Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-04-23

A Difference.
WHAT THE BUTLER FOUND IN
TIE WASP'S NEST.

'hFN H Il pb G'IN IL IN
TIE WASP'S NEST.
There are many charming hooks
in Central Park, and a writer in the
n. Y. Tribune, wandered into one OF
them with an English friend. II
was noticed that the place seemed to
swarm with bumblebees, and soon
they were seen disappearing down a
small hole, evidently the entrance to
their nest. What seemed strange
was that the bees seemed to be of all
sizes, They conld sting, too, as was
learned from an experience with one
Of them.
The find brought some reminis
censes to the Englishman. "Wher
| was boy" he said, "it used to bC
q great amusement for us boys to dis
out waSps' nests. First of all, the
wasps did great damage to the plums
peaches, green cages and nectarines
and, besides, we wanted the grubs
for fishing-bait. There is none bet.
ter in the world for perch, dace
Dream, gudgeon, roach and, in fact,
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 en-
trance with naptha-soaked rag, and,
after lighting it, put 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 stupefied, 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
boiling water and left there for the
night. Next morning the grubs and
Wasps were all nicely boiled.
On one occasion there were q num-
ber of guests at the house, and some
wanted to see what wasp's 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 well, and just put it on
shelf in the pantry and closed the
door He was down the next morn
ing at the usual hour and went to the
pantry. 1t was filled with a swarm
of infuriated 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 escaped
the wasps. The worst of it was the
liberated wasps i'm mediately spread
all through the house, and nearly
every one in it was Stung. There
was a strong injunction put on us
boys after that never to bring wasp
nest into the house.
Another ugly insect is the hornet,
He builds hanging nest. Some
years ago a 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
cottage just on the edge of the
woods, which was used for storing
hen .cOops. In this cottage a swarm
of hornets had made their nest.
Among the party was a boy of
about eleven, who, while we were all
enjoying our luncheon, got hold of
his fathers gun and let fly at that
nest, and the enraged 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 sorry sight. A plentiful ap.
plication of ammonia did much to
alleviate the pain. 1t was said after
ward that the hornets that had
broken up the party were not of the
worst kind. I 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 alleviation from the pain
by soundly flogging the young
rascal"
THE BUSINESS WOMAN.-Theb busi-
ness woman cannot afford to disre-