The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-04-05
ii FACT ABOUT WINGED ANTS

Chicago Record.
For almost an hour the professor had
been interesting his class Of boys and
girls In the subjects Of ants and ant life.
At the close of tho talk WIN Stuart, who
had been listening intently, rose to his
feet. D~ ~.
"I'd like to ask a question, professor"
lie said. It'll
! Every one smiled. for win stuart wae
the ;odd'' boy Of the school. In his class
es he often made amusing blunders. and
yet he was full Of out-of-the-way bits of
Information. gathered no one knew where
what is III" asked the professor.
IN your. lecture YOU said that when
home they settled on tho ground and
their wings dropped off, leaving them
ready 10 no to work. I'd like to ask II
the ants don't usually bite their wings
"Bito them orr" questioned the pro-
fessor, with . smile that set the whole
class to laughing. ~ .<.F
Yes. SIR" answered WILL flushing up.
but standing his ground.
never heard OF IL. Have your"
"oh. yes. I've seen them do 1T" was
II CUES. you're mistaken, my boy. The
books don't Soak of it,
Then 1 disagree with tho books" re-
turned WIN with warmth
i5nt the class laughed so long and loud
that he could say no more. But when he
was out OF doors he said to his room
mate:
'l'm right. and know it. One spring
! was ont IN That old sand rayne back OF
Tho sand and there We're whole armies OF
those winged ants around. 1t was a
warm sunny day, and every few moments
one Of them would drop down, crawl
around FOR a few minutes. az II iookinf,
Tor good place to sci nip housekeeping,
aiid then turn his head and snip of his
winss one at q time. ! saw II done. and
That afternoon when WIN should have
been working ON his other studies he
dslvsd deep IN books on hnts In the
library but apparently none OF tho writ
ers hal observed what he had. That eve-
ming he continued his search, much to
thc detriinent nj his class record. 1.ato
~ the afternoon of tho next day. Just us
he WAS nearly discouraged, the other quiet
rcaders We're startled by u crash and N
LOUD ,'There" Investigation showed that
VIII mud banged the table in his excite
ment az ilnutE an authority which said
'hhl ants really did hito off tbet, wings
The neNt day ne bore The book Triumph
nntly into class. Whom called npcn 10 70
cute he faded, but his didn't seem to af-
leet him in the least, for nj the close oil
thn lecture he arose and said;
~ like 10 sAY somcthinH professor"
The class smiled. Apparunuy " N WINS
growing odder every day. Ana when he
referred 10 tho ants with wings, when
iheN al mad almost forgotten The smile
became a roar oi laughter. iAlt VEN paid
no aiteutlon 40 them. He oxi,Afur1 hls
G 81. ~, ane Isad from his authority, gYins
let me- 500 tie boois" said tho PRO-
tesSof ',nd aficr tho class was Dismissed
ne carried II rway with him. Tho mex
gay AZ the close Of the lecture 10 said,
WIN STUART WAS right about tn.- wing
ed ants. The do bite err Their wings.
,wtalNH found sevor2l authorities FOR it.
WIZ IS 10 he complimcnted for his close
ness Of ohscrvation -
After that the class did rot alwavs
smile when the odd" hoy asked a o,rGs-
iion. lin since then WIN has always boon
calfod Professor BIte-'e ni+off"