Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-24
AN EPIDEMIC OF FLEAs.
Many Houses Are Infested With the Pestifer.
Gus Insects-what IL the Cause.

Many Houses Are Infested With the Pestifer-
Gus Insects-what Is the Cause.
The epidemic of feas which Washington. in
common with a number Of other cities, suffered
two years ago has again returned. There are
probably more Of these pestiferous little in
sects here now than ever we're seen before.
Many houses are infested by them and whole
families are kept on the jump. Flea hunts are
daily occurrence and are often very exciting,
always interesting to those who are prompted
to the chase.
THE CHOICE PLACES.
The favorite abiding places of the flea on the
human body are under the stocking, usually in
the vicinity Of the garter, and in that part Of
the back which is most difficult to reach. As
sistance and privacy are essential to a success
ful flea hunt, and the young man who receives
broad hint to take his departure from the
side of a lady where he has usually been well
come to remain during the long hours Of the
summer evening may be reconciled to the
apparent GOODNESS by considering that there
may be fieas in the house.
MANY HOUSES INFESTED.
Many persons who have been away for a
summer vacation, having their houses closed,
have found on their return that their houses
were infested with feas. In cases where the
carpets had not been removed the insects
made their homes in the carpets, from which
they could be seen hopping like hop toads.
One lady on the first morning of her return got
twenty OF these insects on her ankles in walk
ing across her bed room in her bare feet. and
since has killed not less than fifty, which is q
pretty good record, considering their activity.
DUE TO EXCESSIVE DAMP WEATHER.
STAR reporter called the attention of Prof.
Leland Howard to the temperance Of the
epidemic.
II think" said the professor, "that it is due
to the much damp weather we have had this
summer, though / have not yet Investigated
the matter SO as to know certainly. Two years
ago, when We had a damp season, fieas were
very numerous. Last season, when it was hot
and dry, there were few. 1 think that they
breed faster and more prolifcally during a
damp season. The dampness is not the cause
of them, but is favorable to them. They breed
as cattle or other animals. but one female flea
will lay an almost infinite number of eggs. In
damp weather they hatch out readily. They
hatch out in cracks in the floor in the dust and in
carpets. When houses are closed for the summer
they are undisturbcd and are free to multiply.
But originally there must have been at least
two feas i'll the house to start with l think
that good thing to do to get rid of them is to
spray the carpets and cracks with benzlne, but
you must be careful about having light in the
room until the vapors have passed away, az they
Perseverance, Lodge of Good Templars.
Perseverance Lodge of Good Templars at its
meeting on last Saturday evening at Elks' Hall
was attended by a membership much larger
than usual. The ways and means committee,
with Mr.. A. H. Frear as chairman, was author
lied to arrange for contest in elocution on
October II between young ladies of the several
for of fbo lalo
A committee, with Mr.. s. ". Russell as chair
man, was appointed to submit resol Itions ex-
pressive of the sorrow with which the announce
ment of the death of Rev. Samuel Kramer was
received. The report of the committee on
legislation and licenses was encouraging to the
meeting.
The official program for the quarter an
nounced the meeting as Bouquet night" and
a committee of ladies entered loaded down with
beautiful bouquets of flowers. which were pre-
grand chief templar, Mr.. Van Wick. and Chief
Templars Fowler Of Columbia Lodge and Lee
of Star of Hope Lodge. who were present. 1t
was shortly discovered that to each bouquet
was attached a number and that numbers cor
to these had been drawn from a hat
ones were rendered by the chief templar, Mr..
kalstrom, not only the recently ac-
quired bouquets but the official stations
as WELL and amid the applause of
the assembly the following pro tempore
officers were indicted in their respective
stations: Mrs. A. H. Frear. chief; Miss Bidde-
comb Of Eagleston Lodge, vice; Mr.. Luckey Of
Columbia Lodge, secretary; Miss Thomas. SUI
junior temples; Mr.. L. NJ. Mooers
of Columbia Lodge, chaplain; Mr.. Geo. Il.
Carrier, marshall Mrs. Cecil, guard, and
Marion Gilbert, sentinel. Miss Thomas enter
tanned with piano solo; Hiss Jennie Griffin
and Mr.. Wilfred Harries, Rotations; Miss AL
berta Hawk, vocal solo; MIR. and Mrs. Frear
and Mrs. kalstrom, vocal trio short addresses
by Messrs. Whitney, Lucky and Mooers Of
Columbia Lodge, Capt. Dean Of d. T. Holloway
Lodge and X. A. Dinsmore of Minnehaha
Lodge and the grand chief templar, and vocal
solo by Miss Kalstrom. At the next meeting.
with Mr.. A. H. Frear as chairman, the married
men of the lodge will conduct the social ex-
ercises.