52 



In 1812 it first appeared in Pennsylvania, in 1830 it reached 

 Cincinnati ; some 12 or 15 years later it arrived on the Missis- 

 sippi. And thus, like civilization, cholera, and the potatoe dis- 

 ease, it has taken its way westward. How it was brought to 

 this country no one knows, but for a time wherever it appeared 

 it nearly destroyed the bees. At first it was more fatal than it 

 has been since, as the bees were taken completely by surprise, 

 and were totally unprepared to resist ; but as with men so with 

 bees, " new occasions teach new duties ; " after recovering 

 from the first panic, the bees set about fortifying their positions, 

 and have ever since taken such precautions as, with the assist- 

 ance of their owners, have enabled them in some measure to 

 overcome the evil. If a swarm was reasonably strong, they 

 might prosper ; but woe to those who had lost their Queen, or 

 from some other cause become reduced in numbers, the moth 

 entered the hive, commenced its work, and the bees after a few 

 days of contest, gave up in despair. Instead of flying from 

 the hive with a merry song in pursuit of honey, they crawl 

 sluggishly around the entrance as though some great calamity 

 had overtaken them. Day after day they appear less in num- 

 bers, and soon they all disappear. Upon opening the hive, 

 instead of finding the beauty, order and regularity described 

 by Shakespeare, King Henry 5th, act 1, scene II : 



•' For so work the honey bees ; 

 Creatures that, by a rule in nature, teach 

 The act of order to a peopled kingdom. 

 They have a king, and officers of sorts : 

 "Where some, like magistrates connect at home ; 

 Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad ; 

 Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings, 

 Make boot upon the summer's velvet buds ; 

 "Which pillage they, with merry march, bring home 

 To the tent roj-al of their emperor : 

 "Who, busied in his majesty, surveys 

 The singing masons building roofs of gold ; 

 The civil citizens kneading up the honey ; 

 The poor mechanic porters crowding in 

 Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate ; 



