Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-02-04
LIGHT OF THE GLOW WORM.
That 1t Has Its Uses Appears from
Various observations to
be u Fact.

Not only the origin of the glow worms
light, but the use to which it is put, de-
serves study. There are several theo-
ries of the purpose for which certain or
ganisms have evolved a light-produc-
ing power in the mysterious history of
life. In some cases it may serve to at
tract prey, which comes up to inquire
into the unusual phenomenon, and re-
mains to furnish dinner; in others it
acts as a protective, frightening away
the assailant, much as a burglar may be
driven out of the house by judicious
handling of a two-way switch. A more
simple eason for its existence, writes
w. E. Garrett Fisher, in the London
Mail, is that it serves like the cyclists
lamp, to illuminate a dark road, or en-
able its possessor who lives in the un-
lighted depths of the sea to find the
way about. The old fashioned advocate
Of final causes" who argued that snuff
was the real cause of the human nose,
would have added that the FREELY was
endowed with light-giving powers in
order to decorate the hair of South
American beauties, or to help the heroes
of Capt. Mayne Reid to read secret mis-
sives.
The light of the glow worn comes un-
der yet another classification. The best
opinion seems to be that it is n of the
numerous and fantastic matchmaking
contrivances with which so many of the
lower creation are endowed by nature,
happier therein than man, proud man."
who has to trust his tailor. In Gold
smiths delightful account of Animated
Nature" the suggestion was hazarded-
probably out of Goldsmith's own poetic
head-that the light of the female glow
worm was ian emanation which she
sent forth to allure the male to her COM
pany." Naturalists of the time laughed
at Goldsmith, but he was quite right.
The glow worms light, whether hoisted
by male or female, is as much a sign of
pairing time as the song of the nightin-
gale, the gaudy plumage of the cock
pheasant, or the court dress of the debu-
tante. Prof. Emery's observations in
the pleasant meadows that encircle Bo-
logna show conclusively that the light
of the glow worm is used as a love sig
nal. The female glow worm, in a mar
riageable mood, lights up her lamp like
Hero of Abydos, and keeps it burning
until all the suitors within sight have
formed a circle around her for her to
choose from. There are worse ways of
courtship.
If w are to believe a japanese inves-
tigator who published his results six
or seven years ago, the glow worm can
give our own maidens hints in the useful
art of choosing a mate. He protested
to have ascertained that the light of the
glow worm, when filtered through a suit
able medium, showed the characteristic
properties of the rays then just discov-
cred by Prof. Roentgen, rays which we
can only use through the medium of a
fluorescent screen.
In that case, it is clear enough why
the light is always displayed at mating
time. Appearances are deceptive in al!
ranks of life, and the power of literally
searching the heart" which the Roent-
gen rays bestow upon their lucky pos
SCISSOR, must be simply invaluable to
those about to marry. Solomon long ago
pointed out the value of the ant as a pat
tern to humanity, Our Japanese friend
will be immortal if his discovery teaches
the manageable maiden to initiate the
glow worm, and insist that her rival
SWANS shall Satisfactorily pass the
searching test of the X-rays.