The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1918-03-15
LIGHTNING Bugs AND GLOW WORMS

LIGHTNING BUGS AND GLOW WORMS
An item of news that will be of vital inter-
est to the people of Mariana is the announce
ment that number of public-Spiritcd, patriotic
citizens who have recently devoted much study
to scientific experiments of an cntomologi-
cal nature have made the discovery that by
proper breeding and handling and with a diet
OF equal parts of phosphorcscent and sulphure-
GUS substances, the common lightning bug or
luminous beetle OF the Lampyridae and Elate-
rlade families can be dOmeSticated and by in
fensive breeding under forced conditions that
make for marvellous increase in the progeny
and through the application of an Edisonized
atmospheric chemical designed to assist nature
in the over-development of the lampyrid for
nations that supply the luminosity emitted by
these tropical insects light and power can be
produced in sufficient quantities to make the
otherwise insignificant bug a valuable CONNER
cial asset
Investigation into this heretofore unexplor
ed field were first suggested several years ago
when psychologists unearthed tablets in Baby
lonian ruins bearing hierogyphics showing
that the light and power systems that furnished
the Egyptians with these household and in
dustrial commodities were supplied by un-
known processes through which the glow was
extracted from the glow-worm and the light
from the lightning bug and that by the proper
marShaling of these forces from the tiny dyna-
mos, a commercial product superior in quality
and consistency over the output of artificially-
made electrical energy was obtained.
The immediate cause for local interest in
the possibilities of utilizing these gifts from
nature is found in the fact that the company
under contract to manufacture and supply
lights and power here has been busly en-
gagged the past two years in forming elaborate
plans for the Improvement OF the plant that 1t
has carelessly forgotten or overlooked the
minor matter of furnishing its patrons with
service pending the indefinite time when its
officers decide that Mariana has graduated
from the Tank Town class and is i'll an advanc-
ed stage Of civic development where the COM
pany could, with business propriety, expend
the funds necessary to at least put the service
lightning bug basis.
Apparently convinced that the company
has settled on fixed policy to operate on
tri-wcekly schedule TRY one week and fail the
next and that lights and power necessity
in Marianne only every other day-that plants
depending upon electrical energy for power
ought to practice conservation during the
period of the .warr-that school children dO not
have enough holidays and that school property
will last longer if it is utilized only four instead
of five DAYS in the week--that water for do
mcsic purposes should be used more sparingy,
and that fires if left alone, will ultimately die
down without the necessity for wasting. the
precious Undetermined of all these things.
and more, the business men who do not take
kindly to the implied suggestion that we return
To the days of the tallow dip and the pine knot
and the Old Oaken Bucket have announced
their readiness to become financially interested
in a new organization to promote the .propa-
cation of an improved breed OF flrc-flleS In
sufficient numbers to furnish Marianne with a
perpetual aurora borealis, in order that suffic-
tent time may be given the Arkansas Llght-lessl
and Powcr-lcss Company to hatch its incubat-
ing plans for improving its seldom service.