The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-14

Pusneu DIS cane into the hill there forthwith
rushed out upon him. nipped him with their
pincers, and show ed tho greatest rape AGAINST
the invader of their kingdom, while others
Ml.n Great CELEBRITY placed the eggs in safety
he observed that the ants gave NO quarter and
considered every one q mortal enemy who dis
turbed their state.
The young man sat on a stone and examined
snail that crawled slowly from the wet grass
IL carried a gray house on its back, and be-
siimed the way ~ it went, and stretched out
ITS horns to discover the best direction. Its
delicate touch astonished Frank. When OBJ
stacies came in its way which it did not see
nor touch. 1t would perceive them by means OF
wonderful sensibiiity.
How stupid did Richard appear to himself,
beside n horned, blind snail. How many men
only discover obstacles in their way when they
nave run their heads against them and how
many wish to run their heads through walls
without any reason! He arose and looked to-
ward Angelas home. He was detected. aud
heaved a sigh.
AN is Of no avail The activity of the an
| ima1 world affords no diversion, the benumbing
strokes of Eaterialism lose their effect The
rare becomes common, and does not attract at
| tention. There walks an angel in the splendor
OF superior excellence, and endeavor in vain
to distract my mind from her by studying the
animals. I follow willingly the profe ssor's
exact Investigations, into the laby rinth of
their studied arguments to make it appear
| is only Imagination and fallacy. 1t is all in
vain Can these gentlemen teach me how we
can cease " to have admiration for the noble
| through. Here self, irresistible and disguised
with error, brings the nobility of human ma
ture TO consciousness, and all the wisdom Of
boasted materialism becomes idle nonsense "
Thank God, I see you again, my dear
ne'ghbor," said Siegwart cordially. "Where
have you kept yourself this weekf Why do
yon no longer visit usf My whole house is ex-
cannot show you the horses he bought lately.
My wife bothers her head with ali kinds of
forebodings, and Angela urged me to send and
! see If yon were ill.,"
A new life permeated Franks whole being at
these last words; his cheeks flushed and his
langnld eyes brigh Gened up.
know no good reason as an apology, dear
friend. Be assured, however, that the appar-
emit neglect does not arise from any GOODNESS
to wards you aud your esteemed family" And
he drew marks in the sand with his cane
| visits to us 7"
"Oh, no! No, alone am to blame"
eiegwart gave searching glance at the pale
face of the young man who, broken spirited
stood before him. and whose mental oopditon
ne did not understand, although he had a
vague idea of it.
81 will not press you further" said be cheer
FULLY. But, as punishment, you must now
come with me 1 received yesterday, a fresh
supply of genuine Havanas, and you must try
He took Richard by tho arm. and tho latter
yielded to the friendly compulsion. They
went through the vineyard. Frank broke
from w & folded leaf.
do you know the cause of this ~
"Ob, yes it is the work of the vine weeviln
answered Slegwart. "These mischief makers
sometimes cause great damage to the Vine
Some years have their nests gathered and the
eggs destroyed to prevent their doing dam
age"
You consider everything with the eyes Of
an economist. But admire the art, the fore
sight and the intelligence of these insects"
"Inteliigence-foresigh of an insect " re-
peated Siegwart, astonshed. 81 sec in the
sight"
But inst look here" said Richard, carefully
unfolding the leaf "What . degree of con-
slderate management is necessary to fix the
leaf in such order. The ribs of this leaf are
stronger than the force of the beetle. Yet he
wished to fold the eggs in it. What does he
dol He first pierces the stem with his pincers;
in consequenoe Of this, the leaf curls mp and
the insect. This is the first act of reflection
The piercing of the stem had evidently AZ its
object to csuse the leaf to roll up. Then he
De 6eg,ns to work with perfection that would
IN order to put the eggs in the folds. Here is
the first egg; he rolls further-here is the SEQ
ond egg, some distance from the first, in order
to have sufficient food for the young worm
again an act of reflection; lastly, he tinlshes
the roll with carefully worked point, to pre-
vent the leaf from unfolding-again an act of
reflection"
Siegwart heard all this with Indifference
What Richard told him he had known for
years. His employment in the fields revealed
to bis observing mind wonderful facts in ma
ture and in the animal world. The wisdom of
the vine-weevil gave him difficulty. lie
looked again in Franks deep-sunken eyes aud
noticed a peculiar expression, and in his coun-
tenance great anxiety.
He concluded that the work of the vine
weevil must have some connection with the
young mans condition."
" You see actions of reflection and desirn
where see only unconscious instinct"
Frank became nervous.
The common evasion of superficial exam- |
nation " cried he. Man must be lust even tn |
the animals. The works are artistic, inteli |
gent and considerable. Why then deny to ami
mails those powers which operate with intelli- |
gence and reflection Z"
:" do not for q moment dispute the power
of the animals" replied the proprietor quickly. |
You find mind in the animals Z" interrnpted
Frank hastily. "This conviction once reached.
nave yon considered the consequences that fol.
low !" and he became more excited. "Havs
you considered that with this admission the
whole werld becomes o fabulous structure |
without any higher objectf If the spider is
aQual to man. then its torn web that flutters
n the wind is worth much as the crumbline !
fragments of art which remain from classic
antiquity. Virtue, the careful restraining of
me passions, is stark madness. The disgusting
lpe, lustful and british, is as good as the
1urest virgin who performs severe penances
or her idle Dreams It is with justice that the
criminal SCOTS at the good as bedlamites who, !