison and the insect Ina
, both been removed. The man immedia,cl
recovered, aud though often assured of tn
/ friendly act of imposition. lao would moi be
, lev. tha, no had not been actually bitten, an