The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-25
A STUDY IN ARASIIs'
Paper Read Befor,. n
Club OF p.f A..

Paper Read Before.
Club Of OF na naai.s
Quitting the heat and sIs,. !.
streets early in June we san,
for for the he. summer in a vins-e s,sI,s
'age by the neighborins bav
me murmur Of incoming "A.
OF gentle south breezes, tbs ~
and chirp of crickets and MI s'
resttul and soothing. Win. !, ~
tiles for social intercourse v' . ~
we were not without Interest,". ~ &
One early morning Assn. - ~
during the night Dame Arach.s
in and fitted up a chamber !. s' ax
In elegant araneous style j
had been so great and her 49,. .'a
so striking that l determIn.s
study of her mode of life. ~
She was a magnificent cr..,
,,.,,,, IL. - sairts OF black plua N
with silver and gold and boa', ,.''
r rer apar, II was large, bun
quisitely fine silken thread. ss4
irluesoent glitter in the rays i i.
ing sun. In experimenting ~,
delicate Stanchions had suiticisl, Y
to break a strand of 1OO-co,,a. !,
Across the floor of the pavilion u I
woven a pathway of heavy vshs AM.
widened in the center to eo,,'
resting place for her ladysbID. !.
would quietly sit. hour after ban, !.
emily oblivious to all sur,or,.,
let an unwary moth strike his win, I.
the edifloe-presto! she was NM, h
before he could realize what h,s Nj
him he was bound in a sllkar I,
her production and suspended 4 y VIZ
pleasure of her appetite. ~s'a1
Should we approach too ne., !,
merrily swing herself, cbams., \
she evidenced very friendly ~.
her hosts. 's'a'
The number OF flies, moths -,
she ate was something wondered. /
ever, she was no cannibal i
when dainty Miss Ariadne w.. u, e
shimmering light green satin y.
way and was ruthlessly cast an M ny
guest upon the lady of the house n,
little creature was appalled, Al h, !,
ton and sembled death bnt 4, i
dame did not deign to notice II, II,
victim escaped. :
Once l noticed two tiny mites Il,
about the apartment. A mlerOs,.'.
vealed them miniature copies Of M 4,
laine, carrying portions Of Silver /,
upon their backs, from which m,
evidently recently emerged, W.,.
they might be male progeny and \,
them for investigation.
One day soon after the apusa.s,
these the dame seemed out Of sort,
was listless; moths came and went <
Tested; the usual neat chamber was N,
with dust and gnats. We grleyed NJ
lack of a knowledge OF proper reuss
The following morning we iuVr,
guest gone and we mourned her nj
lost. Accident discovered her in h
cluded corner beside parchment !,
nearly her own size. This was I'd
attached to the side Of the houu
strong webbing, The next morul,l
was once more in her chosen home, 4
had been perfectly renewed and NJ
spic and span order.
About this time Madame PeneloN !
to us. She was a homely body, lll..h
and dressed in sober brown. b,a hs
dustry was very remarkable pDuh.;
day she was invisible, but in the glsas
she would emerge and weave ha Il
from the roof of the veranda. 1,
work her motions were wonderfully i
and graceful.
In the morning Penelope aud web
invariably disappeared. Had shs
raveled her netting to use her nat
another time? Or was all this spllll
task never to be completed? Inform
~ | lost the opportunity for nut
servation. One evening she accils,l
let herself drop upon the head d
young lady of the household, Vha
not inspired with the instinct Of sit:
study and was incontinently sent y
end Of the broom, far out ampnI
shrubbery, whence she never reluiIs
Seeing Dame Arachne once more i
accustomed place, the pouch si
from its fastenings and examined. i
found to contain a ball composed dl
dreds of tiny golden eggs sumns
gether and TO solid substance
filled the neck of the pouch. About
mass of soft brown WOOL It wasil
terry how that ball could have been y
and attached to the neck Of TIE
through the small opening,
A few weeks later the lady agll
81 peared from Ter corner on the vtI
She was followed to her former !,
and found beside another nesl,
proved to contain no eggs, thovsa (
IN its construction. Probably some
be deposited in another visit, ).
We had proposed to bring An
Arachne with us to the city for "
fication OF the ladies of ibis cisl
made the necessary preparations, "
fortunately, upon yielding to the ~.
Of the deadly drug employed, le
colors of her gown vanished an'
looked but a common spider ana, I
relate. in a few hours her BODY DAY
and even the graceful outlines Wsn'
while the wicked and voracious Ma
stroyed the eggs and tiny ohsples
we have but an empty pouch y ~. =
Venir of the pleasant and pfon"'
quaintance of the summer, -.
Cora Bacon 10