The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-02-13

CAN ANTS mo one has
studied the habits Of "onr six legged
rivalsn without becoming impressed
by their ability tn, communicate with
each other, and the wide range of in
teligence which they seem tn he able
to convey. Information Of common
danger is quickly spread throughout
colonies numbering many thousands,
the news being brought by perhaps
one Or two spies. Hitherto their mode
of communication has been mystery,
the most plausible hypothesis sbeing
that it was by sort of fencing with
the antenna. Thus an ant returning
from a foraging expedition meets an
other outward bound. They stop,
strike antennH together few times,
then proceed, No. to the nest, No. 9
setting of on new course and going
straight to the place where No. found
her load. 1t would now appear that
the striking Of antenp@ is merely
sort Of salutati0n. as two neighbors
might shake hands, while converse
ton goes on by other means. At any
rate, according to the report of Pro-
fessor Landois to the NATURAL History
Society of Prnssian Rhineland, they
are provided with a sounding appar-
at"b resembling that of the sand wasp.
To have implies to use and though
its pitch is generally inaudible to hu-
man ears, its range of tone may be
ample for fully developed language.
We say generally inandible,D not
withstanding Professor Lapdois' be
lief that it is always so, having more
than once noticed a faint strident,
kissing soundproceeding from columns
of large ants when annoyed. The next
thing in order is an apparatus for
making inaudible sounds audible, as
invisible rays are made luminous
then some enterprising student may
give ns a comparative grammar of
formic idioms.-Scientifc american.
THE OLD STORY late election
in Louisiana was undoubtedly as
honestly and fairly conducted as any
ever held in that State. The Return
ing Board was composed of prom
inent men, of good character, and re-
presenting both parties. 1t was gen.
orally conceded on all sides that what
ever the result of the election should
be, it would be accepted as fair ex-
preston Of the public will. In spite
Of Democratic intimidations in the
country parishes, and the secret efforts
of the White Leagues, the State has
again gone Republican. Now we have
the old story repeated: =" Fraud at
the polls! Frand with the Returning
Board Fraud everywhere, except in
the Democratic vote The people
will revolt against the verdict" The
sooner this political nonsense is
stopped the better. The people Of
Louisiana have declared in favor of
the Republican party. The minority
must submit to that decision, or leave
the State. Ifa defeated party is to
revolutionize a State, and appeal from
the ballot to the bullet, we may as
we'll bid good by to republican form
of government. Our advice to the
Democrats of New Orleans is, to stop
this suicidal policy of seeking to over
throw the constituted authorities. If
they continue to practice it, their city
will sink still deeper in trouble. Ii
they wish to become prosperous, let
them dew ote their time and energies
to the work Of recovering the internal
commerce which they have lost. The
freights of the West should be invited
to their wharves. Half the time aud
capital thrown away in this foolish
political crusade, applied to the COM
merciM question, would restore New
Orleans to her old-time position of
one of the leading commercial cities
on the continent.-RepubE