Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-01-19
ANTS DRUNK ON INK.
Red Cedar Proves q Good Extermfnss
of the Insects.

Red Cedar Proves Good EXtermfnetoR
of the Insects.
fsA few years ago, while living in q
Long Island cottage" writes CORE
spondent, II discovered my writing
desk was inhabited by colony of large
black ants. This discovery gave me
dull and headachy from overwork, and
was thankful for any amusing or inter
esting diversion.
81 had been steadily writing for some
time, and had fina ly paused for rest
from continuous thought, and was idly
tracing on scrap of paper, when, to
my surprise, I saw large black ant
make his appearance from behind pile
OF papers and follow my pen.
'I was still more surprised to see
that he was drinking the ink. He fol-
lowed every movement of the pen, and
was soon joined by half dozen more,
when 1 learned that for ants, at least,
ink was a sort of champagne dissipa-
ton, for after getting certain guam
tity they began a series of the most
amusing antics, showing plainly that
the ink had for them an intoxicant
quality. After their ludicrous Hveli-
MSS NeAAAO q StuPOA3 VhOh IACy 10y
curled up in little round balls wherever
they happened to fall
Being suddenly called away. I
brushed them in a little heap and
pushed them in a corner of the desk,
closing the lid. 1t was several days be-
fore / opened the desk again, and not
an ant was to be seen, though I moved
papers and boxes looking for them, but
as soon as the scratching of the pen be
gan they came hurrying out and fol-
lowed in a most amazing procession
over the paper, again going through all
the different stages of intoxication.
Being unusually busy with my pen, I
now and then pushed them aside, until
in their last stage of stupor they ceased
to be troublesome. This sort of neigh
borliness between myself and the ants
continued for several months, when,
moving to a different house in the same
neigh borhood, 1 made up my mind that
the ants would desert the desk, if not
able for some time to have their ink
/ diet. But when the house was in order
and the desk again opened they came
out as lively as ever. evidently rejoicing
at the opening of the season. But the
numbers having increased to such an
extent that they were often seen on the
floors of other rooms, determination
was declared a necessity.
'sAmong the various remedies sug-
gested as 'infallible' was red CEDAR
and passing by boatyard where the
| men were planning planks of this fra
| grant wood, gathered a f w of the
shavings and put them among my
papers and the drawers in my desk, in
| fact every nook which might serve as d
hiding place for my army of midgets-
sit SO happened after this that my
| desk was closed for many days, and in
| the stress of more important matter
| quite forgot the ants, and when I next
| sat at my writing was so absorbed in
my work that I did not for while
notice their absence until little piece
| of shaving recalled my merry little
| topers and I began a search in their
hiding places.
81 had nearly overturned everything
unsuccessfully until I lifted a pile of
old letters and found box which had
| once held pens filed to the top with
| dead ants. Not one was to be found
elsewhere, and began to wonder over
| the puzzle. Did they go in body to
| escape the deadly effect of the cedar or
! did they select this as mausoleum
| and the survivors carry the dead there
| until the last one was left alone to seek
shelter with his silent companions?
mot an ant was discovered anywhere
else, and though all this happened six
years ago, no more have come. So if
any reader hears housekeeper bewail-
| ing the arrival of these tiny pests just
recommend red cedar. 1t is surely eff
fective.
Carpenters say that the presence of
black ants in house denotes decayed
wood, and if repairs are made that will
cause them to leave. In tearing down
an old house one of the workmen struck
a portion of wood a heavy blow, and in
demolishing by its force a number of
ants a most irritating and poisonous
liquid was expelled into his eyes, and
the man was almost maddened with
pain, and for several days it was feared
he would lose his sight.
''There is no creature SO small or in
significant as to be without interest,
and even the pests have elements which
a careful study can make attractive
| N Y. Times.