The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-22

years 1t goes through the normal four
moultings by which its cutting sur
faces are renewed. 1t is probable that
for long periods 1t lies dormant with
out feeding and there Is evidence that
beneath the earth it migrates fire.
quently during this time.
In the thirteenth year 1t changes
from the larval to the pupal state and
during the ensuing four years UNDER
goes the normal two moultings OF the
outer shell. Then, when the sixteenth
year nears its end. comes one Of the
most marvellous Of all manifestations
of what men call natural law. Scat
tered over half an empire. buried be-
meath a thousand soils, living on a
hundred foods. while six thousand
rounds of warm sun and cold stars
send flood on this and drought on that,
frost here and scorching heat there; to
each tiny being isolated-and how
terrible that isolation Of the tiny tomb
seems to man-to each OF these scat
tered billions comes unfailingly the
| summons OF one sign, the 204th moon.
| Not the 203d to those who have fallen
well nor the 205th to those who fell Ill.
but to all the same, the last month of
the seventeenth year, the month OF
their life In June sunshine, their flying
| through the air on gauzy wings. OF
sprawling amid the soft green leaves.
their month Of song, Of love, Of pro-
creation and Of death.
The Digging Process> Reversed.
For that each tiny grub. now fat and
strong, grown to a length Of better
than an inch. turns it's armed head
and forepaws upward. Slowly the dig
! ging process Is reversed. The earth
pellets are this time thrust roughly
and unrolled behind, the stones are
| tumbied back, and within one fortnight
| out of 500 all those myriads emerge,
whether they come from ten feet down
or ten inches, whether through clay or
sand, even through hard packed Gin
ders. Yes, even when the point OF
| their emergence Is a !watery hollow
that too is provided for. For the grub
arriving we'll enough beforehand where
earth and water meets turns his bur-
row into a tower. Again rolling and
packing his pellets OF mud he pile;
them about his head and thrusts them
I'D. He builds himself a little tower
to bring him forth dry shod He will
build It for six inches above the flood
solid and dry. and from its top he will
emerge on time.
They must know time as man knows
It. 1t is impossible that the mere pas
sage of the events OF it's senses could
predetermine these plans. for literally
billions of the plans must differ with
billions OF conditions. Or is 1t moi
easier to believe that one Great Intel
ligence directs 1t all?
Into the World Of Green.
So they come. On dry ground abou,
the oak trees whence they fell wher
this years high school graduate was
born. they turn the earth to honey
comb. In wet ground their towers
rise like Jasons mud borne spears
They thrust out into the world Of
green. Straightway they seek one,
more the leafy heights. Slow, heavy
brown. they climb the rough trunks Of
forest giant and smooth barked sap
ling. There the last change, the meta
morphosls from worm to fly. takei
place. A new head. cleaning white
with bright red eyes, breaks through
the old. Strong shoulders thrust aside
the earthly garb Of shell. Little sprout
ing wings Of gossamer beat out free
and slim. feeble legs take FIRST grip Of
bark. shimmering white and tender
yellow and green. the cicada is born.
Those fortunate enough tc witnes,