St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-25
BUGS WITH GOLD CHAINS.
The Lively Insects Which Adorn Ladies
Bonnets.
a Freak of Fashion Calculated TO
Brighten a Man Subject to the
Jim Jams.

''Say, mum, there is bug on yer hat"
The lady to whom this was addressed by
a newsboy stopped and the lad noticed that
the bug was moving.
Hes a-crawlin' off wild yer watch
chainp' exclaimed the boy in great excite
ment, as he saw the bug dragging chain
after him.
The lady paid no attention to the boy,
but the boy did, and so did others, and by
the time the lady reached the post office
she was followed by cvriOus throng, who
suspected that the bug was some new fan
gled automatic adornment. One of the
boys, more curious than the rest, walked
close behind the lady, and suddenly turn
ing to the Others, exclaimed:
Holy Moses, fellers, its alive"
The boy spoke the truth. The bug was
a captive attached to thin gold chain
which was fastened to the ladys bonnet
1t was the piodeer Machette bug which has
made its advent in Pittsburg to adOrn the
bonnet of the fair wearer, says the Press
of that city. The Machette bug is
the latest fashion freak for lace and
bonnet wear. The insect is harnessed
in trappings more gorgeous than ever the
horses wore which drew the chariot OF
the Eternal City. Gold and silk are the
only materials used in the construction of
the harness, and $50 bonnet is none too
fine to serve for his parade ground.
The lady who was followed by the crowd
was so much annoyed by the remarks and
stares of the vulgar that she was compelled
to seek refuge in the postoffice and wait
until the mob had dispersed. A knot OF
men gathered on the sidewalk
That thing amt alive" said one.
''Of course it amt" exclaimed another.
sits wound up to run around"
Several others saw in the little gold chain
ample means Diminishing electrical power
to drive the mechanical anatomy of the
supposed autOmatOm.
The Mochette bvg is a member of the
beetle family. His native country is Bra
zil. He is little more than an inch and
half in length. and is sort of yellowish
gray color, spotted with black. with black
legs. The range of his peregrinationS is
circumscribed by the slender gold chain
four or five inches in length with which he
is fastened to the bonnet. The chain is
made fast to the body of the creature by
means of two gold bands across its back,
connected by another similar band, the
ends of the ribbons of gold being connected
together by soft Sllken cords passing around
the under part of the body.
Thus attired the insect spends his days
nestled in the folds of the bonnet, oc-
casionally taking leisurely stroll around
the soft material of his prison. The chain
barely reaches the edges of the headgear.
and just as he reaches the end of his string
he generally stumbles in an absent minded
wav down the SLOPE being brought up with
short turn as the chain becomes taunt.
He then starts for another aimless journey,
after glance around to see if anybody
noticed that little miSStep of his.
Inquiry among the stores here elected
the information that Machette bug and
harness sell for So and $40 apiece in New
York and Philadelphia. None of the stores
have started a live stock department yet.
but as the craze threatens to become gen.
eral, it is thought they will soon be on sale
here in Pittsburg The bugs are sold in
boxes with perforated holes, where they
ard kept when not out for an airing with
their mistresses. The box is two-thirds
filled with decayed wood, such as the bugs
live upon in their native land, and that is
supposed prevents them from getting home
sick or hungry