Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-16
CAPRICES OF BEES.

lis a popularity Of bees that they will
sutfer some men 10 handle them with impu-
nifty. Wildman vas = man who seems to have
lad an unusual attraction for them, or com
maud over them As he termed II, though
it's not easy % comprehend how man could
have commanded over four or five thousand
insects. On one occasion he paid visit 10
DR.. TempletOu, the then secretary Of the So
cietv Tor the encouragement OF arts, 90 prove
10 HIM how bees submitted 20 his influence.
lie IVES brought through the city in a sedan
chair, aud il Is 20 be- presumed, into the doc
to-'s room, for when he presented himself his
head and face we're covered With bees, and a
huge cluster Of them hung down like beard
from his chin. Notwithstanding this novel
aDpearauce. he conVersed with the ladies' and
gentlemen who we're present for consider
able time without disturbing the insects, and
finally dismissed them TO their hives withOu.
ANYBODY being stung. The fame OF his per
f5rmance having reached Lord Spencer, he
invited him 20 Wimbledon 10 meet q large
party Of his friends. The countess had pro-
vided three stocks for the occasion. He first
took one OF the hives aud emptied the liy-
ing occupants into his hat, TO show that il
was not necessary 10 destroy the bees in Or
der 20 deprive them of their honey. He
next presented himself with colony hang
ING about his head from his chin, and then
stepping out OF a window on the lawn,
where be had directed a table covered
with a clean cloth % be placed, he put
them back into the hive. He then made
them come back again aud swarm in the
air, after which he caused them % settle
on tho table, and from thence he took
them up by handfulls, and poured them
NhawH bod NO snrEa
feeling than pebbles, and finally concluded
this portion of the entertainment by causing
them 10 re.euter their hive. His lordship
vas TOO unwell 20 be present az these eX-
perimeats, so, later in the afternoon, he was
taken into bis lordship's room with all three
of the stocks hanging about him at one
time. one on his head, one on his breast, and
the other on his arm, from which place he
afterwards transferred them 10 his face so
ne was quite blinded, and was led in this
condition 10 the lawn in front Of his lord
sim, window. He next requested that a
norm might be brought around, which was
done. the horse having first been well clothed
10 guard agains. accidents. FIRST taking the
bees GU, OF his eyes that be might see what
h yaS about, he mounted the horse with
the bees hanging about him, and rode back
war Is and forwards repeatedly, until the
company had seen enough Of his perform
ance, when he dismounted aud placed the
bees on the table, from whence he dismissed
them TO their respective hives. IL is worthy
of remark that though there were a great
many persons present on this, as on the
previous occasion, yet nobody was stung.-
il Is in reality impossible to explain why
they should favor one individual more than
another, but they certainly do so. IL is
-elated OF a Duchess OF Rutland that a swarm
Followed her all the way from the country to
a house 10 Berkley square, where they were
bfgef. Accident has sometimes led 70 what
Wildman did not deign. A woman named
Bennett, living near Birmingham, was beat
ing a frying pan with key, TO keep the
swarm from going away, when they all Al
once settled upon her head, neck and Shout
ders. Luckily for her she was \ woman OF
nerve, aud instead Of making efforts TO
brush them OF, which would have probably
caused her to be stung TO death, she kept
quiet. notwithstanding an occasional sting
from bees which had eraWled underneath
her clothes, and which were probably irri-
tated from being unable 20 get out. When
the evening came they were hiVed IN the
usual way.-AH the Year Round.