The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-29

Then Is reading suspended recreation Old gloves
are treasure. The presence of veteran cigar
smoker is prize. Fans are luxury. Woe t,
that person who becomes immersed in thought, O
interested in conversation, or overcome by drow
slness In exposed situations. In ten minutes time
mosquitoes have duly marked him as a rash man
and on the morrow his mirror will become slg
gestlve Of smallpox; and his cologne bottle anc
fiesh-brush will find active employment in the
duties Of the toilet s,.s.5, - -.f-r ~ -.s
One retires to rest, and, with as much of the ra.
pidlty OF lightning can be employed by nervou:
fingers, draws his bar of netting and duly tucks il
In; forming wall secure against the assaults and
mining and sapping operations of the whole mos.
quito army. Behind this he lies until morning
and can sing to his hearts content beneath COO
shades reposing" with an orchestral accompani-
ment whose only fault is its monotony %
There is much of science to be displayed in get
ting beneath this netting of the bed SO that none OF
the hungry s#arms accompany you. found it no
Dad plan to institute fegned attack upon one side,
thus drawing thitherward every insect in the room
escape them thence into the snug quarters of your
bed. Or taking corner seat for few moments
as If about to read ; and when the willy insects are
beguIled towards you make the same rapid march
tor the further corner of the bed. Perhaps often
there VIII be few mosquitoes who have already
obtained an entrance admitted to the bar under
some new constitution and without an examna-
fon), after ingeniousy plotting and planning
through the daylight like the burglars they are
These must he carefully assassinated, while some
good friend without or your body servant holds the
light IN assistance of the tedious search that must
sometimes supervene before the prey be ensnared
In default of the friend or the body servant little
experience, and an attentive ear, will make you a
sharp shooter even in the shade of night as guided
Dy the. hummlng OF the enemy, you track him to
execution
Old jokers will tell you of mosquitoes who con.
temptuously spurn bars and netting, and who will
CRIB your bed of straw, or even mattress hair and
suck you, julep-wise, from without. But this is
scan mag. against the whole insect tribe, and Por-
ter Of the Picayune" should long ago have been
assessed in damages for the story. r... -.
Cunning and sagacity are eminent characters
tics OF the mosquitoes of New Orleans. Those who
in the daylight most do congregate, know a cane
backed chair a rooms length off They can de-
tect slight break of leather in your boots as soon
as brought within their reach. They are sworn
enemies to holes in the elbows, or short arm coat
cufis or low shoes, or bare necks, or gaping shirt
1rLls. And man In their company need examine
well his hat before tipping his head with it, or
combing and brushing of hair will become rather
an exercise than mere duty of the toilet.
But joking and metaphor aside, the mosquitoes
OF New Orleans deserve distinct niche in the
temple OF its history. They are parts and parcels
OF Its population; coming between the negroes and
the mules in nuisance valuation and far before
all men, women, and children in point of numbers
They are differently sized, and differently shaped,
and differently armed, and differently aged, and
differently educated, according as they are in DIFF
ferent sections of the city. The first municipality
possesses its mosquito denizen who has become
torpid, sluggish, and lazy. Then there are the
mosquitoes of the second municipality, who are
active, energetic, enterprising who get fat on Dor
rowed capital, who serve and receipt their own
bills, who are always active and vigilant Some
of them are dainty, and associate only with fat peo
pie whose Nightmares are based upon turtle steaks
and oyster pies. Others have promscuous appe-
lite, and cling to draymen, hoosier, and banker
with equal tenacity. Some are deficient in instinct
and suffer, or die unknown and unregretted in
lamp corners of closets and on dusty window
panes, while their more shrewd and crafty brethren
get fat and audacious Some live through MANY sea-
sons seemingly smelling frosty day twelve hours
of, and duly housing in some cast off garment which
prudent observation has taught them will not be
called into active service; seeking the friendly
lid OF warm chimney corner whittier no dust cloth
or broom of vigilant holsemaids may track them
Some have eyes keen as their bills these are on
he day watch, who are old the moment they come
INTO this breathing world, to Judge from the grew
hess of their moustache and hair and will watch
rom corner of the room until you. are absorbed
reading or writing, or in reflection, then making
sudden dash, lance you, take a long pull like |
animation; whilst you are left to scratch and rub
It leisure the small sized mountain raised upon the
lace Of their small visitation by the poison left
'ehind. These do not expose themselves to assas-
nation; but are wary and watchful Speaking |
Ia mitaire, if you are eyes right they have left
you eyes 'front.' they fall on your rear if your
yes are all over, they are nowhere. If you strive
any time to clutch or imprison them in the closing
aims, you will find that, Macbeth-like, you had |
ut clutched an airy and unsubstantial vision. .
So much for rain and mosquitoes in NewOrleans. |
sut advise you, reader, neither on the faith of my
presentations (rue gospel though they are) nor
n those of any one else, TO throw either topic in |
he teeth of your true blooded Crescent citizen. |
fe rather likes them than otherwise; and calls |
hem agreeable peculiarities of climate, as your |
speaks of mud, and your Bostonian of |
ero weather or easterly winds over Cambridgeport
ridge. ~. StgazqarS