Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-15


much less than were ever known, that
wonder why certain romancens atray
80 far In farcy when the facts arc 30
much more extraordinary.
Take as common examples. the ants
and spldos. They are probably the
eldest civilized racca on earth, and
how much ooes the average person
know about thcmr Ages before Tho
frat man drew breath tho ants We're
building their akyscrapers OF clay,
logging their slaves, milking their
coTa. and making war on their hostile
neighbors: while tho spiders were
weaving marvellous tapestries. sailing
In aeroplanes (Which We might iInl-
tate with profit. building Ingenious
scaling ladders. and otherwise Win
ming their way n; master craftsmen
OF tho world. They ana the ants
were the frat. ana they may be tho
last. Already over the graves OF
countless forgotten nations they arc
respectively rearing their walls. weav.
Ing their fabrics, ard tlrclcssly push.
Ing GU with their engineering enter.
prises ~ when the earth was young.
We speak Of the spider M she. be-
cause the family Is mostly feminine,
tho male appearing to take no part
IA designing. constructing. or decorat-
Ing the dwelling. and Is. scld.3ra found
inhabitins II oven as the temporary
t.ncst OF his mate. Ono Will rarely
find the scxcs assocIatlng Mt ALT
not IN tho nature OF the female II
dwell in harmony with her mate, and
should no be bold enough 10 make
tender advances. his reception Is or
ten extremely discouraSing. In fact,
eourtsiip for him Is frnnsht with con
siderable dansar. The female hns 10
DO approached with the utmost cir
cumaDecticn. anii even when, after
much patient wocing. sho appears TO
be in Il merry mood and like enough
TO consent. he must sull IT,, alert and
tietrustful, 1.-THE cruct fair ono bas
been known 10 rTcfer, on. sudden I'm
pulse. q headleSs mato. and eventual.
~ - devour him.
The SpIder's Door.
When the sp.ier builds hor home,
the lining or waInscoting Is continu-
Gus with the frame OF the door, OF
which Il also forms the hinge; indeed.
the dcor may ha regarded simply as
BIT OF tho wall attaches the tioo-
By ties ut = nrmber OF points round
tho edges TO The margin, or the Ei,l.
Thus 1t is woven on Il frame. Just as
medieval tapestry wna wrought on a
trsmo. and tho tics nro aiterward So
yercd. the spIdcr. biting through them
until the edges .oR tho door arc free
everywhere except II the hinge. One
e!paciAs builds spurlike projection
outside ANA above tho hinge. THIS IS
supposed to be n leyes BY means o,
which tho spider can open hfT DOR
conveniently when returning .ioine
from 8 s,ray for food.
The doors are OF two styles OF ar
ch.iecturo. quite distinct and OF start.
ling dRslmtlarity. Those made by
spidars abundant III Southern Europe
ani 81 the Weat Indies nre light as
cf ilal.y silk aud ara much larger
than the opening ort.donrway. The
other! and conmoneri Style 70 thick
md heayy, though Beautifully beYeled
roond the edge and mado 10 lit 'tieh.
Int tho mouth oc tho tnlu. which IS
siniiiarly beyciei to receise it-inst
IA r cors f,ts int the neck os Il wide
mouthed bottle. No surprise peed be-
occas.nnsi by this care u hava y
snug att!pg door; tor no animal has
niorn cangsrons and persistent enc
raiss than thel spider, certain minute
Insect; & Ing so f;.y IN 10 iay' their
eggs ,ns!de the csss Of spiders when
ever they can. rs II result, the work.