200 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
“ It seems to be a natural and almost a uni¬ 
versal sentiment to hate bugs, and shrink from 
them with more or less of loathing and dread. 
And truly the horrid odor which most of them 
shed around, and the equally repulsive shapings 
of some of them, as the Goliaths, the Scarabcei, 
and the stag-beetles, are at least a strong justi¬ 
fication of this feeling toward them. But who 
that attended the great Centennial Exhibition, 
and was held lingering for hours among that 
marvellous collection of Brazilian bugs, but 
was forced to reconsider his strong verdict 
of condemnation ? We thought not of the 
detestable odor, their crawling offensiveness, 
and relentless ravages, in our astonishment at 
their unexpected and dazzling brilliancy. Per¬ 
chance we had just crossed over from Tiffany’s 
incomparable collection of diamonds and pre¬ 
cious stones, with the eyes yet dazed with their 
splendors, and when it almost seemed profane 
to look at anything else. But in the presence 
of that insect jewelry no shock of transition 
was felt; the Brazilian bug was a worthy com¬ 
petitor with Tiffany’s diamonds—as brilliant in 
color and iridescence, if not an equal in hard¬ 
ness of texture and moneyed value. As orna- 
