The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-08-06
.~.ir Aliye-Beetles as Ornaments,
IS ..,,;ootions for this nAy,or ahoula Ia

US box, Out walked monster bee
~ fnlIy four inches in length. About :
~ hody was a solid gold band, locked
Sy tiny paddock, to which was at
..chsd a costly gold chain, about two (
;aches in length, fastened to a pin. The
hsetle's back glistened in light, having
Ssen treated to dress of gold, and as
ammbered along its long legs worked
.ooethcr in curious fashion. sits a
shawl-pin. You see the pin is used to
hsten lace or shawl, or perhaps worn
IN the bonnet, the insect crawling
around the length of the chain. They
arc perfectly harmless and not expen-
aiye, as they live on air-that is, they
have never been seen to eat. This one
was brought here to mount, which is a
yery fine operation, as the legs and an
tenna are all so delicate. After all,
there is nothing Objectionable about
them, except the idea of having them
crawl over you. They all come from
South America, and the only lot in the
city is to be taken to France, where the
owner will try to introduce the fashion
Of wearing them. They cost from ten
70 fifty dollars, depending entirely on
the amount of the ring. There is
nothing cruel about it, as they are
bound loosely, and the gold has no effect
upon their hard sides.''
In Brazil the fashion of wearing bee
ties is carried to great extent. A
Vell-known resident has beetle with
collar of gold which meets at the top
and is there ornamented with a dia-
mond of great value. The insect has
cage, surrounded by the plants among
which it lives in its native state, and
nothing Is neglected to make it as COM
sbrtable as possible. But the most pop
1 ular insect used for an ornament in
| Brazil Is small phosphorescent beetle.
Thee are often worn fastened in the
| hair, and rs the two phosphorescent or
! light-giving spots are on the sides OF the
head, the black insect is, of course, in
Visible, especially when in the raven
locks of the fair Brazilians. Twenty
Tor thirty of these beetles will
throw out light sufficient to read
Inv, i. aud when arranged around
fEe head in a circle, or grouped over
he forehead and helG. in place, the ef-
feet is beautiful.
~ Several wears ago New York lady
gave masquerade ball at her summer
house in Newport. The dancing was
on the lawn, and the guests were re-
q,,estetl to be there half an hour before
idark. The hostess wore, the costume Of
might, and il the daylight her black silk
dress, covered with ivy leaves, did not
attract special attention, but when she
appeared in the gay throng after dark
she presented perfect blaze OF light.
'and was the center of the admiring and
wondering company. Tremulous waves
Iof red and yellow flame seemed to nove
lover her entire dress, while in a cap
ION her head cleaned one great fiery
star. The cause Of this illumination
was the phosphorescent light Of more
than five thousand frefes. For week;
previous to the ball the designer OF the
costume had been storing away firetlies
and on the day OF the fete they were
rapidly put on the dress. As the light
giving spot is on the ventral surface
each one was placed on its back ane
held down by o Ane silver wire, SO sSlN
sfully caught that it could not turn oye1
or ESCAPE, and was not injured. Thu
star was formed of many beetles.
In Jamaicaa large beetle, the lampy
sris. is used by ladies. Some ofthe phos
sphorescent sbeetles used by them Civ
tout lights that have to be seen to be ap
fpreeiated, and more than twenty differ
8ent kinds are used, representing as man.
different degrees Of light, shade, tint
setc. One, the pygolampis, has q ric
sorange color, changing to yellow, flick
sering in intermittent flashes Of light
another, called photuris, is curious TO
the gradual increase of light it shows
commencing with faint reddish hue,
rapidly grows in brilliancy, finally bla'
ING Ike torch, a rich green light, an
then dying away to reappear agar
They attract other light-eiving beetle
sand frequently numbers of lesser ligh
care seen fitting around them, combinin
sfed and yellow lights OF the create
Sbrilliancy. Other uses are made Of the
beautiful creatures than as ornament
Travellers have fastened them to the
feet and carried them in baskets OF vic
Ter TO light the way in the dar
SSonthey mentions this in the followlr
FINES in, his poem, :" Madoc :sa4s
she beckoned, and descended, and drew out
From underneath her vest o cage, or net
Il ruther might be called, SO fine the twigs
Which knit y, where. coaaped' two freh'
Their isIer.
the aA, linoffensive green sn'skes b
inf the most popular, on account
teir beauty and harmless nssSye. Tn
Oil around tie arm, clinging on VI
n the 1enacity Of their golden, bet
Ned imiiatorS that are now % fashion
4. Animals, or parts Of them.
oueh naturally the adiuncts Of b
bkric splendor, arc greatly used in :
mAke.uip Of fashionable toilets OF
present day. Some Of the handsom
sadeVe.buttons and studs ate made
1dfished fish.skifi- sharks or doghsh
,ihe preferred, !. - they take a'tlne polil
and closely resemble the fossil co
i{syosite, that Is also used, and WI
highly polished the delicate cells I!
vere once the home Of the coral POI
a. distinctly visible, and . awhole
lusmblcs honey comb. w, @
g An expensive costnrie was 9 g
aade of an extremely rare hnmml
lid. The whole bird was hardly lar
,than ones thumb, and on " breaa
single patch Of gold was found about
llhcR III length. The cloak was 9!
sHoyAd wholly Of these patches, ana
~ sunlight nust have visds with igoks
iAoaCe. The birds NJ valued q :
sAnllAxs Zach. Ti2fu,f -