Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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So much h; s been heard regard ing the diseas ^-carrying abilities of ? flies that we have begun to look upon them as most dreadful crea tures. We w<ll know that they are accustomed tc light upon very ob jectionable sul stances after which we do not care to have them any nearer us or our fO"d than we can help, if for nothing more than a matter of cleanliness. ? A health off cer recently told me a little story 02 how some of these little mischie -makers were appar ently "caught In the act" of spread ing disease ar;ong the soldiers at a certain camp where typhoid fever had claimed mmy victims. The flies were suspectet , and so several men went to an o d dump of waste at the flies' mea time and were not disappointed it finding the place well attended by tJh * enemies they sought. "With consider; ble skill they succeed ed in throwing some flour over them as they were ? njoying their repast. A little lat x in the day it was noticed that : ies well dusted with flour were mt rching over the meat and other eat bles in the large kit chen wnere f >od was in course of preparation fc r the soldiers. Army authorities set to it nowadays that ""mess" ihouses are thoroughly screen ed, as well a 3 other places where food is expose i so far as it is possi ble to do it. J While the :ommon house fly, or the blow-fly t ere described, are not poisonous or ii fectious in themselves, they may carr impurities from place to place, and when we examine one under a microscope, or even a good magnifying ?lass, we will find them v;ell fitted to carry foreign matter about on their hairy bodies and legs. ?Possibly every "pest" has its re ' deeming qualities, and ceitainly the blow-fly for example, and besides this he now lhas the disticiion of be ing studied as the most promising pattern for a flying machine by one scientific man. This fly is readily distinguished from the house-fly, be ing larger and of a blackish color, with steel-blue abdomen. He shows his good taste by his stron gattrac tion to the odor of '-ookiniy, especial ly of meat and vegetables. When he has nothing else to occupy his time he amuses the baby by buzzing down the window pane, and then walking up the glass and repeating the novel performance. He ceases to be amusing to the I housekeeper, howsver, when she j finds, notwithstanding 'here careful ! ness, that some fresh meat she put on a shelf, until a place could be made for it in the reflgerator, has been "fly-blown." That is, the blow flies have deposited their eggs on it. This is one of the objectionable tricks of these fellows, nor do they select fresh meat as a cradle for their off spring necessarily, as decaying flesh or cheese and nitrogenous vegetables are also favorite places. It is -far from pleasant to imagine the sufferings of wounded soldiers during hot weather when visited by these pests. However annoying is the blow-fly on every occasion where opportunity offers, his clue as a scav enger in warm climates would be dif ficult to calculate. From the occupation of a carrion remover alone the great naturalist, Linnaeus, declared that the progeny of but three such flies would consume the carcass of a dead horse as speed ily as a lion! This statment, al-j though somewhat exaggerated, fur nishes some idea of the wonderful j egg-laying power and rapid develop- j ment, as well as the astonishing vor-| acity of the immature members of1 this family. The eggs are deposited in great numbers, and hatch in twenty-four hours, and the numberless myriads of maggots soon make way with the substances upon which they are plac- i ed. In a few days they attain their full development, when they crawl j aside into a place for protection and transform into pupae, or little cases 3? from which they later emerge, full fledged flies. An interesting fact about flies, which many do not know, is that they do not grow. That is, they attain their full size in the pupa state and emerge from this state full grown. Therefore the small flies you see will never urrow any larger, as they be long to a smaller species. When one of these flies is examined under the magnifying glass or microscope there is much to be admired about him, even if some of our friends of the gentler sex call him "perfectly horrid," after taking a peek at his grotesque countenance under a glass. A very low power is used, of about ton to fifteen diameters, and even then the whole fly cannot be seen at once. Under the microscope. A front view of the head of a blow-fly is shown in Fig 1. The "thousand eyes," or composite eyes, are best observed from this view. The beauty Top ojT\FbPefbo? of coloring or marvelous construction of a fly's eye car not be well describ ed in printer's ink. It must be seen to be appreciated. However, for the time being you may imagine the appearance of an enlarged, convex, oval-shaped organ dotted all over its surface with geo metrically perfect hexagonal-shaped depressions, as v. made by a marvel metal worker. You may well imag ine the beauty of such a wonder fully checkered surface when the light brings out its rich maroon col oring, of rich golden brown and changeable greens as are found in some specimens. After seeing this spectacle you feel that tJhere is noth ing else on this creature worth look ing at?but 'here is. I would call your attention to the deicate, fern like antennae, the bristly an spike like hairs on the front and top of the headj also the black bands resembling "patent leather," which borders the eyes, separating them from the mid dle p-?.rt of the head. Tne mouth is very complicated and is provided with a probosis or suck ing apparatus, the end of which is seen at the lower middle part of the head. A detailed drawing of this from a mounted specimen is shown in Fig. 3. It suggests the fur-cover ed foot and leg of an Esquimau. The "foot" part reminds one of a red ribbed bed-room slipper. The ribs serve .the purpose of stretching out the elastic and elaborate sucking sur face, whiclh you have seen so often planted upon a stray igrain of sugar which fell out of its proper place. The dark front and back muscles and their attachments are very clear ? ly seen under the microscope, as shown in the drawing. The darker parts are reddish in color, while the other surfaces are of a yellowish col or. The two little tborned organs at the back are feelers. Wlhen the pro bosis is drawn up they are in just the right position to examine anything which is near that organ. A foreleg of this animal is shown in Fig. 3. Under a low power ob jective it looks like a small, black tree trunk, covered with small hairs, and in some parts with very large sharp, stiff bristles. The most interesting nart of the fly's !<-g is the foot, which we all know ;>erf. rms snctl f.ou..:-*u! feats as w;Iking up .m l d.'.wu the window pane, /cross the S". oath ceVng or on j>iH"h;r.v-except t.he fly paper! Drawing No. 4 shr-v-s the t. p of this feu toot, much enlarged Ycu will fco tha! these wo Mlerful feet are pro Ic'ed will- & pair of hooks, as well as two pads back of Hiera, which later are better brought into view in Fig. 5, which gives the back view of or &crakm? App3r<stz0 the same foot. The hairs appear like verg large bristles in these views. The pads are supposed to be slightly sticky, which provision aids them in holding on to glazed or smooth surfaces. They may serve also, with the bent joints, to receive the shock of alight ing upon some hard surface, although flies seem to be able to withstand a good deal of rough treatment on var ious parts of their bodies, for we readily they re-establish after a pretty hard slap know how themselves with a fan. Drawing No. 6 shows the whole fly, the most wonderful Aying ma chine, as well as the bravest of crea tures, for there is no beast in warm climates, however savage, nor any pestilence which can scare away this warrior. The framework of the wtngs, as well as the wonderful membrane stretched over it, is all very interest ing to view under the microscope. To the naked eye it seems rather plain, even if very delicate, but you would be filled with astonishment to behold it under the microscope. You would find its whole boundary bor dered with small thorns, becoming very large at the point joining- the body, and the entire surface of the membrane, covered with unnumbered thousandsif not millions, of minute thorns, which are not to be seen even under a good magnifying glass, but which show up most beautifully under the more powerful microscope. These little thorns serve as a protec tion for the membrane of this deli cate little wing, which certainly meets a good deal of trouble when the housekeeper gets after him with here duster or broom! Cheap ExcursionJFares To Wil iiington and Wrightsville Beach l Jill From Orangeburg, S. C. ? "?" -?SET 7^23 Ten day excursion rate te Wi'ming ton and Wrightsville Beach. Tick ets on jale Thursdays' until August 24, limited returning to second Sun day following date of sale. it? Summer Excursion Rate to Wrights ville Bsach. Tickets on sale daily until September 30, limited returning to October 31, 1911. All tickets good to return via Wilson, N. C. 24 Page Illustrated Booklet 23 hi'.f onss and map, descrpttve of Wilmington, Wrightsville BaacV Cm'im Baach, Southport and the lower Cape Fear, together with a copy >f ths "Purple Folder" may be obtained from S. A. Dantz er, Ticket Agent,.^Orangeburg. S. C. or by addressing W. J. Craig, T C. White, Passenger Traffic Manager. General Passenger Agent. Wilmington, N. C. i i We vant you to own one of our new safety boxes which we havn just put in our fire-proof vault?never keep a fire policy i l the building insured?you should keep your papers of value and your jewelry in one of our boxes and be secure. The United States Government has named this Brmk as the depj?itory of its Postal Savings Bank funds?let us count you am )ng our depositors. Your cepos ts with us are absolutely secure. We have a capital and surplus of $135,000.00 and resources of over $525,0 )0 which should be sufficient to guarantee you against loss. H e carry Burglar Insurance. Give us your business and fee safe. The Edtsto Savings Bank OF Orangeburg, S. C. Everything the world of fashion says should be worn in shirts, col lars, neckwear, hosiery, hats?is to be found here. The man who wants to dress well and in perfect style will find that our. stocks contain the cheicest styles, the best quality and that they are p iced most reasonably. Ask to be shown our $1 shirt and our 50c njckwear if you want a good idea cf how good our goods are. Renneker & Riggs THE FASHION SHOP. SEWING MACHINE NOT SOLD UNDER ANY OTHER NAME. WARRANTED FOR ALL TIME. iryou purchnsc the NEW HOME you will have a life asset at the price you pay, and wUl not have an endless chain of repairs. Quality Considered it is the Cheapest in the end to buy. If you want a sewing machine, write for r>or latest catulogu'- before you purchase. TfiB New Home Sewing Machine Co., Orange, Mass. Cokesbury Conference School. Cokesbury, s. C. High grade prepatory school. Courses In college preparatory. Music. Ex pression and business. Excellent en vironment. Health record unexcell ed. $120 pays board and tuition. Session opens Sept 21, 1911. Write: L E. HINKLE, B. A. Headmaster. What a Bank Account Does at The People's Bank It helps your credit. It stimulates your courage. It guards you against extrava gance. It gives you confidence in your judgment. It helps you hold up while you are out of work. It furnishes the best receipt for all money you pay out. It creates business habits that will increase your savings. It protects against loss by rob bery and personal injury by rob bers. It enables tou to pass over per iods of sickness without embarrass ment. It makes you able to run your business, instead of your business running you. It teaches economy, which is the first round in the ladder to success and prosperity. Your business wel come, The People's Bank ELLOREE, S. O. Are Yonr Hose Insured? A new shipment of the celebrat ed "Holeproof Hosiery." Guar anteed for six months. Are ready for your inspection. Holeproof Silk Stockings. Holeproof Silk Sox. These are guaranteed for three months. If a hole appears in that time you get a new pair. Holeproof Lisle and Cotton Stockings. Holeproof Lisle and Cotton Sox. Are guaranteed for six momhs. Sold only by E. N. Scoville, 14 W. Russell St.'Phone 18. Play For sale price 50c. Postage 10c. Book Store WANTED A TRIP. "Jack is proposing to me over the ?phone and he says he'd go to the ends of the earth for me." "Say, Sis, ask him if ho' ake you to Europe on a honeymoon then and take me along." A BUSINESS PROPOSITION. "Won't you consider becoming a life partner of mine?" "How much capital can you put in'." HE KNEW. "Say, rop. what \n 'woman's opheref " Dm Girth?that Is, they think bo." _ YOUR LAUGH Walter Wellnian. WHICH? "I'oor Jack. He'll make some woman a good liusbar.il." "I guess you mean that he'll make some Kood woman a husband." AND STILL WAITING. "Will you kindly tell your slater I have been waiting fully three-quarters of an hour for her?'" "I know a feller what's been waiting three years for her." USUALLY THE CASE. "I understand that Clara was reared In luxury." "Well, yes. She always had everything* she didn't need." A PESSIMIST. "Don't you think It's possible for a couple to it;.* along well on a salary of $-i.O) per week?" "From what T can learn, ii's not possi ble for a couple to k'et along wen any how." WOFFOED COLLEGE SPARTAN SUEG, SOUTH CAROLINA. IIKXRY X. SXYJJER, President. A real college with high standards of scholarship and character. Excellent equipment. Unsurpassed lien 11h conditions. Expenses niort erale. Loan funds for worthy students. Fifty-eiglh session begins September 20th. Write for catalogue. ,T. A. GAME WELL, Secretary. WOFFORD COLLEGE FITTING- SCHOOL. A high-grade preparatory school for boys. Small classes. Individ ual attention. $155 pays al! expenses. Next session Sept-.mbcr 20tb. A. MASOX DuPRE, Headmaster. Spartanburg, South Carolina. "MOTION PICTURE STORY" MAG A ZINE AT SIMS BOOK STORE.