The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-27
I.ncuSt Y<0r.

The seven teen year locusts make their ap-
rearsnce this year. They may be expected in
the mon tn Of May. They appear, We believe,
an different districts during di iYerent years
The locust district which we inhabit Is bound.
ed on the west by the Blue Ridge or Allegheny,
we forget which. The locusts ascend to the
top OF the ridge. but do not go west of it, Next
year, II Will be locust year west of the line
How far the district west Of that which Is our
western boundary extends, we do not know.
We recollect that it was locust year in Ken
lucky in 1888, for we witnessed II, and We're
told II had been locust year there in 1921, and
IN ieti. Tae last locust year here was in 1913
and We saw that, too, so that We witnessed two
in five years. We very we'll recollect that OF
is26, and we heard many persons speak OF that
of 1859 In the last manned year the fibres ON
the wings of the locusts bore, rs we believe
they generally do certain resemblance to the
letter w" We have heard people inclined
80 superstition. say it undoubtedly stood for
War which. however, did not come until
three years afterwards. The times however
were ticklish. Embargoes, neutrality-suspicious.,
Gunboats. and all the prelimnaries OF hostili
ties, We're the commoa topics of the day. The
public mind was IN gloomy state and sought
any means Of finding it's way through the dark
clouds that hung over the future. What let
ter the approaching generation will bear upon
their wings, we know not. But we presume,
If they have any voice in the matter they will
Try 10 keep up their prophetic reputation.
Long these locust have been the subject
Of examination and discussion, they appear
even row, To be mperfectly understood. The
most absurd rumors are always spread with
regard 10 them. In Kentucky we heard many
tales of their singing 10 death those who han
died them. We do not believe any Of these
tales We're ever verified. 1t was said also that
hogs We're poisoned by them, when allowed to
eat them. This. too, we suspect, was said with
out uuthority. In Virginia, in 1913, the same
tales We're repeated, occasionally finding their
way into print Here, too, we could never
trace any of them to their source.
The earliest account we are familiar with,
III connexion with the appearance of these
insects is that contained in the narrative OF
BACoN's rebellion, written by some person
who held an official station in the colony and
sent home for the use of the Colonial Office in
England. 1t was repubished by Mr.. MAY
WELL many years ago. There was a locust
season, i, appears, in the year 1873. The wri-
Ter says the colonists were very much alarmed
Al the phenomenon, and regarded it as a prog
10 the same opinion, and thinks it was full
filled by the inCursion of the Indians and the
rebellion Of BACON. In the year 1853 there
was a locust season. 1t created very general
apprehension, for the colony was in the midst
OF the ''old French war;" and but three years
before BRADDock, with half his army, had
been destroyed by the French ana Indians.
fortunately, in that instance evil augury was |
not verified, for the next year q uebec was |
taken, and the war in America virtually ended. |
Nevertheless, in 1715, when the season came |
round again, the alarm among the ignorant
and supersttious WAS fully as great as it had
ever been We were then just about to enter
upon the struggle Of the Revolution, and the
public mind was in a gloomy and excitable
condition.
The world is too enlightened now to put
faith in signs or omens. Were it not So the |
times upon which we have fallen are sufii- |
GENTLY gloomy TO justify any Interpretation
that might be placed upon the approaching
seventeen-year phenomenon. Without, how
ever resort!ng TO The wings of an insect to
read the fate Of the Republic, let us hope that
we may safely steer through the difficulties
which beset our path