St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-10-10
JUNE BUGS IN SWITZERLAND.
Legend Which Attributes to Them
Wonderful Power as Rain
PrOdEcerv.

| PrOdGcers.
The big, buZzing June bugs which
come out in such numbers on warm sum
| mer nights at mountain and Lakeside
resorts are popular with no one, and ar
especially objects of disgust to the fai
summer girl. Not that the June bug!
do any intentional harm. They are sim
ply stupid, laundering bugs which fly
about aimlessly, and after few shor
weeks of summer existence seem to dis
appear as mysteriously as they come
But they possess such dire possibilitie:
in the way of flying in the summer girls
face or becoming entangled in her hail
that they are voted with much empha-
sis s.horrid things" In some parts OF
the world, however. especially in the
smaller villages of Switzerland, the June
bug was once held in high esteem. Il
was known as the thunder bug" and
was highly regarded by the ignorant
peasants ON account of its supposed
ability to bring rain. Es
The legend as to the cause which led
to this belief in the June bugs Won
drous powers is curious one. At one
time small Swiss village was suffer
ing from a drought which threatened a
total destruction Of the seasons crops.
Prayers had been said in the village
church, other rain-making plans had
been tried, but to no avail. The peas
ants were in despair.
At this crisis q travelling man. who
was evidently good deal of practical
joker, arrived in the village. When he
heard of the trouble of the peasants he
gravely told them that there was an
easy way out of the difficulty. All that
was necessary was to go to the city of
Basic and purchase some thunder. The
rain would follow in due time.
So delegation of the simple villag-
ers visited Basle and entering the larg-
est store in the city asked for some
thunder. At first the clerk was amazed.
Then, entering into the spirit of the
thing, he promised he would get them
the desired thunder. Stepping out of
the store into back yard he caught
number of June bugs. These he impris-
oned in a box, which he handed to the
villagers The June bugs. indignant at
their imprisonment. of course kept up
4 buzzing and rumbling in the box.
which sounded like the faint, far on
of thunder.
"There is your thunder in that box"
,aid the clerk But you must be care
'ul not to open 1t until you reach your
village"
The delegation departed rejoicing.
carrying their thunder box" with them.
They restrained their curiosity until
he confines of the village were reached.
But the mysterious box was often
passed from hand to hand and held at
he ears of the members of the delega-
ion, and each wondered at the faint,
'olling sound which seemed to come
rom within. So intent were they on
he mysterious box that they did not
lotice how the black rain clouds were
bling up back of them.
At the limits of the village their curl
'sity was too great to be restrained.
The box was opened. Out flew the
thunder bugs" to the dismay Of the
But in their fight they took
course directly over the village.
In the village the delegation, rather
explained how the "thun-
er bugs" had disappeared. The vexa-
ion of the villagers, however, was part
: assuaged by the assurance that the
aunder producers had flown directly
yer the village. It vanished entirely
,hen a few minutes later there came a
,ud clap of thunder. Soon the rain was
curing down in torrents. The crops
ere saved. and of course, in such cir
INSTANCES. the most skeptical peasants
ere forced to admit that the saving
ain was produced by the thunder
ugs." -.#.g gs
For many years after this occurrence
une bugs we're held in high esteem in
lat canton Of Switzerland The super
:ition that they can produce thunder
as practically vanished, but even to this
~ the loud buzzing bugs are regarded
18th friendly eye, and it is deemed the
orst of bad luck to kill one of them.