The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-09-22
BEES AND HONEY.
How They Have Figured in the
Worlds History.

WOTlQ History.
The honey-bee has been an object of
great interest from the very earliest
ages; the most ancient historical records
make frequent reference to it. "a lit
lie balm and a little honey" formed part
OF the present which Jacob sent into
Egypt 10 Joseph in the time OF the great
famine The busy bee" figures also
in Greek as well as Hebrew his
tory The little. creature has given
name to many females ofhigh degree.
The Hebrew name of the bee (Deborah)
was given to Rebecca's nurse, as also
to that magnanmous prophecies whose
courage and patriotism inspired the
tagging zeal and waning energies of
her dispiritcd countrymen. The Greek
name OF the bee (Nlelissa) was given to
one OF the daughters of Alelissus, King
OF Crete. 1t was she who, with her SIS
Ter AmalthGa, is tabled to have fed
Jupiter with the milk of goats. She is
sad, also, TO have first discovered the
means of collecting honey from the
stores Of the bees, from which some an
cent writer's inferred that she not only
bore the name, but that she was actu
ally changed into bee.
Another Greek story tells of woman
OF Corinth, also bearing the name of
Melissa, who, having been admitted to
otliciate in the festivals of Ceres, the
goddess of agriculture, afterward re-
fused to initiate others, and was torn to
pieces for her disobedience, a swarm of
bees being made to rise from her body.
The old Greek name for the bee seems
to have fallen into disuse in this coun-
try as name given to females, though
there can be no reason why its use
Should not be revived, for it is, at least,
as melod Gus as the Hebrew name of
the same significance, still applied to
mony matron and maiden-a name
which is expressive of honeyed sweet
ness, as also Of unwearied energy and
untiring industry.
Those who have had personal knowl-
edge and experience of bee-culture will
bear out the remark that bees are not
particular as to the size or the position
OF the home in which they choose to
dwell, so that it suf1ices for them to
carry on with security their wonderful
operations. In their wild state. cavi-
ties OF rocks and hollow trees are alike
available; and in their domestic condi-
lions they have no preference for a
straw skep over wooden BOX, nor for
the wooden house over the straw castle.
The bee, which, while under proper
control ard management, is one of
mans best friends, proves, when as
sailed by him in any way, a terrible adj
v,efsary. Allusion is made to this by
MOSES In his story of what befell the
sraelites in their wilderness soiourn:
The Amorites came out against you,
ana chased you rs bees do, and DESTROYED
you. - The strength and force of their
sung IS such as to enable them to pierce
the skin of the horse and other large
animals and kill them. Their ordinary
speed when in flight, is from sixty to
eighty miles an hour, and they have
been known to fly past the windows of
an express train when travelling at full
speed IN the same direction. Their
manner of attack is to dash straight at
.ne object aimed at; and commonly,
When excited by the presence of some
:. unknown spectator, and especially by
Inc ntermeddling of some undexterous
OF mSchevous person, they will attack
Nv, ,1e FACE, aiming especially at the eyes.
.Hhen, therefore. the thousand, which |
ihha6lt single hive are aroused by the
sound >, OF alarm, well understood by all |
ue inmates, to repel an invader. they
say forth with q courage and deter
hilhation which none can withstand,
sallaeoikilng their foes on every side with a
Jury 1t is impossible to resist. King
David must have witnessed Just
s Saeh scene, which he repro
e e in his description of the
i ~ attacks, the determined on
slaugbts OF his bitter and unrelenting
.oes: All nat ons compassed me about
L. !, they comprised me about like
lomewhat recently, the mishap of
Porter IN handling box of bees in tran
Spy railway created an amusing and
~ alarming scene at the station.
anere was general stampede of pas
r rohgers and officials flying in every d.
I !, on, chased by the Infatuated bees.
iva, - only when some one, skilled in
, as management of bees, catching the
zen and placing her in the box, re-
;n' confidence and quiet, for, flock
az az ioyaly to her standard, the whole
S; !, returned to the case, which was
II, aue time forwarded its destination
.'Hs even til S was small affair conf
e: 4fea-witilwhat is related in ancient
~ s:cry OF persons being driver from
Wy. ". habtations, and the inhabitants of
w. S'keisire town being compelled to flee
gei4fe mxriads of bees. Aelianus, who I
aodflshed about 200 \. D., gives an in
! OF this in one of his seventeen
~ Ms on animals. Mungo Park, too,
aa african traveller, mentions mod II
~ instance which took place near
.oVoproo; 1--WE had no sooner unloaded
l. @,' asses than some OF the people, being
, T., !, aEeh Q! hoaay. inopportunely dis
ss'9pa q large SWRrm Of bees, they