The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-07-24

THE SpIDER.-.4stonishin CurioSity.-On the
evening OF the 18th ult. gentleman OF this VII
age, found in his wine cellar, live striped
snake, nine inches in length, suspended between
two shelves, by the tail, by spiders web Inc
snake hung so that he could not reach the shelf
below him by about an inch; and several large
spiders were then upon him sucking his JUICE.
The shelves We're about two feet apart; the low
er one was Just below the bottom of the cellar
window, through which the snake probably pas
sed into it. From the shelf above there was
web in the shape of an inverted cone eight or
ten inches in diameter ct the top, and concen-
trated TO a focus about six or eight inches from
the under side of this shelf From this focus
there was a strong cord made of the multiplied
thread Of spiders web, apparently large as
common sewing silk, and by this cord the
snake was suspended.
Upon critical examination through magni-
fyng glass, the following curious facts appeared
The mouth of the snake was fast tied up, by
great number of cords wound round it so tight
that he could not run out his tongue His tai
was tied in knot, so as 10 loave small loop
or ring, through which the cord was fastened;
and the end OF the tail above the loop to the
length of something like over half an inch was
dashed fast to the cord, to keep it from slipping.
AS the snake hung, the length ofthe cord, from
the tail to the focus to which it was fastened,
was about six inches;a little above the tail there
was observed around ball about the size of apea.
Upon inSpceiion, this appeared to he green
fly,> around which cord had been fastened to
the cord above, and from the rolling side of the
ball, to keep it from unwinding and letting the
snake down.
The cord therefore, must have extended from
the focus ofihe web 10 the shelf below where
the snake was lying when first captured; the fly
was carried and fastened about midway to the
side of the cord. And then by rolling this fly
over and over, it wound around it, both from a
bove and below until the snake was raised 70
the proper height, and then was fastened as be-
fore mentioned.
In this situation the poor snake hung alive, and
furnishing a continued feast for several large
spiders, until Saturday afternoon the 10th, when
some persons, Ivy playing with him, broke the
web above the focus, so as to let part OF his body
rest on the shelf below. In this situation he lin
gered, the spiders taking no notice of him, until
Thursday last, eight days after he was discover
ed when some large ants found devouring
his dead body-f'ataUa w " Times.
II is seldom indeed, says the Louisville Jour-
nal that we meet with an article so strong and
beautiful as the following from that model of
newspapers, the Frankfort Commonwealth 1t
really does ones heart good to read such an elo-
quent oupouring Of truth and patriotism:
THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE PEOPLE.
The true sovereigns, the great people of the
United States, have been in motion, and, when
they move, broad path is made which can be
seen from affair." and followed without danger of
deviating into crooked WAYS. Unlike the foot
steps of General Jackson, that lustrous pred
ecessor" of Van Buren,, they do not tread down
the rich products of nations ndustry-they
do not crush the many, that the few may ride,
they do not break up the barriers erected by
patriotic caution against fOctious asceniences--
they do not make the land solitude and call it
NOS hlt hav TN fha
sum OF happiness or to prevent the success of
schemes, which if contaminated, would make
confusion COMPOUNDED, and pollute the
very fountains ofliberty by concentrating all that
was corrupt in those high places which sooner
or later in every country give tone to manners
and mould the social ethics of the nation.
This popular movement has not, like the Gulf
stream, commenced in one latitude aud increas-
ed in i'm Jeuosity as it whi,led around capes and
pronontories but it has broken oui smultane-
ously, in various sections, g. its collected energies
will soon he felt laundering at the gates of the
Presidential palace. If we look to the North, we
find upon the verge of the national boundary,
the State of Maine arraying herself against the
favorte policy of Van Buren,: Massachusetts
stands where she stood when every foot of earth
was made holy ground by the master spirits of
the Revolution. Rhode Island has J,ist come
out of the conflict and, as has been wItily said,
has discharged her Duty Connecticut, tired
OF notions, comes DacK again 10 het steady tbOIS
and habits aud the first fruits of her regeneration
are a>Whig Senate, Wing House Of Represen-
tafives, and Wing Governor-proot sufficient
thar her penence sincere, and her CONVEX
sion real Vermont needed no awakening-the
Green Mountain Boys could breathe no other at
mosphere than that of the purest freedom. NEW
YORK, the Empire State, nation within her.
SELF like the Spartan mothers of old, looks upon
her dwarfsh bantling with revolving sensations,
and loathes it. She has made her footstep, and a
mighty one itis 1t makes the earth to remble,
and perpexes ill-gotten power, with a fear of
change.' New Jersey-who has not heard of
the Jersey blue, 10 his country true? and the
supremacy of the Wings shows that the old stock
has not failed in the new. Delaware, whole
soulcd little Delaware! who could keep her from
forming in the line which is marching to Wash
little star, like the little coporal,"
makes up i'm lnstre whatit wants in size. Mary
land has long contended with all odds against her,