Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-09-18
A SPRINT AND A Bath.
He Was Nearly Drowned, but lie Escaped
the Angry Wasps.

He Was Nearly Drowned, but lie Escaped
the Angry Wasps.
"When I was boy, said an English
visitor, sit used to be great amuse
ment for US boys to dig out wasps'
nests. First Of all, the wasps did great
damage to the peaches, plums, green
cages and nectarines, and besides we
wanted the grubs for fishing bait. There
is none better in the world for perch,
dace, Dream, gudgeon, roach and, in fact,
almost any fish. Our process was to go
out just at nightfall and make our way
to the nest we had discovered in the
day. We would stuff up the entrance
with naphtha soaked rag, and after
lighting it put a sod over the hole, so
that the wasps might get the full benefit
of the odor. In half an hour every wasp
would be harmless and stupefed, and
we would set to work to dig out the
nest. This is circular in shape and built
with a kind Of paper made from the
bark of trees. As soon as we got home
the nest was placed in bucket of boil
ing water and left there for the night.
Next morning the grubs and wasps were
all nicely boiled.
"On one occasion there were a num-
ber of guests at the house, and some
wanted to see what wasps' nest was
like Well, we boys went out and got
one. 1t was beauty. After it had been
duly examined the butler was called and
told to put it in hot water. He thought
next morning would do as we'll, and
Just put it ON a shelf in the pantry and
closed the door.
'tHe was down the next morning at
the usual hour and went to the pantry.
It was filled with swarm of infuriat
ed wasps which went for him at once,
stinging him wherever there was any
flesh exposed. He tore out of the house,
followed by a swarm of yellow and
black stingers, and did some grand
sprinting until he reached the lake, into
which he jumped without hesitation.
He was nearly drowned, but he had es-
capped the wasps The WRIST of it was,
the liberated wasps Immediately spread
all through the house and nearly every
one in it was stung. There was strong
injunction put on us boys after that
never to bring wasps' nest into the
house.
"Another ugly insect is the hornet.
He builds hanging nest. Some years
ago party of us were out partridge
shooting in the beginning of September
and the ladies had promised to bring
out luncheon and meet us at certain
spot. 1t was a cottage just on the edge
of the woods, which was used for stor-
ing hencoops In this cottage swarm
Of hornets had made their nest.
"Among the party was a boy of about
II, who, while we were all enjoying
our luncheon, got hold Of his fathers
gun and let fly at that nest and the en-
ragged hornets swarmed out of the open
door, The women handicapped us and
every one except that blessed boy was
stung, and when we got home we were
all sorry sight. A plentiful applica-
ton of ammonia did much to alleviate
tie pain. 1t was said afterward that the
hornets that had broken up the party
were not Of the worst kind. l have no
wish to run up against the worst kind.
That evening the few of us men who
came to dinner had to laugh at one an
other, SO distorted were our faces. The
women did not appear, and the choleric
colonel, father of the boy, found some
alienation from his pain by soundly
fogging the young rascal. New York
Tribune.