The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-08
Confessions Of ! Mesquite.


Confessions Of Mesquite.
am only q mosquito, one Of that
outlawed class against whom the hands
of the entire world are raised in per-
petual warfare and slaughter. come
when the buttercups begin to brighten
yer diffuses its incense on the soft. trop-
ieal air and azalias and the stately
golden rod tremble in the zephyrs
along the river bank. My advent is her
aided by the gentle music OF my wings
I sing the romance of mosquito life.
Little Is am l strike terror into the
hearts of thousands. The mopeyed
magnats and the impecunious sport
tremhle alike at my approach. The
high-handed tyrant of the household
and the political boss acknowledge in
me an object of fear. am prescribed
/ and undergo q species of relentless per-
secution that would crush many q
laughter spirit. Nevertheless, 1 bear
up under it all and apply myself to my
appointed mission. finding ample COM
pensation in the approval of my own
conscience. have seen strong men
who have braved the heat of battle
meu to whose ears the roar of cannon
was music tremble with terror at my
approach l know my power, but I
can't say that glory in the conscious
ness of it
You must know that there are social
distinctions made in mosquitodom Just
as there are in well regulated society,
and they are Just, strong and immuta-
BILE. Each mosquito is 3 creature of
circumstances and into whatever chan
mel chance directs his life he goes and
| follows it until death. When / was
ushered into this world I had the good
iortane to fall under the guidance of .
grizzled old fellow, who had done years
OF honorable service in mosquito life.
His wits were as sharp as his bill, and
his skin, which was shrunken and
wrinkled, was as tough as lesther and
calculated to resist the most savage as
sault. There was not man OF note
upon the continent with whom he was
not intimately acquainted. His recol-
lections of persons and events were
simply marvellous, so it was no wonder
| that was an OBJECT of envy among
the youngsters who came up along with
me, as such q mentor insured my future
success and social standing. well re-
member the day when was about to
start forth into the world the old fellow
said to me:
"Now. my son, for heavens sake do
not make yourself common and spoil all
of your prospects in your first exploits
by billing some politician or book agent.
I IL = hlx-
blasted" And tears stood in my men
tors eyes as he babe me adieu. took
his advice. The first desirable person
saw was rich bank cashier, who, it
is needless to say, was deacon of a
church. With a wildly palpitating
heart and filed with excitement to such
degree that couldn't utter a single
note, paid the old fellow my respects.
l must confess that was really panied
and shocked at the startling language
he used. 1t is said that fedgeling
mosquito stings ten times harder than
an adult. He gave me an awful fright,
the deacon did, and / determined to
! select some other than q strict church
man for my next acquaintance. So /
/ lit on 4 retired merchant and severe
!
startling results. l was young and had
strong faith in mankind. Inexperience
| thrown upon a world of humanity
moved by so many different forces will
I soon receive many severe shocks
| Perched on a netting in fashionable
hotel. with bowed head yielded myself
a prev to the doubts which surged upon
me, when my old mentor dropped
lightly at my side.
! "Why so downcast, my boyS he in
| quired, as he complacently wiped his
mouth. He had Just finished paying
his court to one of the bluest bioods in
the establishment and consequently felt
b in excellent humor. l explained to him
/ what had happened and how my sensi-
! bilities were affected, and finally ex-
pressed my determination to devote
/ myself to the canaille, when the old
veteran shook with laughter and said
"Why, son. yours is the experience
of every mosquito. Its benefits may
strike you as being doubtful when your
good home training is taken into view,
but the effect will eventually be good.
1t will teach you the frailty of man.
! his susceptibility to make a perfect
| demon of himself in secret while he
! mas querades as saint. You will see
| how hollow most lives are"
felt comforted by his advice and
went about my mission once more, and
though my path was literally crowded
| with curses, some low, some deep, i
took it all with the consoling philos-
ophy my adviser had advanced.
| only received one shock after the incl
dent have referred to, and that was
one time when 1 tried to make friends
with Henry Bergh. When he felt my
bill I had lit on his nose; ne uttered
something that did Mt sound at all like
a greeting and struck murderously at
me with his palm He followed up his
assault with several savage endeavors
to murder me. Just think OF it! After
tina. positively had faith in no one.
My association with the class of peo-
pie moved among placed me high in
mosquitodom and I was looked upon as
one of its shining lights. 1t grieved
me, however, to see how many of my
young companions had fallen from the
| start. One made his debut by asso-
ciating with an insurance agent and he
| has imbibed so much of his character
istics that his whole body has bright,
brassy appearance. Another struck a
bibulous politician and he has been do
ing the politicians. and other alcoholic
| gentry since. He is now sot and un-
tit for respectable company. So it is
very easy to see where the distinctions
are made. A few years ago 1 had the
| misfortune to bill a dude in mistake for
| a gentleman and the mere recollection