The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-08
MOSQUITO NATURE is QUEER.
Things the Hnclxensack Sage Says
They VIII and They Wont Do.
From the New York Sun.


From the New York Sun.
Amt seen as many 'skeeters as they
be this summer fer over twenty years,
remarked the sage of the Hackensack, as
he filed his corncob pipe with dog's-leg
tobacco, lighted it and proceeded TO raise
a smudge through which no mosquito
could penetrate.
IT'S the only thing that's keep 'em
off'n ye," announced the sage, oracu-
larry, from the cloud of smoke which en-
veloped him. Some people pin their
faith to pennyr'yal lie. but, laws, that
jest serves to attrack the critters. They
smell the lie a long ways off, an that
tells 'em that there's somebody as don't
want 10 get bit. Now, nachully a 'skee-
ter I'D rather bite some one as don't
want to be bit than one that don't keer;
that's 'skeeter natur as well as human.
People allus take more trouble to git in
whar they amt wanted, an so do 'skee-
ters.
did We ever notice how a 'skeeter'll
poster round outside a nettin', an buzz
an sing an carry on like all possessed?
May be dozen people settin outside,
jes' waitin' to be bled, that that 'skee-
ter amt satisfied till he crawls inside and
takes ca peck at some one who's hidin'
from Rim.
by the way, I've noticed that ever
sence people begin putin up them wire
nettin's around their porches an at their
winders 'skeeters has been gettin' small
er an smaller. That's SOS they kin get
through the holes. Mighty seldom you
see one o. them real, ole-time Jersey
'skeeters, as big as hummin' birds. Why.
I'VE knowed city hunters to come back
from the medders with a whole bag of
'em, thinkin' they was reedbirds or snipe.
But, as / say, the breeds gittin' smaller
an smaller to fit the new, fine-wove 'skee-
ter nettin', until some on 'em ain't big
gen gnats.
Now, I never had skeeter nettin in
my house. an l set out yere on the porch
every night a-smokin', still l don't suffer
none from skeeters. They know the
place is wide open, so there amt no par
ticular fun in comm down here an Bit
in me when they's so many 'skeeter-proof
houses to be burglarized. AS said afore,
that's "skeeters natur; they're happier
where they amt wanted, fer like human
bein's. 'ssDose they like some excite
ment with their business, an they don't
keer Tor blood. when IL comes too easy.
Then there's another thing about 'skee
ters that few folks knows. Ef they did
there wouldn't be no use fer all these
here intments that the drug store men
sell to cure their bites. Now skee-
ter's bite is perfectly harmless ef you'll
let him alone while he's bitin'. It's
disturbln' the inseck while he's at his
meal that makes him mad. 1t does most
anybody.
"Ef you scare him a way or smash him
before he gets enough. he don't have time
to draw out his bill, which breaks off
in your hesh an makes sore spot. Now.
the mex time 'skeeter settles onto you,
jest set perfeckly still an let him get his
I'll. Either he'll pull out his bill an fly
away peaceable like. leavln' only n little
red spot where he drilled We; or else, II
he's pig an don't know when he's got
enough, he'll swell up an bust. savin'
you the trouble of smashin' him.
Most folks amt got the patience to
set still an see measly little 'skeeter
sappin' their nfe's blood, but then a
'skeeter don't draw much, an what he
gets is as good fer you as II is fer him.
In my day the doctor didn't think nothln'
Of drawing a pint o blood out'n We fer
yer health, an IL takes lot o. 'skeeters
10 tap ye of that much Then, too. a
'skeeters bill ain't so long as a doctors
an it's lots easier 10 settle"
Here the sage laughed exploslvely from
between his almost toothless gums. fair
~ beIching forth a cloud OF smoke and
mlrth. Then SOLDERING suddenly. he con-
tinued:
"Tey's another funny thing about
skeeters. they're skeered o sperrits. /
don't mean Jersey lightnin'. an seen
truck ! mean chooses. han'ts, some peo-
pie calls 'em. There's a hanted house
over here In Kearny. that never had
'skeeter screen sence IT'S been built an
that's nifty year an more. Yet nobody
ever saw skeetef in 10. They'll ny up
20 within two feet Of that house an then
shv OF an ecoot like they had btleincap
somer's else.
Il knowed n tramp onct that leaned up
against that house an went 10 sleep. His
shoes was full o holes, on the skeeters
BIZ bis feet eos they was all swelied No.
but they never touched bis face nor
hands W see his feet stuck out beyond
the dead line which the ba'nfE bad draw
ed around che house People o. lived in
that house spell said Il Was aim0F
worth bein peHtsred with SHORES - Sc
- ~ fksefert. - ] reckon sperrifs-sn
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