Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-05-18
THE ANTS WISDOM.
Useful Lessons We May Learn from
the Little Insect.
DR.. Tsf~sEe Draws an fnterestine
sermon from Realm seldom
Jtgtfxcd for Moral or Re-
liaious Purposes.

iIcu tOF moral ana renglouS pur-
poses; text. Proverbs, Vi. 6-S. Go
TO the ant. thou sluggar6. consider
her ways and be wise. which. having
no guide. overseer or ruler. provideth
her meat in the summer and gather
eth her food in the harvest"
The most of Solomon's writings
have persisted. They have gone out
Of existence as thoroughly as the 20
books OF Pliny and most of the books
% Aeschylus and Euripides and
Narro and Quintihan. Solomon's
Song and Ecclesiastes and Proverbs.
preserved by inspiration. are a small
part OF his voluminous productions.
He was great scientist. One verse
in the Bible suggests that he was
bOtsnist. a zoOlogist. an ornitholo-
gist. an ichtbyologist and knew al
about reptilia. l. Kings w.. 80, He
spake OF trees. from the cedar tree
that Is In Lebanon even unto the
hyssop that springeth out of the
wall; he spake also OF beasts and 81
fowl and Of creeping things and OF
fishes" Besides al these scientific
works. he composed 5000 proverbs
and 1.905 songs.
sAANnNMAM SOLOMON AHhtA ANNA W.
fore the microscope was constructed.
he was also an insectologist and
watched and describes the spider
build its suspension bridge OF silk
from tree TO tree. calling IL the
spiders web. and he notices its skill
ful foothold In climbing the smooth
wall Of the throneroom I'm Jerusalem
saying: The spider taSoth hold
with her hands and is in kings pal
aces" But hc is especially interest
eel in the ant and recommends its
habits as worthy OF study and imi-
tation. saying. SEQ TO the ant. thou
sluguard. consider her ways and b.
wise, which. having no guide. over
seer or ruler. provideth her meat in
the summer and gathercth her food
Ia the harvest"
hut IL was not until about 500 years
ago. when Jan Swammeriam. the son
~ an apothecary at Amsterdam. Hol-
land. began the study of the ant nm
der powerful lens that the fun force
81 Solomon's- injunction was under
stood. The great Dutch scientist. in
his examination Of the insect in my
text. discovered as great display
OF the wisdom Of God In its anatomy
a astronomers discover in the heav-
ems. and was 80 absorbed and
wrought upon by the wonders he dis
covered IN the ant and other insects
that body and mind gave way. and
he expired az s3 years OF age.
martyr OF the great science o. in
sociology.
No one but God could have fash
81
text or given 30 such genius % in
stinct. IRIS wisdom for harvesting al
thc right time. its wonders of antcn-
nae. by which 10 gathers food. and OF
manlibles. which. instead OF the mo-
tion Of the human Jaw mp and down,
in mastication. move from side 90
side; its nervous system. its en-
larging doors in hot weather for
more sweep Of hreeze. its mode or
attack and defense. closing the gate
az night against bandit invaders: its
publication OF the earth for human
| residence. its social life. its repub-
/ hcan government. with its consent
/ OF the governed; it's maternal fdeli-
/ ties. the habit Of these creatures of
| gathering now and then under the
/ dome of the ant hillock. seemingly in
consultation, and then departing to
! execute their different missions.
But solomon would not commend
an the habits Of The ant. for some OF
| them are as bad as some of the hab-
\ It's Of the human race. Some OF these
small creatures are desperadoes and
murderers. Now and then they mar
shall themselves into hosts and march
/ IN straight line and cou7e unor, an on
campmcnt Of their own race and de-
stroy its occupants. except the
/ Young. whom they carry into captiv-
ity, and IL the army come back with
ous any such caPtives they are not
/ permitted 10 enter. but are sent forth
TO make more successful conquest.
Solomon gives no commentator to
such sauguinary behavior among in
sects any more than he would have
commended sanguinary behavior
among men These little creatures
have sometimes wrought fearful
damage. and they have undermined n
town in New Granada. which in time
may drop into the abyss ihey have
dug for il.
But hat are the habits which Sol
ONION would enjoin when he saws:
Consider her ways aud be wise p"
First OF all. providence. forethorght.
anticipation Of coming necessities. i
am sorry 20 say these qualities are
not characteristic OF all ants. These
creatures Of God are divided into
-anlvOrous and carnivorous. The
latter are not frugal, but the former
are frugal While the air is warm