50 



niori white ants of the United States are to be found everywhere, from Manitoba down to 

 the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In the mountains in Colorado, 

 Washington Territory and Nevada, they ascend to 5,000, and even above 7,000 feet. It 

 is of course not possible to exterminate them, but they must behave if they intend to live 

 together with man. Their depredations should not exceed certain limits allowed to 

 them. Everybody is accustomed not to forget for one moment the precautions necessary 

 to protect his property against destruction by fire, and if the same precautions were taken 

 and not for one moment forgotten, against the destruction by white ants, I think all that 

 men are able to do would have been done. Of course, very valuable property we are 

 accustomed to shield by fire-proof buildings, and similar caution will be necessary to pro- 

 tect very valuable property, i. e., libraries, against white ants. Buildings should be stone 

 or brick, and all stumps or roots of trees taken out of the bottom of the cellars to a depth 

 of six feet before the cellar floor is carefully cemented. Outside the building should be 

 surrounded by a deep open area ; no flower beds, shrubs, ivy, as the necessary manure is 

 the greatest attraction for white ants. 



Large cities are certainly in less danger, at least some parts of them. I am sure 

 that all that is called Back-bay in Boston, will be free from white ants, if they are not 

 brought in by nice parks and similar fineries. The older parts of Boston are by no 

 means free from the pest, but for palpable reasons the owners of infected property do not 

 like to speak of such things. Their presence in the State House, in the so-called Dungeon, 

 was noted in the papers four years ago. As nothing has been done to prevent the pest 

 from entering other parts of the building, it is very probable that they have spread 

 further. The note in the newspapers about the sudden break down of the wooden stand 

 supporting the ensigns and standards, looks veiy suspicious. Perhaps white ants may 

 know more about it. In the Dungeon only the taxation papers of the State were stored, 

 and the white ants, when I saw it, had arrived at the twentieth year of this century. 

 According to another notice in a newspaper (I cannot say if it is true), the archives of 

 the Board of Health have been placed in the Dungeon — as the notice stated — for preser- 

 vation. As the State House was built on a place that was formerly a beautiful garden, 

 it is very possible that stumps not taken out may be the cause of the presence of the pest. 

 To find out where the white ants came into the Dungeon, and to follow their gangs out- 

 side the building, would be the first and most important step to take. Indeed, two years. 

 ago a Bill asking for a paltry sum for this purpose was brought before the Legislature, 

 but laid upon the table. In a boarding house in France, infested by white ants, the 

 floor of the dining room suddenly came down two flights, together with the table board- 

 ers. It is gratifying to learn that nobody was hurt, and, as it is stated, they lost only 

 their appetites for one day. So we may hope that if the Legislature should come down 

 in a similar soft manner, they may lose only their appetites for one day, and that this. 

 argumentum a posteriori may be followed by an enlightenment about the pest. Indeed, 

 the State House is not the only place infested by white ants in those parts of the city. 

 A few months ago an old bachelor, in a house very near Mt. Vernon street, had to take 

 out all the injured lumber supporting the walls and to replace it by new. When told by 

 one relation that it was rather dangerous, he answered that he felt very comfortable, as 

 it was only every ten years he had to meet this expense. In the neighborhood of the 

 State House, in small courts, are some sickly-looking old trees, probably dear old pets of 

 the owners. They have decidedly the appearance of knowing something about white 

 ants. That may be as it is, but I believe that no library here is more in danger than 

 that in the State House, and I am told that it contains very rare books, difficult or 

 impossible to be replaced. The Athenaeum, situated near the State House on one side 

 bordering on an old churchyard, seems at first in a rather dangerous situation. But the 

 very substantial building, with high, and, I believe, vaulted basements, makes danger to 

 the library appear very improbable. Nevertheless, it would be reasonable to always 

 have the pest in mind, and to often make a revision of those parts of the library which 

 are little or rarely used. The Public Library does not seem in danger, but I know the 

 surroundings only imperfectly. After all these gloomy predictions, I may assert that 

 nobody would be happier than I if they were forever unfounded, and the librarian might 

 Bay, What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba ! 



