The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-23
Man Must GiUe U'ay to Some
Other Creature, Says II. G..
Wells, the English Philosopher
and Maeterlinck, the Belgian,
Suggests the Hide0us Insects.
'Bor7 of a Den7ented Comet"
as Mans Successors

rHE intelligence of the insects be.
comes more fascinating and
= disturbing problem the more 1t
is studied
And now comes the suggestion that the
insects. and most probably the spiders. are
destined 10 supplant man as the rulers Of
the earth. The suggestion gains support
from many scientific arguments. very
remarkable book, The Life of the Spider"
by j. II. Fabre. a French naturalist OF
surprising genius, has just been published
by Dodd Mead & Co.
1t contains a long preface by Maurice
Maeterlinck, the philosophic writer and
hiographer OF the bee. He advances the
idea strongly that the spider may be des-
tlned TO be our successor on earth. From
Maeterlnck's arguments and Fabres OBJ
6erNations IL appears that this insect Is in
many ways much more fitted 10 rule the
earth than man
The spider is absolutely ruthless 1t
possesses poison with which it can kill
or paraiyZe any creature at will. II has
tireless industry and knows neither lazl-
ness nor intemperance. It sustaus life
with great economy 1t Is never led astray
by its passions. II is a superb architect
and craftsman. In its ability TO float
about on line OF web it shows itself TO
have learnt the secret OF the aeroplane
ages before man.
the spider is physically far superior 4
to man.
From the construction OF it's web k
there is reason TO believe that 1t is E
q superb mathematician and geo. a.
metrician. IL appears TO have part
~ solved the problem OF obtaining
energy directly from the sun, for
the young are kept alive III that way
for FIVE or six months. Notwith
standing the mental capacity OF
the spider. il is repulsive creature. Man
has an instructive antipathy to it. To NJ.
Maeterlnck the malignance Of the spider
suggests that IL is creature from another
planet, where life is wholly alien to ours.
The spider's matrimonial relations fill him
with horror.
1.-The marriage customs" he says. ARE
dreadful and, contrary to that which hap
pens in every other world. here It Ia the
female of the pair that stands for strength
and intelligence and also for cruelty and
tyranny, which appear to be their newt
able consequence. Almost every wedding
ends in the violent and immediate death
of the husband. Often. the bride begins
by eating certain number Of euitors.
1.-THE archetype Of these fantastic unions
could be supplied by the Languedocian
scorpions, who, as we know, carry lob
ster-lke claws and long tail supplied
with sting, which is extremely danger
GUS. They have a prelude to the festival
In the shape Of a sentimental stroll, claw
In claw, then, motionless, with fingers
still gripped, they contemplate each other
blssfully. Unfortunately; day and night
pass over their ecstasy while they remain
face to face, petrified with admiration.
Next. the foreheads come together and
touch the mouths-if we can give the
name of mouth to the monstrous orif1ce
that opens between the claws-are Joined
in sort of kiss; after which the union is
accomplished. the male Is transf1xed with
q mortal sting and the terrible spouse
crunches and gobbles him up with gusto."
( Another recent book, 1.-THE Study Of the
Future by Fl. G. Wells. published by
r. w Huebsch, New York;, lends strength
to the theory that the spider may be mans
successor. Mr. Wells argues very forcibly
that man cannot be the ultimate form Of
life on earth.
In 1.-THE Life OF the Spider M. Fabre
gives us a complete biography of the
hack-bellied tarantula, the most terrible
OF all the spiders. Here 1t should be noted
that the author always speaks Of the
underground tunnel for a dwelling. At
bends at an obtuse angle. 1t is at the
elbow OF the tunnel that the tarantula
posts herself as vigilant sentry, watch
ing for victims and enemies.
The tarantula is clever architect The
entrance of her burrow Is surmounted by
a shaft constructed throughout by herself
1t is a genuine work Of architecture,
standing as much as an inch above the
ground and two inches In diameter, SO
that 1t Is wider than the burroM itsela