Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-30
TILE pEsrIFEROusFLY.

unmItigated frauds. The Tunes - parllcu-
| larry severe on the bee, and shows that the
credit il has received for industry by
| improving each shining hour, by gathering
honey from every opening flower, is unjust;
that the bee like every other insect works
for living and will not do this when it can
steal, and that it is a qusrrelsome brawler,
that stings for the mere pleasure Of inficting
pain. The ant il denounced because he ia
STAKEHOLDER, wages wars OF conquest, that
he Is lazy lies in bed until 8 or 10
O'Clock in the morning. Moreover, instead
OF working steadily when he does begin TO
work, he wastes hours in idle lounging,
and that while dozen are found Juggling at
the csrcass of dead beetle, thousands are
standing around with hands in their pockets
or engaged in athletic sports by running
around after each other. II he sees human
foot he ''instsntly insists upon climbing it,
and whenever he finds a practicable opening
between a mans neck and collar he cannot
restrain himself from diving into 1t. His
habits in connection with eating and drink
ing are simply losthsome. He jumps into
the sugar bowl and feasts until he makes
himself i'll; he wadesi through the butter,
when he could with perfect ease stand by the
side OF it and help himself in decent way;
and he actually prefers TO drown himself in
soup and coffee rather than to keep his APP
petite waiting. That the ant has no sting is
a matter upon which we may congratulate
ourselves, for, with his cruel instincts, he
would use il at every opportunity. As it is,
he delights to pinch the flesh of unofending
| human beings, not with any idea OF defend
ing himself from any imaginary danger, but
simply from a vicious love Of inficting pain.
From first TO last he is without one redeem
ing trait, and in comparison with him even
the bee is almost respectable" This is pretty
severe on the bee and ant, but we pre-
sumo it will do them neither much
damage nor change their manners
or morals. 1t strikes us that the time of our
cotemporary could have been more pro6tably
employed in warning upon the pestiferous
fly. The same fructiGying sun which coaKes
the birds to sing and the flowers to bloom
worms into life this pesky insect, and they
are swarming around making an unmiti-
gated nuisance OF themselves. The fly has not
got one redeeming trait and never performs
meritorious act, and has more arrogance and
impudence than bloated bondholder. He
is the most persistent companion of man.
From eighty 10 100 eggs Of the fly are laid
in decomposed vegetation. Within twenty
four hours they hatch into squirmiug mag
goIs, which after rioting in filth till their
tender skins seem ready to burst from reple-
ton, they descend into the earth and in
three or four days, without teaching or
practice the fly wings its way to the house
and commences its work OF deviltry. For
tunsteIy The fly lives only three weeks, but
unfortunately he is succeeded by new
brood which is larger than the first, as the
tribe increases with the growing warmth OF the
sun. In tropical countries the irritation
produced by flies is the chief misery of life
In The absence of anything better, the lower
races of mankind cover their bodies with
films of dirt as shields against these insect
enemies. The tyrants of antiquity used to
smear their naked victims with honey and
subject them TO the flies, which was regarded
as the most cruel Of all punishments. These
iosects have sent many souls 10 perdition by
re iucing ejaculatory profanity to science.
The fly has keen sense of the ludicrous.
He knows the exact locality of the facial
nerves aud takes a malicious delight in
tickling them. He will light upon the
bridge OF the nose while the proprietor is
zing, thence crsvl down TO the ligament
hiatt separates the nostrils and as he feels the
warm breath issuing from the cavity he
seems to think that he who enters here leaves
hope behind, and he pauses at the brink as
Cesar did at the Rubicon. But moved by
curiosity to know what is within he feels
about with his mischievous fingers and when
the victim commences sneezing and cursing
he retreats to the bed-post and enjoys the fun.
More than any other insect the pestiferous
house-fy goads carnal humanity to stormy
bursts of emotion. The fly has just arrived and
is busy buzzing around, making diligent in
quiry as to how we have all spent the win
ter during his enforced absence. There is
no accounting for taste, as is illustrated by
the attack of the New York Times on the bee
and the ant, when the world is infested with
an enemy like the exasperating common
HOUSE uy. 10 lOO vi bhOIt az
quaintance. No privacy is SO sacred that this
pestilent intruder does not make his way TO
its inner depths, without offering apology.
He never waits for an invitation, and rushes
into the bed amber and unblushingly ex-
plores the most guarded secrets. On going
to bed, as Hudibras has it, he sleeps with his
tail above his head, and as the new-risen sun
throws its slanting rays through the lattice
he tickles the nose of the sleepers and gets
ready to Join them in family prayers. He
follows the example OF the dead-beat, for he
loafs about bar-rooms, and partakes OF free
lunches without the least sense OF shame or
degradation. He eats and drinks at the ex-
pense Of others without the slightest show OF
gratitude. Filth is as attractive to him as
elegance and luxury, and he has repulsive
habit of exploring every accessible mass of
pollution and strsightway betaking
himself to the unprotected cheek of
beauty. He will pounce upon mans
nose while he is helpless in the BARRIERS
chair, with his arms is swarthed beneath half
dozen yards of calico and the perilous
edge of razor at his throat. He will ex-
plore the kings nostrils, and pry into the
beggar's ears, and light upon the bald head
of the old bachelor while he is sitting before
The camera having his picture taken for his
sweetheart. These pestiferous creatures do
not possess single virtue, while there is
not vice known to the moral code to which
they are not recklessly and hopelessly adj
dcled They present case OF total deprav
ity, aud they are not disposed to introduce
any scheme of regeneration. The question
is sometimes asked, SIS lie worth living?"
to which the human family is disposed TO
answer, mot in fy-time."