BEE WARNED

A Tearned apiarist in the state of Washington has discovered a scheme for the delusion of his pets equalled only by that of blindfolding the mule who pumps the water or of putting electric lights in the hen-house. He plans to put his bees, after they have fondly and hopefully gathered a store of honey during the summer in Washington, into a box and, keeping them literally in the dark as to his nefarious intentions, allow them to hibernate trustfully, secure in the knowledge of work well-done. Then he will ship them to Australia where, when they are aroused, they will again smell summer and start to make more honey, under the impression, although unable to explain that tired feeling, that they have overslept and must hurry to overtake their work. When winter comes to Australia, the process will be reversed, and the brutally deluded insects will be rudely awakened to toil once more in Washington.

Something ought to be done about this. Even though bees do possess sour dispositions often scarcely compensated by their sweet production, it should be remembered that they are too ignorant, or too wise, to form protective unions, and, as insects, cannot appeal to the S. P. C. A. for justice. If the plans of the apiarist successfully culminate in more honey, it may not be of its pristine saccharinity, coming from discontented bees, and its lowered market value may be punishment enough to the owner. But if the bees grow class-conscious and revolt, making their presence felt as only bees can, let the apiarist stand not upon the order of his going. Retribution is swift and just, especially swift, when it is from a bee.