The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-09-10

HIS NERVE WAS THERE.
This Sort of Centiped Was Harmless, but
He Didn't Know 1t.


He Didn't Know 1t.
The Hawaiian Islands are almost as
we'll off as Ireland. st. Patrick dsove
all the venom0uS insects and reptiles
out of the Green Isle, but the Hawaiians
claim that the reptiles and insects left
on Mr.. Doles domain are in no sense of
the word poisonous.
People who have particular dealings
with yenomous insects imported from
the islands make the same claim. a To-
cal fruit importer said:
VERY frequently we receive consigr-
ments of bananas and pineapples pack
ed in dried grass and leaves. In taking
the fruit from the boxes it is not uncom-
mon to find a big centiped crawling
along the stalk between the bananas,
doing his best to get used to the Cali
fornia climate.
lone afternoon | was opening box
Of bananas and pushed my hand through
the straw to get at the st; =. | felt
around for few seconds an -. hit
could feel something movi' = auG. nd on
the back of my hand. | h. = = heard
of the presence of centpeds IN fruit
shipments, so | carefully Withdrew my
hand, so as to make as little commotion
as possible. Imagine my surprise and
alarm to see a five inch centiped slow
ly crawling up my arm. | was about to
strike it when fruit packer standing
near by warned me TO make no attempt
to get rid of it, but to let it crawl off at
its leisure | had forgotten the fact
got as white as "a sheet, believing every
moment that it would sink its claws
into me and send its powerful poison
through my blood
Il looked at it with fear and trem-
bling, but did not dare to move mus
Gle. 1t lifted its head and seemed per-
fectly satisfied to remain where it was.
could hardly restrain myself from
making "A quick motion and shaking it
off, but my companion warned me again
and again to keep quiet. All l could
feel was IA tickling sensation. The tic
king increased, and | was almost ready
to faint with suppressed excitement.
Finally the centiped looked up at my
sleeve and slowly made for it, moving
all the legs III unison. The sensation
10y this time was Unbelrable, and fear
cd | would be unable to remain calm
until the thing got entirely OFT
My flesh seemed 10 shrink away as
the horrible creature proceeded, bat i'll
II few more seecuu,, every one + which
seemed AN hour IL mad settled itself com.
fortably On the hbue # my clothing,
and with a motion quicker than | was
ever known to make before | routed 1t
with stick and sat down, perspiring
from head Ia foot. 1t was the most
thrilling experience | ever figured i'll.
and il made me sick the rest of the day.
MY companion began to laugh as
though he would die OF merriment hut
l saw nothing particularly humorous n
the situation.
You are crazy, he said, to get
frightened over Il little thing like that.
Do you know that Hawaiian Island cen
tipeds are not poisonous: | told you to
keep quiet just to zee how long your
nerve would last If the thiEg had sunk
every claw il had into your flesh, it
would have only caused little swell
ing ard nothing more. | have had sew
little ammonia or s.,t water and cure
it up i'll half an hour. San Fran.
cisco Call.
Rhubarb plants may be safely set both
in fall and sprlng, but if fall set the
crowns should be well covered with
/ earth to prevent hcavinS and exposure
of the roots during winter, for rhuharb,
though a very hardy plant, will not en-
/ dure rapid alterations Of freezing and
thawng when exposed to the air, and
/ is, therefore not well adapted for very
moist soils IN cold climate. What j.
wanted in rhuharb culture is an early.
rapid and vigorous leaf growth, VIII.
/ the accompanying large and juicy leaf
stalks. Rural New Yorker tells that
/ There is nothing better than the carly
/ application Of fermenting horse manure
for this purpose