Semi-weekly herald., 1911-01-30
MASSACRE OF THE DRoNgs.

Bee.O
II the skies remain clear, the air
warm, the pollen and nectar abound In
the flowers, the workers. through a
kind OF forgetful indulgence, or over
scrupulous providence perhaps, will. for
short time after the queeh's nuptiai
flight, endure the importunate. disas-
trous presence of the males. These
comport themselves In the ni1e as did
Penelope's suitors In the house of
Ulysses. Indelicate and wasteful, sleek
and corpulent, fully content with their
Idle existence as honorary lovers. they
feast and carouse, throng the alley
ways, obstruct the passages and min
der the work; jostling and jostled,
fatuously pompous, swelled with fool
lish, good natured contempt; harbCr-
Ing never suspicion of the deep and
canculating scorn wherewith the work
ers regard them, of the constantly
growing hatred to which they give
rise, or of the destiny that awaits
tutHi WI thtl pltdoduL
they select the snuggest corners of
the hive; then, rising carelessly, they
| flock to the open cells where the honey
smells sweetest, and soil the combs
they frequent. The patient workers,
their eyes steadily fixed on the future,
will silently set things right.
From noon till 3. when the purple
country trembles In blissful lassitude
beneath the inyincible gaze of July
or August sun, the drones will ap-
pear on the threshold. They have
helmet made OF enormous black pearls,
two lofty. quivering plumes, dou.
blet of iridescent, yellowish velvet,
an heroic tuft, a fourfold mantle, trans.
lucent and rigid. They create a pro
digious stir, brush the sentry aside
over turn the cleaners and collide
with the foragers as they return laden
with their humble spon. They have
the busy air, the contemptuous gait OF
Indispensable gods who should be 81.
nultaneously venturing towards some
destiny unknown to the vulgar. One
by one they sail off into space, IRE
sistible, glorious, and TRANQUILITY make
for the nearest flowers, where they
sleep till the afternoon freshness
awakes them. Then, with the same
majestic pomp, and still overflowing
with magnificent schemes, they re.
turn to the hive, go straight to the
cells, plunge their heads to the neck
in the vats of honey, and fill them
selves tight as a drum to rnnai- thai~
exhausted strength; whereupon, with
heavy steps they go forth to meet the
good, dreamless and careless slumber
that shall fold them In its embrace
till the time for the next repast.
But the patience of the bees is not
equal to that of men. One morning
the long expected word of command
goes through the hive; and the peace.
full workers turn into the judges and
executloners. Whence this word is.
sues we know not; 1t would seem to
ouoaChiy lloM luc COlu, ut.
liberate Indignation OF the workers;
and no sooner has 1t been uttered than
every heart throbs with it, inspired
with the genius of the unanimous re.
public. One part Of the people re-
nounce their foraging duties to devote
themselves to the work of Justice.
The great Idle drones, asleep in un.
conscious groups on the melliferous
walls, are rudely torn from their slum-
bers by an army of wrathful virgins
They awake, in pious wonder; they
cannot believe their eyes: and their
astonlshment struggles through their
sloth as a moonbeam through marshy
water. They stare amazedly around
them, convinced that they must be
the victims Of some mistake; and the
mother idea of their life being first to
assert itself in their dull brain, they
take a step towards the watts of honey
to seek comfort there. But ended for
them are days of May honey, the wine
flower Of lime trees and fragrant am
brosia of thyme and sage, of marporam
and white clover. Where the path
once lay open to the kindly, abundant
reservoirs, that so invitingly offered
their waxen and sugary mouths, there
stands now burning bush all alive
with poisonous, bristling stings. The
atmosphere of the city is changed; In
lieu of the friendly perfume Of honey
the acrid odor of poison prevails;
thousands of tiny drops glisten at the
end of stings, and diffuse rancour and
hatred.
Before the bewildered parasites are
able 10 realize that the happy laws of
the city have crumbled, dragging doSn
In most inconceivable fashion their
own plentiful destiny, each one is as.
sailed ty three or four ENJOYS of ;.s.
tice; and these vigorously proceed to
cut off his wings. saw through the
petiole that connects the abdomen
with the thorax, ampuetate the fever.
ish antennae and seek an opening be.
tween the rings of his cuirass through
which to pass their sword. No defense
ia nffarad hv tho apnrmoupa hut nm