Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-08
WAKING MEXICAN GOLp-BUGs,
Great Demand Tor the Insects-HOw
the June-Bng is Utilized.

crcat Demand FOR the InseCts-HOw
the June-ISng is Utilized.
CHICAGO, June 6.-Ladies and gentle
.on street loaiers and gamius, have
;astled together and crowded about the
,rindow OF State street jewelry store
overy day during the week. In the win
dow there stands the wax bust Of a young
Tyoman clothed it a silken waist. On the
,,raast is a huge diamond, to which is
f1stered golden chain, on the end Of
which. held by golden harness, is huge
beetle which looks very much like June
6no. 1t is yellow on the back, however.
and is known as the "MeXican gOld-bug."
IL a very fashionable article of adorn-
1neut. and one that is much in favor with
psrisian bellies. Miss Folsom brought
one with her from Europe. This blonde
heetle has been on exhibition two weeks.
Last Monday the small boys of Evan
ston we're thrown into a state of great ex-
cjtement by the appearance of a strange
oId man in the town. The mysterious in
diyidual, clad in a linen buster, carrying
a Bingham umbrella, and wearing green
goggles, was not long in gathering the
entire male juvenile population about
MIN By reason of the astonishing offer
which he made. He agreed 10 pay cents
nQpl IOT ldfRG~blGGud anu Ntli~lOtIUSu JunSs
hugs If a firecracker as large as a
-four barrel had exploded in the school
room it would not have created near as
much excitement as the offer of the
strange old man. Not more tnan half of
the Youngsters went back after the noon
recess and a Grand June-bug roundup
was instituted. After school hours the
Youngsters VINO hadn't played "hookey"
Joined the other hunters, and the result
was terrible shaking-up of June-bugs.
The mysterious stranger kept his word
and paid DC. apiece for all the able
bOdied June-bugs which had not been
manned or wounded in the excitement of
the chase. AT nigntfall he went back to
the city carrying a cigar box full of the
finest June-bugs III the land while all the
little boys in Evanston reYeled in taffy.
The stranger with penchant for june
bugs was found to occupy little room at
2011 State street, which is strewn with
bric-a-brac and articles sold by street
peddlers. In a glass case were the June
bugs and on little oil stove a pot OF fine
shellac was kept 10 a liquid state. On
some cotton batting on a table were
several magnificent golden beetles with
golden wings and delicately shaped claws
and nippers.
Where did you get these?" querled
the visitor. 'rhey are Mexican gold-bugs,
amt they, and are worth considerable
money"
Mexican gold.bugs? Why, there
can't any bug that ever buzzed match
those fellows. ] sold three of those to-
day for $40, and the man that got them
wants me to make a contract to furnish
no one but him with them. Pve got
bonanza here"
''How's thatp'
'Why, haven't you heard about the
gOld-bug that Miss Folsom wore back
from Paris. They are all the rage. Well,
put something on the market which dis
counts the genuine article.
Under a pledge of secrecy Pll let you
into the scheme, but it doesn't matter
much; guess you have got in already"
With that the man picked up june
bug, fastened it to a steel bodkin, and
then suddenly plunged it into the shellac.
Reaching into the drawer, be drew forth
pad of lambs wool. dashed it over the
gummy June-bug- and in an instant there
was startling transformation. Writing
on the end of the steel bodkin was golden
beetle. He had washed a June-bug In
gold dust.
81 make two kinds" continued the
inventor, gazing at bis handiwOrk admir-
ingly, s'the animate and inanimate.
When j make the animated article l
iHeTeiy UP bu6 wings anu Udck III Ln6
shellac, which, by the way, is prepared
especially for this purpose. 1t has to be
very fine and iust so thin. The inanimate
specimens are made by plunging the
whole body into the sheilac. 1t kills them
instantly aud covers every speck of their
bodies, Then put on two coats of gold
dust and they are practically embalmed.
They will last a lifetime with proper
care, and when L PIT them in front of
jewelers. they think they have struck
magnificent piece OF jewelry work until
they handle them. The weight gives them
away then. Pm thinking Of burylng a
they IL weigh up to the standard. l don't
suppose the live-bug craze will last much
after the Folsom boom dies out, but the
dead bug will become fixture. Pm going
to get patent on the process. There are
good American dollars in it,"