The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-09-27
NEWS ABOUT MOSQUITOES
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post.
 T HE citizen who doesn't make it kOp the business of his life to read all
 the consular reports as fast as they are turned out by the state and com merce departments for popular instruc- tion makes the biggest mistake inlagin- able. Those documents are inexhaustible fountains of rare and unexpected informa- tion. Some are dull. others pureply poetic and insubstantial; but he who examines all of them with tireless industry will reap the priceless rewards of well-spent vigilance.
 Our consul general at Frankfort Ger many. is one of the most abundant con tributors to the delight and entertain ment of the great American public. He Is at least an anxious and constant in- qulrer into things. He writes fluently and with distinct literary charm. And 1t stands on the credit side of his official record that, next to the Hon. Skinner, consult general at Marseilles. France, he has unearthed more hidden gems of in- formation than any statesman of the lot. Of course, Sklnner's discovery of the opulent commerce awaiting us in Abys- sinia will always defy the most inspired emulation but next to that will ever stand, In the grateful recognition of his fellow-citizens-native or adopted-Consul General Guenthers mosquito hypothesis. obtained at first hands from German scientists and, with commendable vigor and dispatch, communicated to this rev erent people.
 The Guenther hypothesis Is that mos quitoes will not. annoy you if you wear white clothing. Dressed in the lighter shades of tan or buff, you may receive more or less languid attention from tho stegomyia In darker raiment-grays or brownsville insects will mike serious notice of your person. In black, your life Is not worth having at any kind of price, The German professors have investigated and experimented with characteristic pa . tience. Their conclusions cannot be chal- lenged save by very impious persons certainly not without incurring suspicion and contempt Consul General Guenther
 
 enlightened and progressive people. We are mighty glad to get this news about mosquitoes right off the reel. It will solve many problems which, during the summer, have kept half Washington awake of nights It will stimulate the manufac- ture and sale of white goods. It will en- able us to revenge ourselves upon the hated gallinipper, and to heal the bitter ness of a million dastard stabs and stings
 All the same, those gentlemen and ladies who propose to spend next summer in this town, or on Long Island, or along the Jersey coast, or in any other locality where the mosquito makes his home, had just as well-perhaps better-adopt the usual expedients, such as wire screens, nets over the beds, fans, wells, rubber boots etc. If they want to sit out in the parks or play in the grass, or strike picturesque attitudes on unprotected gal leries and porches, arrayed in white linen suits, peek -a-boo waists, openwork hos iery, and all the rest of livery well; they will at least have the consolation of feel ing that they have stood by Science to the last grasp and shed their life-blood for the faith. But if they want to keep whole skins and avert those feverish and painful Jumps which prevail so disagreeably Tn mosquito districts, they will be wise to duck the old. time-honored fashion, and resort to every kind of armor and other expedients which have hitherto served to save them, at least temporarily. from sud- den death.
 We dearly love to read about these great discoveries of Science. particularly in re- spect of mosquitoes. yellow fever. typhoid. hollow-horn. bolts, peaehblows, and so or generally; but the government reports possess for us only an academic interest. We always use lard and sulphur for