Evening star., 1920-01-18
HEARD AND SEEN

Our old friend the doodle bug, sci
entifcally known as the ant lion, or
left his impress upon gov
ernmental Washington last week.
For q few minutes scientists at the
New National Museum and the bu-
reau Of entomology, Department OF
Agriculture. gave thought to the
doodle bug, then let him rest in his
cases.
Perhaps they wondered why an in
auiry was made as to the ubiquitous
doodle bug, insect of childhood days,
which lived in the sawdust OF the old
icehouse. and was supposed to come
forth at the singing of song, on,
doodle bug! Doodle bug" But 1t is
certain that none. of them knew why
the doodle bug had come into prom
inence all of a sudden.
How could they know that a Ger
tain lawyer with a great -knack for
cabinetwork had decided to construct
a talking machine? This he did, and,
when completed, a great question
came up. What should he call his
creation? And then whimsical no.
tion came to him.
"Pll call it the doodle bugI he
said, recalling the singing of child
hood that besought the larvae OF the
ant lion, snug at the bottom OF their
tunnels, where they waited for prey
to fall into their jaws, to come forth
to delight the young eye. But the
came up The scientists say that it
sits there motionless for days, until
some unlucky insect falls down the
funnel. Then the wicked mandibles
clasp it tight and hold it there while
the larva sucks the juice of the prey
through the hollow mandibles.
Inquiry was made of the govern
ment departments for pictures of the
ant lion, and excellent ones were
found at last in a. National Museum
bulletin, Directions for Collecting
and Preserving Insects" There the
tribe of neuroptera was found, with
it's suborder. stegoptera, which in
cludes the ant lion, or doodle bug.
Visitors to one home. therefore.
will behold and listen to a talking
machine in outward appearance
much like any Of the different makes
that have come upon the market in
the past two or three years. But in
color on the front. instead Of any of
the usual trade marks. will appear
the picture of the fly state of the ant
lion. or myrmeleon, graceful dragon
fy-like creature.
Above will be the name of the ma
chine, done in gold lettering. And
name, a really more beautiful name.
than was discovered in that old bull
letin of the New National Museum?
The name is 'Myrmeleon."
X
Life's contrasts, and especially it's
comparisons, are often amusing, and
often pathetic. Undoubtedly a great
deal of the present unrest in the
United States is due to the fact that
we know what 1.-THE other fellow" is
making.
But sermons will be left to the
preachers. while we tell a little story
of little colored boy who has the
felicity to go every week to white
folks house." as Booth Harrington
called it. and get and bring the family
wash.
The admiration Of this little bright
eyed colored boy for the modest home
he visits is whole-souled. The whites
his glistening teeth, proclaim that he
thinks this about the finest thing in
the way of home he ever saw.
One day, on his visit, he seemed
loath to go, but stood in the hall,
peeping into the living room. At last
his eyes caught tapestry on the wall.
He looked at it for long time, then
turned to the mistress of the home.
Gee" he breathed. "Ah bets you
all got 'lectric arm, too"
CHARLES e. TRACEWELL.