Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-11-12

JNiiN 49, Nt So VI ttNh'' ~ pArl liS-
IN 1852 IN the Governors aJ66rity of from 2oC
to So"
( Marriage.-One of the most remarkable
features Of this extraordinary institution ie,
the successive changes it undergees in the
course of it's history, When the young hus-
band and wife enter upon their new relation,
how little do they foresee what is before them
As they take possession, for the first time, OF
their new house, and enjoy its cheering as
pect, its regularity and quiet, and its express
| sion of domestic peace and Joy, how little do
they anticipate the deep and yet unseen foun-
tains ofjoy and sorrow which lie in their fu-
ture way In a few years how changed
| One after another has been added III various
ways to the company which began only with
two, until at lenght they find themselves
| presiding over a numerous circle of children,
and relatives, and domeStICs the father and
mother both involved in responsibilities from
which they would have altogether shrunk had
they anticipated them at the beginning. In
a few years this happy circle must be broken
10 upon and scattered. Death cones in and
makes one and another his prey {; others grs-
duaiiy arrive at maturity, and leave their IA
theirs rosf to seek other homes, and TO return
no more to the ark which sheltered them at
first and, at last the father and mother are
left alone, to spend their declining years at
the solitary tireside, to look back upon scenes
Of activity, and trial, and enjoyment, which
can never return. Such is the outline of the
history of thousands Of families.
SLAVE ANTs-The most remarkable fact
connected with the history Of ants is the pre-
pensity manifested by certain spece.s to Id
nap the workers Of other species, and compel
them TO labor for the community, thus using
them AS slaves; and far as we yet know, the
kidnappers ar redder pale coiered ants and
the slaves like the i'll treated slaves of Africa,
are Of a jet black-The time of capturing
slaves extends over ten weeks, and never
Commences until the male and female ants
are abut emerging from the pupa state and
thus the ruthless marauders never interfere
with the continuation of the species. This
instinct seems specially provided for we've
The slave ants created for no other end than
to fill the station of slavery to which they ap-
pear to be doomed, still even that office must
fail were The attacks to be made on their nests
before the winged myriads have departed or
are departing, charged with the duty of con-
tInuing their kind. When the red ants are
about 10 sally on a marauding expedition, they
send scouts to ascertain the exact position in
woich a colony of negroes may be found /;
these scouts, having discovered the object Of
search, return to their uesI and report their
success. Shortly afterwards the army Of red
ants marches, forth headed by a vanguard,
Wht"h is perpe'ullly changing the lndivldu-
ais which constitute il, when they have az
vanced a little before the main body hating,
falling into the rear, and being replaced by
others; this vanguard consists Of eight or ten
ants only. When they have arrived at the
negro colony, theydisperse, wandering through
the heritage, and hunting about, as aware o.
the propinquity of the object Of Their search,
yet ignorant Of their exact position. At last
they discover the settIcmc@t-aGa the fore
most Of the invaders. rushing inpetuousIy to
the attack, are met, grapDted with, and fire.
quently killed by the negroes on the outside
The alarm is quickly communicated to the in
terror Of the nest-the negroes sally forth in
thousands, and the red ants rushing forward
to the rescue, a desperate conflict ensues-f
which however always terminates in the de.g
feat of the negroes, who retire to the inner
most recesses OF their habltation. Now fol-
lows the sGene of piilage the red ants with
their powerful mandibles tear oren the sides
of the negro ant hill, ant rush into the heat
of The citadel; in a few minutes each of the
invaders energies, carrying in its mouth the
Dupa Of d negro, which it has obtained in spite
Of the vigilance and valor Of its natural guaI-
The red ants return in perfect order
to their nests, bearing with them thei, living
On reaching the nest the pupa ap-
pear to be treated precisely as their own, and
the workers, when they emerge, perform the
various duties of the community with the
greatest energy and apparent good will they
the nest; excaVa'e passages, collect
ood, feed the larvR, take the pupa into the
sunshine. and perform every office which the
Welfare of the colony seems to require-in
they conduct themselves entirely as if
utilizing their original Observation-Disclosures
history Of insects.