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THE COUi:2ti.
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. . . . THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
SCHOOL OF nusic.
Would call the attention of all who desire a musical education to the unequalled facilities offered at this school.
WIXCARD KXMBAX,!,, Director.
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These notes on bees were made by an invalid.
Miss Emma Muhew, whose checrfulnevs and
Interest in life is of the spirit which nothing so
material as pain or monotony can dim. They
appeared in last week's Conservative.
OBSERVATIONS BY AN INVALID.
Emma Maiiew.
I have an observation hive of bees in
my room window. The sides are glass,
thus giving an opportunity of observing
all that goes on in the interior of the
hive. A narrow board waB securely
screwed on the window sill for the win
dow to ebut upon. There was a hole
in this board just large enough for the
extension of the bottom board of the
hive to pass through, and through this
was the exit for the bees. So you see
there was not the least chance for the
bees to gain access to my room, and I
could enjoy watching them without fear
of being disturbed by them.
They never showed any indication of
fear either. In fact, did not appear con
scious of being observed.
Every recollection of them is so
charming that I scarce know where to
begin, or what to select for description.
There was but one frame of comb in my
hive, so it only housed a few thousand
bees. There was one queen, perhaps a
ecore of dronea, and the rest were work
ers. When my nephew brought them
to me and had set up the hive, I asked
him to point out the queen to me, but
being in haste he merely told me that
I would know her as soon as I saw her,
without any showing. This seemed to
me very doubtful, but it proved to be
true. She was a little larger than the
workers and more slender than the
drones, and had an entirely tMJerent
air. It seems absurd to ppeak of state
linees in the movements of such a little
thing, and yet it perfectly describes her
carriage when she was walking about
inspecting her field of operations. Her
soul duty and occupation is laying eggs.
And you will say that this is quite
enough to expect of her when you
realize that an active queen deposits
probably a hundred thousand in a sea
eon, and each one of these is in a cell
by itself. She carefully inspects a cell,
and when it is empty and in satisfactory
order, she turns and deposits an egg in
the far end of it, and at onco passes on
to the next. Several bees attend upon
her constantly, and every few minutes
feed her. At frequent intervals she
becomes apparently quite exhausted by
her efforts, and it is very amusing to see
the lackadaisical manner in which she
indicates her fatigue, lifting first one
foot and then another and letting them
fall as though limp and helpless. Then
ten or a dozen of the workers gather
about her, as thick' as they can stanJ,
all heading towards her, and diligently
stroke her legs and back as though they
were giving her a regular massage.
This they continue until she is suf
ficiently refreshed, which she shows by
suddenly walking off, the attendants
backing out of her way with all possi
ble speed.
Of course, in the hive there is no
chance for flying, and they all walk
about to do their work, and it is curious
to see how they walk over or under in
stead of around one another, seem
ingly too intent upon their destination
to notice obstructions in the route.
How They Make Honey .
When they come in loaded with pol
len they have the most important and
businesslike air imaginable, hastening
to some suitable cell and vigorously
shaking off their loads. I had never
realized before bow many different
colored pollens there are; every shade of
yellow from the palest straw to deep
orange, different shades of red, laven
der, etc. This they use, I think, in
making bee bread. The honey is de
posited in separate cells, but is mixed
with the pollen before feeding to the
larvae.
The nectar gathered from the (lowers
is carried in an interior sac where it is
transformed into honey, and by doub
ling the tongue so it forms a sort of
trough they run the honey into the
cells. This generally is too thin to be
immediately sealed up, so they evapor
ate it by fanning with their wings. To
do thiB four bees would stand together
and make the funniest little whirligig
movements, like little merry-go-rounds,
their wings moving so rapidly that they
were almost invisible.
When the hive gets too hot and needs
ventilating, the bees gel in line and fan
violently till the temperature becomes
satisfactory.
Our bees were Italians, a sort of
brown color, with yellow bands. When
in the hive they looked comparatively
dull and dark, but when flying in the
sun seemed as clear as amber. They
look very pretty when flying for the
first time; which is four or five days
after they are batched. It would seem
to be announced through the bive, as
there would be a general stir and ap
pearance of excitement, messengers run
ning to and fro, and then a rush for the
exit. When outside they circle around
a few minutes, all headed towards the
hive, apparently getting their bearings
and enjoying using their wings, but not
venturing much of a flight. After two
or three such experiments they go out
in search of flowers, and then, it is said,
they often go several miles.
We, you know, are on the third floor
of a down-town apartment house, and 1
fancy some of our neighbors thought us
very inconsiderate of the comfort or
safety of others, when they heard we
were to have bees in such a locality.
But no one was disturbed by them, for,
starting from such a height they re
mained up in the air until approaching
flowers.
This I cannot speak of from observa
tion, but it is truly wonderful how
muci of their indoor life can be seen,
ani ho fascinating it all is.
The Yocnu Befs .
My enthusiasm is almcbt beyond the
power of expression whea I think of the
pleasure such a hive of bees affords an
invalid. There is no noise or commo
tion, and yet such a variety of interest.
You can see the tiny egg deposited, a
little white thing, resembling in size
and shape a very small grain of rice,
:S5S5Sl5lllfl
YOU WILL lLWyY5 FIND
The best of everj'thinf in the grocery line at the
Good Luck Grocery.
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S53
stuck in the bottom ot a cell. In three
or four days the larva is hatched, and
being bountifully fed by the young bees(
who are the nurses, it grows very rapid
ly and soon nearly fills the cell. The
bees add a supply of food and cap the
cell with wax. In due time, about
three'weeks after the egg was laid, the
full grown bee emerges. When the
outside bees observe that the nymph is
gnawing her way out, they each as they
pass by give a nip or two at the opening
which thus soon becomes large enough
for her to pass through. She steps out
and looks about in a half dazed way for
a moment, then carefully removes the
veil from her head, and deftly makes
her toilet.
She then reminds me of a little Qua
ker maiden, being light colored and
fragile in aspect (.like a plant grown in
the dark) with her dainty wings, which
have never yet been spread, folded so
demurely by her sides. You know the
bees require large wings for their long
flights, but as they often have to work
in a cell, they have a pair of wings on
each side which they hook together and
spread out as one when flying, but when
unhooked slip one under the other so
they take up little room as they go into
the cell. Of course we could not see
these hooks except with the aid of a
microscope. But we could, with the
naked eye, see their dear little tongues!
Doesn't that seem almost incredible?
There were openings for ventilation in
the top and ends of the hive, which
were covered with wire netting, and if
a lump of moist sugar or a string wet
with honey were held close to one of
them, the bees would be at once at
tracted and dart forth their tiny red
tongues, which I should think may be
an eighth of an inch in length and as
large as a fine sewing needle.
It is because you have so wide a cir
cle of acquaintances that I am sure you
must know many persons to whom
such a family of visitors would be a
delight, that I have attempted such a
lengthy description of what makes an
ideal pastime for an invalid; is invalua
ble in a nursery to amuse and instruct
the little ones; and would be a perpet
ual delight in a home for incurables or
for convalescents.
Besides all the work which the bees
do in bringing up their large families,
storing up their own winter supplies
and bringing in an abundance of honey
for our consumption, pollenating the
fruit trees, and many other things, they
find time to play most of the games
which active boys enjoy. You fancy I
am drawing on my imagination now,
but a few hours watching would con
vince you to the contrary.
WANTED ACTIVE .MAN OFGOODCHAK
actcr tu delirer anil collect in Nebraska for
old established manufacturing wholesale
house. iDUOa year sure pay. Our reference,
any bank in any city. Enclose self-addressed
stamped envelope. Manufacturers, Third Floor,
XU DcarbornStClitcaeu.
The COURIER
And any One Dollar
Woman's dub Magazine
Jlill
First Pub. Sept. 9t.
In the district court of Lancaster county. Ne
braska. Herbert B.riawyer,
vs.
Rufus E. Wedgo and Mildred J. Wedge, his
wife, Charles R. Kidwall and Amanda An
derson, formerly Amanda Kidwcll, wife of
Charles R. Kidwell, Levi Wilhelm, and Al
vin Nelson, and Martha A. Nelson, his wife.
Rufus E. Wedge and Mildred J. Wedge, bia
wife, Charles K. Kidwell and Levi Wilhelm will
take notice that on tlie-Ird day of August, IW,
Herbert If. Sawyer, plaintiff herein, tiled his
petition in tho District Court of Lancaster
county, Nebraska, against said defendants, the
object ami prayer of which is to foreclose a
certain mortgage executed by the defendants,
Kntus E. Wedge and Mildred J. Wedge to one
James K-Seeler upon lots 13 and 14 in block :i
of W. H. Irrine's second addition to the city of
Lincoln, located on the north one-half in H ',
of the southwest quarter ( s w U ). of the south
west quarter isw'ilof section eighteen 1 18 ,
township ten (10). in range seven I). east, to
secure the payment of a certain promissory
note dated September 1, 1MJ0, for the sua of
seven hundred J7U).U) dollars, with interest
at seven percent per annum and due and pay
able on the first day of October. ISirfi, and that
there is now due upon said note and mortgage
the sum of twelve hundred (SI3JO CD) dollars,
that said note and mortgage has been duly
assigned nd is now owned by the plaintiff.
Plaintiff further prays in his petition that a
mortgage executed by t harles K. Kidwell and
Amanda Kidwell to the said Rufus E. Wedge,
and by the said Rufus K. Wedge assigned to
Levi Wilhelm for the sum of $160.W, given Feb
ruary 16. 1S93, bo declared a subsequent and in
ferior lien to that Of tho plaintiff.
Haintff further prays for a decree that the
defendants be required to pay this said mort
gage of $1:5)0.00 and that said premises may bo
sold to satisfy the amount fonnd due. You and
each of yon aro required tu answer said peti
tion on or before Monday, the 8th day of Octo
ber 19U0.
Dated August 28. 1M0.
Herbert B. Sawyer, Plaintiff.
By A. W. Field, bis Attorney
H. W. BROWN
Druggist and
Bookseller.
Fine Stationery
and
Calling Cards
127 So.Bleventh Street.
PHONE 68
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