The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-24

THIS REAI.LY nArrExnn.


How the Rabbit Family Grew ana
TOOK P0saessiOn Of the Ia1a nd.
There are MANY OF US today. not only
boys and girls, but mon and women. too.
Who. II asked about the Easter symbols.
would be completely al loss TO toll how
tile rabbit iaric to be among them The
serpent meaning eternity. as il represents
the cneicss circle when Its tail Is rrisped
In It's mou.h; the ogg representing tho
grave from which life burst forth III tho
suise OF chicken, duck or bird of any kind:
lilies for purity. aud SO on; everything "
clear except tho presence Of the rabbit--
why on earth is a rabbit fitting Easter
symbol?
Tho rabbit signifies tho reproduction OF
life. tho constant sprngins into existence
OF new life from old. and It's ever greater
spread
You all know that rabbits multiply very
rapidly, but that thoy breed more rapidly
than any other animal may he new TO you.
Thereby hangs a tale:
About two hundred yenrs ago. Holland
determined TO colonize ono OF her islands.
which lies about two hundred miles from
the coast OF Africa. II WAS thlckly wooded
with fruit flowers aud edible roots, and
tho home country decided that four or flve
hundred OF the peasants. who could find no
land to farm In Holland, might be ablc TO
turn tho Island Into huge truck farm
and dairy. They were to send things home,
ard In exchange get manufactures until
they had established a little world for
themselves
The people VIM went wcrc very POOR, ibid
took very little with them. hut one woman
In an evil moment, decided 10 take a pntr E
OF pet rabbits. and that act sealed the doom
OF the whole plan. ST
They reached the islrnd In safety, began
to farm, mil we're happy and successful
They found birds and small game In plenty,
md soon, to their Joy, they began To NM
habits. Many a good dinner did they have
OF rabbit pie or stew. and the woman who
had brought the original pair with her from
home was considered n benefactor, for from
this one pair all the others had sprung In
n series OF rapidly succeeding generations.
Then gradually things began TO change;
tho farmers crops were nibbled. and the
woodsmen found the young trees DESTROYED
They grew frightened. The rabbits had be-
come a scourgc. They multiplied aud ate
until the people had 10 fight for every green
leaf they had.
Finally there was nothing left on the
islands hut rabbits and people. aud rabbits
became the peoples only food. But as
there was no food sfor the rabbits them
selves they soon diod off. and left starv-
Ing desolatc settlement upon a desert II
the set
So much for the Justice that is displayod
in the choice Of the long cared, soft-eyed
bunny MS an Easter emblem. But about
those people! They did not all stnrve, toi
the home ship came at last, and instead OF
leaving her cargo and getting stores OF
produce. she carried the wrctched survivors
back To old Holland. M.W'h
LAW MANN.--Bryan, Texas, April u -
Mr.. r.. Marion Law Of this city and MISS
Francis Mann OF Galveston we're married
at the home OF the bride 10 Galveston AZ
s $50 yesterday afternoon. They returned 10
Bryan last night and will be rendered
grand reception at tho home OF Mr.. ana
Mrs. r. n. Bate,
SMITH DUDLEY Gonzales. Tex. April
20 Miss Anna Dudley Of this place ana
Senator l.. r. Smith of Grcenville. MISS,
we're married at tho Presbyterian churcn
Mt II o'clock this morning. Mr. ana Mrs
Smith left on The Southern Pacihc train
nj noon for their future home In Missis-
sippi.
RUSSELL Buffalo. Texas, April 2p,-~
Mr. II. n. Russell. n well-to-do farmer.
living fifteen miles cast OF here, died ~
his homo yesterday OF $3.50 o'clock. ne
viii BIZ buried with Masonic honors ~
Bethlehem cemetery today.