The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-09-12
AppALLINe no A srRANeER.
Peculiar Horrors of g gets-on
e-Bnck-of-your-Nsck.

Peculiar Horrors Of Tho-buR- that z cts on.
the-Back-of-your-Nsck
The tarantula, the centipede, and the
scorpion have too long divided honors
as being the representative Texas in
sects. 1t Is high time that the claim OF
that truly interesting creature, the-bug-
that-gets-on-the-b back-of-your-neck, was
acknowledged. A man might come to
Texas and live for years without see
ing tarantulas, centipedes or scorpions,
but he couldn't possibly remain in Dal-
las four and twenty hours without be-
coming intimately acquainted with the
bug ug-that-gets-on-the- -back-of-your-neck.
Entomologists have sighted this insect,
and 80 his scientific name is matter OF
conjecture, but his popular title, as
given above, fits him to Il, and is far
more satisfactory to the layman than
any Latin appelation could possibly be.
Like the mosquito, the sandbagger,
and the highwayman, the-bug-that-
gets-on-the- back-of-your neck uses the
inlSy pail of night to cover his wicked
ness In the daytime he secretes him
self in dark cracks and corners, from
which he can, unobserved, leer out at
his passing human victims and take
mental notes of their necks and collars.
The low turn-down collar, which is
almost universally worn in this hot
country, is great favorite with the
ug-that-gets-on-the back-of-your neck,
although experience has shown that the
most altitudinous products of the haber-
dasher's skill in neck cuffs have no ter
rors for this aggressive Texan when he
means business and is feeling real good
and devilish. And he usually feels just
that way.
If there is one thing more than an.
other that fills the spirit of the-bug
that-gets- on the bacl-of-your-nec with
unholy Joy it is to suddenly swoop down
upon nervous stranger and drive him
to the verge of idocy. He picks out
some mild-loolSing man who has come
to Texas with his mind full of eXagger-
ated stories of tarantulas and cent?.
pedes. He waits until the victim has
finished his supper and has settled him.
self in an armchair in front of his hote.
to enjoy his evening cigar. And then,
when the strangers thoughts are fai
away in his peaceful home and his eyes
are blind to all about him, the-bug- that,
gets on-the- back-of-your-neck gathers
all his energies together and hustles
through the night air like bolt from a
catapult. Straight to the mark he
whizzes and hits the inoffensive dream.
er with horrible thud right on the up.
per extremity of his cervical vertebra.
The mans thoughts jump back to the
present with a suddenness which Jars
his whole system and upsets his chair
and, with a yell like the shrek of a lost
soul, he begins dance, which for wilC
abandon and reckless contortion has nc
parallel on earth A similar perform
ance would have caused panic even al
the Carmencita ball. With ever ipcreas
ing activity and desperation he claw!
madly at the back of his neck, but hi,
assailant is prepared for this-he ha!
had eXperience-and he has slipped
down inside the collar out of reach
Just as the man is about to collaps,
through terror and sink to the sidewall
limp and hopeless idiot, big Texal
. calmly takes hold of him, deftly turns
, him upside down, shakes the bug-that
got-on-the- back f-his-necl1 out, ant
: having restored the unnerved. victim t,
l the perpendicular, remarks:
; II reckon You air stranger to thes
parts, cunnel. Them bugs never bottle
, me-"
Gradually it begins to dawn upon th
man from the north that he has beel
. making a circus of himself, and h
: stammers some incoherent explanation
and retires to his room to sleep tn
! sleep of utter exhaustion, or perhaps t
be visited by nightmare in which tn
G back OF his neck plays the star role.
I There is a new species of the-bug
the-back-of-your neck TO
n every month in the year. Sometime
he will appear as a small green insec
= with hooks where he ought to hav
. feet; again he takes the form of bi
q black beetle-lille June bug-and wit
a most sonorous "boom;" and still agai
=, he is like unto humble bee with leatf
p ern wings, a horny head, and the spec
\ of Mimic bullet But he is at his bes
n when he carries his blistering apparatu
:, with him. 1t is the most perfect thin
!, of it's kind in existence. It's owner ca
= unlimber it and raise blister the il
. stant that he alights, and by the tim
his victim has got his hand to the plac
q the bug is attending lodge meetin
= around the corner. The blisters al
;, painful and last two or three days, an
a man is out of the swim who is nc
. nursing one or two when they are
J season.
g Take him for all in all, the -bug-tha
S gets-on-the -back-of-your-neck is a wol
y derful fellow, and he should have
It place on the Texas coat of arms. Fl
d can give the tarantula, centipede an
scorpion heavy odds and beat theI
- several laps every time.-N. A. Jei