Evening journal., 1911-07-14


bees talking. Can they talk2 Well
] should say they can. Some might
argue that the bees tongue does not
swing right for speech or the lips are
not flexible enough or some other
lack of conformity to the require
ments OF speech. But all the same
the bee can and does communicate
with other bees and with the bee
keeper. The bee keeper will soon
learn some of the expressions If he
will keep his ears open, and it Will
be well for him TO make it point
TO become acquainted with the Lam
guage Of the bee in the very early
stages OF his bee keeping experience
or he may suffer on account Of his
ignorance
What language does the bee speak2
Why, Of course. the unusual Ian
guage
MOI Not volapiite, nor esperanto;
a better universal language than
either of these and one that is more
easily learned. I do not think any
body has yet analysed the language
or made any attempt TO record its
limitations or its extent The knowl-
edge Of the language has no com
mercial value. but is studied more
for the comfort and safety Of the bee
keeper than for any monetary value
that may attach to IT,
Language is only a series Of signs
these signs have a certain signih-
canoe to a certain number of people,
who agree upon these signs and who
use them often enough to keep them
in memory, but they are nothing to
other people outside OF that circle.
The different people have different
sets of signs And even the language
of a people changes until the people
of a later generation can scarcely
understand the signs Of their fore
fathers.
The language Of the bee has never
changed. but has come down through
the ages in perfect purity. II is the
same in America as in italy or Egypt.
And is the same among all tribes Of
bees-Italian, the Caucasian, the Ger
man-all speak the same language
with the same accent and the same
tone.
A colony Of bees presents the most
beautiful and perfect picture of a
happy and prosperous kingdom. A
kingdom where all take an active part
in the administrations of the affairs
OF the kingdom and where all agree
upon an equable division of labor, and
all partake Of the general prosperity
Such a condition could not exist In
the colony II the bees did not have
some way to communicate with each
other
Bee Keeper Knows Phrases.
A bee keeper soon becomes ac-
cuainted with a few Of the phrases
which are Of most frequent use
among the bees. The first expression
that 1t is wise for one to know and
to understand is that Of anger. An
angry bee, like an angry man or
woman should be let alone. Whether
the bee uses any cuss words is rot
fully determined, but the sound is
just as different as a mans swearing
is from his words and tones of love
making And when tile bees are talk
ing together in the words and tones
yot anger is best to get away and LEI
a. alone. Sometimes two colonies
will get into a quarrel among them
selves and are having their own trou'
blos, just as human beings sometimes
get into trouble with one another, and
the innocent bee keeper comes alonf
Just at that time; now, If he under
stands the language of the bees he
will not tarry long. but II he SHOULD
be ignorant OF the language he nigh
possibly get tangled up in their LITTLE
quarrel before he knows IT,
Another sound expressing a warn
4r.~ 81 In. dino "a la r44ftv l. nfuffnR
aud easily recognized This will b'
given when approaching a hive, WI
drive a cloud OF smoke across thu
entrance. The bees on guard at tn
entrance turn into the hive with
peculiar sound we'll known to ever.
bee keeper and the whole colony
thrown into commotion.
If calamity overtakes them, thei
only hope rests in being able to r.
establish themselves after the calan
fly is past To do this it will
necessary for them to be able to buil
comb. To build comb it is necessar
for them to have plenty of honey. FC
honey is the material of which com
is built Consequently, when n
cry of warning of calamity comes III
worker bees dive into the cells an
I'LL themselves up with honey. TIL
is also the secret of being able
handle bees. The worker bees al
the ones that would ordinarily stin
but now they are so busy filling 4
with honey that they take no notice
you, and there is little to be fear'
from the other bees, for they go {
with the work of the hive as II not
ing unusual were going on.
Can Express Sorrow.
Another part of their language tn
Is quite well understood is the G
preston of sorrow.
If you should take the Queen avn
from a colony II would only be a fe
moments until every one of the fif
thousand or more bees in the hi
would know it, and there would tai
place Immediately a most sad seer
The bees would set up a vail of SO
row-the sound of a sad and solen
dirge. They would run TO and
in disorder They would run out
the hive, climb its sides and fly off,
If seeking her in the air. Both {
sound and the sight are clear
significant Of deep sorrow.
Again their experience of Joy is IL
as distinct Should you return {
Queen to them her return would
beralded with evident delight. Tn,
sorrow would be turned into Joy, a
the sound would indicate the chan
as distinctly as any words could {
press.
The language Of acticity is al
clear, and easily learned. We ha
- III,