The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-05-29
Mr.. ALC0T1s soussH BUG CURE.

, A Philosopher's Solution 81 a Proble,d
Both Moral and Agricultural.
Concord, Mass, Is a restful, pass
toral town where such q thing as a
modern, up to dato joke might do
serious injury. Years ago, whcn
Bronson Alcott was alive and the
lingy old school Of philosophy held
mon who thought profoundly, q joke
was perpctratcd on Mr.. Bull, the
originator of tho Concord grape. The
joke seemed so funny that nothing
but death can ever eiface it from the
memories of the older Concordiansi
and they mover lose in opportunity
to spring it on visitors who como to
SEQ Sleepy Hollow, the Paul Revere
lantern, tho powder horn of Louis
burg and tho rude chamber furni;
ture used by Thorcau:
One day recently Princeton pro;
fessor, returning from q drive to
Maiden, where Thoreau spent year
or moro as reclusc among the birds
and flowers, accostcd wrinkled old
man in front of the school of phi
losophy, and tho two began to talk
about tho Concord of 40 or so years
ago. Tho professor was al opponont
of the Alcott philosophy, but as the
townsman didn't believe in philosos
pl,y at all the subject was changel:
Tho two walked tho sidewalk to:
gether till they came to the old AL:
colt residence, when the townslnan
told this story:
Years ago., !" he began, "Mr. AL
colt was very much interested III
garden truck and was noted for be-
ing very successful in raising
squashcs. His next door neighbor
was Mr.. Bull Of Concord grape fame.
One day when Mr.. Bull was busy III
his garden gathering bugs which
threatened to destroy his crop of
squashes Mr.. Alcott happened along.
He seernod little surprised to sec
Mr.. Bull place each bug in tin milk
can and finally said as he stopped
and leaned over tho fence:
! What arc you going to do with
EN-, Brother Bull?'
''Gotn s pour bilin water on ON,
was the roply.
Boiling water on emp said Mr..
Alcott, with well feigned surprise.
Why, that will kill en-
Kinder expect it will, said Mr..
Bull, gathering III three or four FROM
vine and mover once looking up at
his interrogation.
"'I'm amazed, Brother Bull, said
Mr.. Alcott severely.
"'Can't help it, neighbor, said
Mr.. Bull. Deaths the only 6Xter-
| minator; and I've either got to kill
EN-, Or they'll have all my squashes
down their outlets.
"'You have no moral right to take
the lives Of any of Gods creatures,
said Mr.. Alcott. Now, look at my
squashes. They re the finest in town,
and / never kill a bug-no, sir
never
with this shot Mr.. Aicott took
his departure. leaving Mr.. Bull to-
wonder what in the world the phi!
losopher did to protect his garden
from tho bug. All that night he
thought of it and all the next. He
didn't like the idea of sprinkling
poisons, so he decided to see Mr.. AL
colt in duo time and inquire into his
method of protecting his squashes.
"Gctting up soon after the sun one
morning, he happened to glance over
to tho Alcott garden, where he saw
the professor in wide straw hat BUSH
ly picking bugs and depositing them
in a tin pan. Thinking he would
learn the secret on the quiet, he
watched Mr.. Alcott continued gath
ering in the troublesome insects for
upward Of tlreosfstartcrs Of an hour:
Arising.at last to al erect position,
he glanced cautiously around. See-
ing no sign of any one moving about
on tho Bull premises, he walked
stealthily to tho wall and emptied a
quarter painful Of squash bugs over
into Mr. Bulls garden. The watcher
had learned the secret, but he was
r so shocked by the discovery that he
could hardly believe his own eyes.
He never said a word. His trick was
worth twoof the one he had just
3 discovered, and while the squashes
( lasted he paid the small boys Of the
town SO much a dozen for active
7 bugs. "-1New York Sun.
* Feminine Answer.
-. L.