The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-06-15
Written for The Spirit of Democraey,]
-; SO FROM MISSOURI.
DAYTON. Mo June s. Isl

DAYTON, Mo June 8, 1875
Ed SpIRIT: Ga arriving at Pleasant
Hill, Cass County, No, we saw from the
Car window that we had arrived in the
grasshopper country; so we took stop
off for a few days, that we might be able
for ourselves, to learn something OF the
habits and destructive powers OF the
grasshoppers. sa a 10 sgs .0a.l
After exchanging ordinary compli
ments with oil and almost forgotten fa
ces, from Eastern Ohio, We were escort
ed by one of Old Monroe's noble men,
WHO has been residing here for several
years We are now snjoarniug in Cass
and Bates Counties, for the purpose Of
seeing for ourselves the actual condition
:ofithe country. sa35l st
aiOn our journey, or rather wandering,
through the country, we happened upon
one of Old Monroe's old citizens, whose
business it was there. as well as here, to
manufacture the staff Of life into the
more edible form,) Isaac Young, who
gavelus welcome shake of the hand.
and whose good lady, Pop Young, set
before US sumptaous repast, put up in
Monroe County style. s. Mr.. Young is
living in the beautiful village of Dayton,
in the Southern part of Cass County, on
Grand River, and is doing well. i find
| am wandering from grasshopper and
chintz. ss8iad St .tH
aOn the road we have seen but little
that is encouraging The general aspect
of the country is very much as we should
expect to see it if it had been swept with
a fame of fire. perfectly bare and desc
late. The gardens are just as bare and
destitute of vegetation as the day they
were plowed up. The people tell me il
it had not beer for the hopper they
would have plenty of new potatoes as
we'll as other vegetables by this time. d
From newspaper correspondents aud
sensation writers, it has been a difficult
matter with me to know what the west
erni grasshopper was, or whether it, was
grasshopper at all or not; now.the fac
| is, in shape, and size, and in its genera
outlines and habits, prior to its winget
state, it is like the grasshopper of Ohio
! True, it puts on airs and appears to be ,
little more aristocratic, knowing that j
l-asiH soon take to itself wings, rise LII
uhpiiahtly fs-.'>- ~i..A Ara go to its prom
ised land. a5i s4C,e.zl=-,--- ---7-r-s7 .7T1g -
9l AT this writing the grasahopper is be
ginning to migrate. On yesterday / say
bushels, yea, wagon loads, of them seek
ling dry, sunny places, such as fences
logs, &C., to get in the warm sum-
watched and saw them change from tn
common grasshopper to the flying one
The process takes but few minutes
They get in as warm place as they can
the thin cuticie opens on the back an,
legs, the wings commence to unfold. be
ing two pairs OF them sud beautifully
white. As the wings unfold, the gauz
Hike cuticle slips of. ~ SIS s.ala
It takes but q few moments 10 underg
the change, but the new hopper sits 70
aa hour or two almost torpid; then
begins to practice on a small scale, frou
fence to fence or bush to bush, as th
case may be; then, on about the thir,
day Of tswingcd state,i begins to max
its aerial ascent, where il meets its com
rades in myriads. They get very high
We now sum tup our observations
We fnd that there is large. number o
people all through the country who vii
be obliged to have aid to enable them /,
get through until corn can be plante,
and raised, as the hoppers are likely t.
leave in time TO replaut. St Louis i
| giving her own people all the aid the.
Twill need. Cattle are being moved b,
thousands OF head down South. tsG8q
| Tomorrow we will leave for Kansa
and Nebraska. sGitGA b COVERT