Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-11-13
ASTONISHING \ FEAT.

What creatures so rfpulsive as rats and spi-
ders? Yet the Londn Quarterly finds some
thing beautiful and wen oveabie in The for
mer, and DIR. Asa Ficii, in Harpcr's Month
Iy, labors to show ttat the latter ssdelicate
objects are worthy If our esteem and ad-
mration He denies that their bite is fatal
TO any but insects, aid extols their agility,
adroitness, sagacity, and heroisnl, as worthy
Of all praise. In support of these views, he
tells the following cuiols story concerning
heroic spider that lapturcd snake. The
affair came off last summer, in the store Of
Mr.. Charles Cook, in The village of Havana,
Chenung county, New York, and is attested
by the Hon. \. B. Dickinson, of Corning,
who himself Witnessed the phenomenon, as
did more than bundled other persons:
An ordinary looking spider, vf dark
color, its body not larger than common
house-hy, had taken up its residence, it ap-
pears. on the under side of a shelf beneath
the counter of Dir. Coot's store. What may
we suppose was the surprise aud consterna-
tion OF this little animal, on discovering a
snake about foot long selecting for his
abode the floor underneath, only two or three
spans distant iroIu its nest. 1t was com
mon silk suake, which perhaps had been
brought into the store unseen in quantity
of sawdust with which tue floor had been
recently ''carpeted." The spider was well
aware, lio doubt, that il would inevitably
fall prey TO this llorrid monster, the frst
time it should iucautiousiy venture within
its reach. We should expect that, to avoid
such horrible doom, it would forsake its
present abode. and seek more secure re-
treat elsewhere. But il is not improbable
that brood Of It's eggs or young was
secreted near the spot, which the parent
foresaw would Fall prey 10 this monster, if
they were abandoned BY their natural
guardian and protector. We can conceive
= 40 eahcr n,4tiye -sliisasesssss's s''-' =
duced the spider so pertinaciously to remain
and defend that particular spot, at the in,-
minent risk of her own life, when she could
so easily Lave fled, and established herself
in some secure corner elsewhere.
But how, we may we'll ask, was it pos
siblc for such weak, tender little creature
to combat such powerful, mail-clad giant!
What power had she to do any thing which
could subject the monster 10 even tie
slightest Inconvenience or molestationa-
Har ordinary resort, that of feticring and
binding her victim, by throwing her threads
of cobweb around il, it is plain would be Of
ne more avail here than the cords upon the
limbs of the unshorn Saesoa.
Aware that her accustomed modo of at
tack was useless, how did she acquire the
knowledge and sagacity requisite for de-
yising another, adapted 50 exactly to the
case in haud, de pending upon tho structure
and habits of the serpent, TO aid III rendering
it succeSsful9 How was she able to perceive
that it was in her power TO wind loop Of
her threads around this creatures throat
despite of all bis cudearrs to foil her in
this work, loop of sufficient strength to
hold him securely, notwithstanding his
struggles and writings, until by her tackle
like power she could gradually hoist him up
from the floor, thus ltenlly hanging him by
the neck until he was dad! for this was the
feat which this adroit little heroine actually
performed, a feat beside which all the fabulous
exploits of Hercules inovcrpowering lions
and serpents aud dragoe sink into utter in-
significance. And whocan say that, in the
planning and executionof this stupendous
achievement, there wasnot foresight, rea-
sonipg, careful weigbig of all the diff
cuities and dangers, an, clear perception
in the mind of this littl{creature that she
possessed the ability to ccomplish what she
undertook-in short, an.xercise of faculties
Of much higher order han the mere in
stiuct which is commoui supposed to guide
and govern the lower annals in all their
achievements?
: By whut ariiiee the pider was able, in
the first of its attack, tsaccowplish what it
did, we car only conjecture, as its work was
not discovered until thenost daring and DIFF
} ficult part of its feat la besh performed
, When first seen, it had,lacsd loop round
, the neck of the serper, from the top Of
which single thread as carried upward.
and attached to the uner-side of the shelf,
whereby the head of tb serpent was drawn
ND about two inches finn the floor. The
snake was moving roan and round inces-
? sanity, in circle, aA ittethsr would allow
wholly unable to gst it head down to the
! floor or withdraw it fro the moose; while
the heroic little spider, ,exulting, no doubt,
in the success of its ex!oit, which was now
I sure beyond peradsefure, was ever and
anon passing dcsn to u loop and up to the
!, gheif, adding thereby q additional strand
!. 10 tia .hsead, esoh Of wich new strands, bs'