Light Side of Science (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIII About Flies The plague of flies--The fly and its curious development--The fly's tongue and some of its depredations. Summer is here, and we rejoice in many blessings in the way of weather. But there is never a rose without its thorn, and with the summer come the days when all nature perspires, and bemoans the heat of the days and the stuffiness of the nights. Then we indulge in our usual growl over the unsuitability of the tall hat and the black coat for summer wear, while nobody has courage to inaugurate anything in the way of cooler and more rational costume. The summer days bring other trials in their wake, and among them the fly. Fine weather may fail us, holidaying may go wrong, the little schemes of mice and men may "gang agley," the big cabbage and the preternaturally developed gooseberry may remain within normal limits, and even the sea-serpent may rest within the abysses of the sea--but the fly, like charity, "never faileth." The advance guard comes on ahead of the main body, as becomes its nature. A solitary fly appears, as if to remark, "Here we are again " and then the great fly army comes in sight. If ever a natural history calendar is to be constructed, I have at least one suggestion or two ready for the maker thereof. One date not very far off, should run, "The fly appears;" another will bear the legend, "Fly-papers are ready;" a third (later on) might advise us, "Let not flies sully your temper a la the ointment of the apothecary j" a fourth (still later), "Look out for the decay of the fly-season;" and a fifth, "The fly has gone." Gone but whither? That is exactly what no man, or woman either, seems precisely to know. What we all know is that the fly will reappear next season with the undeviating punctuality of the gas coll...