The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-24
THE "CHIGGER."
A Mile That OutdOes the FIea-Inci-
dents of a Mountain Climb.


Sylvia, N. Extraordinarily, the com
mon flea and the American "chigger' be-
long to the same group Of the animal
kingdom. But there is oneVery marked
difference between them. You can see
the flea very readily, but it is exceedingly
difficult to locate him. The chigger one
sees with great difficulty, if at all; yet
there is no shadow of doubt as to his
whereabo
A descriptive acquaintance with this
little beast is all that any one really needs
for all practical purposes A textbook
description would be more scientific, per-
haps in its nature and more profound in
it's details but. with equal probability, it
would be less accurate than the following.
For confirmation of this claim, l beg to
refer to any one whose experience has
brought him into intimate relations with
the animal.
The chgger is minute emissary of
his satanic majesty He wears a brilliant
red livery. In size he is something rath-
or smaller than the point of cambria
needle In his power to put man. woman
or child. strong or weak, robust. active,
or otherwise, into an intinity of torment,
the chigger stands almost unriValed
throughout the realm of creation In the
agony he can cause, and the lump he can
to the ordinary flea or the mosquito six
to four and beat them easily. The CHG
ger is the concentrated potentiality of the
utmost human discomfort. He is the
maximum of torture reduced to the mini
mum of space. 1t has been said that to
write acceptably, one should write from
the heart. The logical conclusion Of that
proposition should send this paper ring
ing down the ages" If ever written
words came from the deepest depth Of that
Indispensable organ of the human anat-
omy, these are they
This is far from being my first expert
ence as the site of a colony of active CHG
gers; but hitherto l have taken 1t out in
groaning, and in such mild anathemas as
are permissible in polite circles L now ap-
peal for sympathy 20 all those of that
great general public who have passed
through similar experiences. / write also
for the benefit of any readers Of the Even
ing Post who may find delight in an
agony Column"
This particular experience happened af-
ter this wise. My friend Ames OF New
York paid me a visit during the spring lie
came In the time Of the rose-purple rhodo-
dendron and the flame colored azalea. He
came before the time OF the chiggor. Ames
enjoyed himself lie had a good time. He
took large doses OF unlimited and unadul-
terated ozone.
After he got home he sent his friend
Clayton down for a few days. CLAYTON
came In the time of the white rhododen-
dron and tho white azalea. He also came
In the time Of the chigger. After two or
three days o. the ozone treatment. which.
In the Blue Ridge, has some thing OF the eX-
hilarating effect Of champagne, Clayton
wanted 20 climb mountain.
As that is one of my favorlte pastimes. /
consented to accompany and pilot him
But he wanted TO climb certain. partis-
ular mountain. His heart was set upon the
ascent OF that special hill This placed me
IN something OF quaudary / knew very
wei the nature of The ground we must
traverse. and I knew its dense population
Of chiggcrs The laws OF humanity lnti-
mated the wisdom OF insisting upon the
choice Of some other elevation The laws
OF hospitality demanded nqucstoning
compliance with the wishes of my guest
Weighing the conflicting considerations.
] determined that chiggcrs might tore
ment for few days, but that such q view
as was obtainahle from that particular
summit meant the lifelong remembrance
or "a scene of marvellous beauty / d,.
cided 20 immediate myself upon the altar
OF friendly hospitality. ana also Co give
my guest something 90 remember besides
Nlrws from tho top of @ mountain. Away
We went.
As we roso hishcr ana HIGHER up ON the
mouutalueide. more ana more peaks nu-
nelrcd BOO the distance uul moro ana
more chlnerrs Joined ua l0r tnf rest of
their ltfo lives. SIM higher on fhe noun.
tain. Che underground became more dense.
th' little pHth lssH easily followed Tho
valley nroadUnfi under nur Nl,H Co. Hpl.
clouH plain. Hni moro eh.Kaers became Hi-
nrnfi to us. A. We Haf tins upon fhr
summit oar eyes wandered over au a..