The sun., 1901-06-30
MOSQUITO NATURE ~ 0UgHR.
Ihinss the Hackensaok Sage sayS Thsy WIN
and They wont DO.

Amt seen as many 'skeeters a. they be
this summer fer over twenty years. re-
marked the sage Of the Hackensaok. as he
filed his corncob pipe with dog s-leg tobacco.
lighted Il and proceeded to raise smudgs
through which no mosquito could penetrate
IT'S the only thing that'll keep 'em oh'n
ye." announced the sage. oracularly. from
tho cloud Of smoke which enveloped him.
some people pin their faith to pennyr'yal lie.
but. laws. that jest serves to attrsck the
critters. Thcy smell the lie a long ways on.
an that tells 'em that there's somebody az
don't want to get bit. Now. nachully
'skeeter 'ud rather bite some one - don't
want to be bit than one that don't keer: that's
'skeeter natur as veil as human. People allus
take more trouble TO git in whar they amt
wanted, an so do 'skeeters.
did ye ever notice how a 'sksetsr'u poster
round outside a nettin'. an buzz an sing an
carry on like all possessed? May be dozen
people settn' outside, jes' waitln' to be bled.
that that skeeter amt satisfied till he orawls
inside and takes a peck at some one who's
hidn from him.
by the way. I've noticed that ever senos
people begin putin up them wire nettin's
around their porches an at their wlnders
That's sos they kin git through the holes
Mighty seldom you see one o them real. ole.
birds BIRDS Why. I've knowed city hun ters to come
back from the medders with a whole bag OF
'em. thinkin' they was reedbirds or snipe.
an sa .mssr ss "a sSy 4. the n. n.s tR
Now | never had 'skeeter nettin' In my
house an sst out yer%s % on the porch c. egeIy frey
'skeeters. They know the place is wide open,
90 there amt no particular fun IN comm
down here an bitin me when they 80
many skeeter-proof houses to be burglar
lied. As | said afore. that's 'skeetsrs natur.
they're happier where they amt wanted. Ter
like human bein.s. s'pose they like some e1.
keer for blood when IL comes too easy.
Then there's another thing about skeeters
that few folks knows. III they did there
that the drug store men sell TO cure their bites;
Now a 'skeeter's bite Is perfeckly harmless ef
you'li let him alone while he's bitin'. It's dis.
turbn' the inseck while he's at his meal that
makes him mad. II does most anybody.
"Ef you scare him away or smash him be-
fore he gets enough, he don't have time TO
draw out his bill. which breaks on in your
fesh an makes a sore spot. Now. the mex
time a 'skeeter settles onto you, Jest set per-
feckly still an lot him get his fll. Either
h ts na 1g' ohs hs s . w rsd aS spG R%Ss re
drilled We, OF else. II he's pig an don't know
when he's got enough, he'll swell up an bust
kaNln you the tTOnDle OF NinuSnln nun
Most folks amt got the patience to set
still an see measly little skeeter sappln'
their life's blood, but then skeeter don't
draw much, an what he gets Il as good fer
you a. il Is fer him. In my day the doctor
didn't think nothin' Of drawing a pint o blood
ou'n We fer yer health. an II takes lot o.
'skesters TO tap ye Of that much. Then. TOO,
a 'skeeters bin amt so long a. doctor =
an It's lots easier to settle.
Here the sage laughed eXplosively from
between his almost toothless gums, fairly
belching forth a cloud OF smoke and mirth.
Then sObcring suddenly. he continued
"Teys another funny thing about skeet-
ers they're skeered % sperrits don
mean Jersey lightnin'. an sech truck.
mean ghos IA. hHntS. some people calls ON.
There's a hanted house over heron kearny.
that never had a skeeter screen sence
is been built an that's fifty year an
more Yet nobody ever saw skeeter In II.
They II Az up to within two feet OF that house.
an then shy of an' scoot like they had business
somer's else
Il knowed tramp onct that leaned up
against that house an went to sleep HIS
shoes was full o. holes, an the skeaters bit
his feet SOS they was all swelled up. but they
never touched his face ner hands Ie see his
feet stuck out beyond the dead line which the
hants had drawed around the house. People
IA lived IN that house a spell said twas limos
worth ben' pestered with chooses TO git rid
Of 'skeeters. So | reckon sperrits an dog-leg
tobacCy's the only sure cures