The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-06-01
THE BUSY MOTH.
An Instructive Blt of Natural History RE-
lating TO the Rare old BIRD.

tive talents of high order, and laws
which closely resemble pair of scis-
sors. But a full realization of the
creatures ingenuity can only be had
by intimate personal acquaintance.
The moth is not an intelligent-look-
ing bird. On the contrary, he has a
reeeding brow and chin, wholly un-
intellectual cast of eountenance-a
sort of You-have-waked-me
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS look. But If you
tuck the bed-clothes under his chin
and go off on tip-toe in order that he
may slumber again, you will ere long
find yourself victim of misplaced
confidence. His unprcpossessing feat
ures, and his habitually weary look are
wise provisions of nature 10 enable
him 10 successfully impose upon the
human race.
If he possessed massive forehead.
large, soulful eyes. meath finely pen.
ciled brows, delicately chiseled feat
ures, and Il clear, ringing laugh, in
connection with his scissor-like jaws,
and his wild. eager longing to devour
expensive store-clothes, men would be
on their guard against him. Or, IL he
were of the size of a dog or a rabbit,
or even of a kitten. he could be chased
out of the house or shot at sight. But
he is so small that he can hide himself
and his whole family under a button;
or, if he feels like it. can lie on the lap
pei of your coat and smile up into yoar
face. and YOU will think him n speck of
dust. If You see him at all.
The tnuft, u,,I tha ta,I,.. -. I......I
by some mystic tie. the precise nature
of which has never been made public.
But that it exists is beyond question
The two are constantly playing into
each others hands The tailor does
all in his power TO further the sale of
the particular goods TO which the moth
IS most partial; and the moth. in his
turn. loses no opportunity To serve the
tailor. as | shall show. Speak 10 your
tailor about this. and he will affect To
regard it as a pleasantly. He viii
evince marked disinclination to con-
verse on the subject Question him
closely. and he will indulge in evasive
repartee or become angry. Nor can
you gain any information from the
moth.
Let us study the ways of this eccen-
trie and ingenious fowl. You are going
to the country. Your wife gets out all
your winter clothes. and all hers. and
all the children's, and has them hung
on the line in the backyard, remarking
that she is so glad those Simpsons are
not at home to see them and make re-
marks about them. Then she sends
I fh ,I.,.,- "a
beat them. She works until her hand
is blistered. and until she has burst two
of the seams in your dress coat, and
knocked most of the stufliug out of
your best oyercoat. Then your wife
tells you to go round TO the drug store
and ask the proprietor TO send her
some thing that he can recommend as
n sure preventive of the inroads of
moths.
At this the moths in the garments
yOu have been humping don't
see the creatures. but they are there all
the same-ex exchange glances and smile
eynically.
You go to the druggist, and if he
doesn't happen To put up preparation
of his own for the purpose, he tells you
that there is nothing that will stIik,
| terror to the soul of moth like cam
! 2hur, just plain, simple, every day
gum-eamphor. You buy four pounds,
and trip lightly homeward with. Your
\ wife rejoices greatly at the good tidings
of great joy which YOU bring.
The clothes are all carefully foldee
aud Jumps of camphor the size of CO
eoanuts distributed among them. Then
they are wrapped in newspapers. for
there is quaint old legend which says
that moths will have nothing to do
with these publications; that they hate
| them with as deadly hatred rs that
| of much-critieiscd tragedian, or man
whose little autobiographical ''person-
al referring to him as ''our genial and
whole-souled friend,n has been refused
| insertion. This fable is still believed
by most people.
You put away your camphorated
clothes There is one worthless old
coat that you leave lying on a chair.
You go to the country. cast aside dull
care. and abandon yourself to enjoy
ment, skim-milk and salt-pork.
When you return. two months later,
you examine your winter garments.
When you undo the packages the smell
of camphor is so strong that it nearly
knocks you down. Are there any
moths to be seenP Well, yes, a few.
About two thousand of assorted sizes
on each garment. All summer long
they have been indulging in broad
cloth f-icaHdedu and doe-skin a Ia Es-
| pdgnoi, and similar luxuries. Have
they eaten where it will not show? No;
they have studiously avoided all such
places. But they have assimilated the
greater part of both lapels of your
dres-coat and nearly all the front of
your eighty-five dollar overcoat.
And the old coat on the chair-have
they injured it muchP No, they have
not even glanced at it.
As the poet sings: "a rare old bird
is the festive moth. -. A. Stearns,
ia Puck.
The people of St Petersburg are