[Illustration]
"A Correspondent of '_the Field_' records an experiment which
he made with a wasp. 'Having,' he says, 'severed a wasp in two
pieces, I found that the head and thorax with the uninjured
wings retained full vitality.... It tried to fly, but
evidently lacked the necessary balance through the loss of the
abdomen. To test the matter further, I cut out an artificial
tail from a piece of thin cardboard, as nearly following the
shape of the natural body as possible. To fasten the appendage
to the wasp, I used a little oxgall ...; gum or more sticky
substances would not do, as it impedes the use of the wings
in flight. Presently the operation was complete, and, to my
surprise, the wasp, after one or two ineffectual efforts, flew
in rather lopsided fashion to the window. It then buzzed about
for at least a quarter of an hour, eventually flying out at
the top ... it was vigorous when it flew away."--_Extract from
an Evening Paper._
The Benefit of Humour in Philosophers can always do more
Philosophy. Assisted by a sense of humour:
Witness the droll experiment
Of this same scientific gent.
For he, his frugal breakfast finishing,
(The eggs and bacon fast diminishing)
Noted how o'er his marmalade
A Wasp was buzzing undismayed.
General Reflection: We all are apt to be inhosp-
Attitude of Man towards Itable to the humble Wasp--
the Wasp. That Ishmael of domestic insects,
The terror of the feminine sex!
The Philosopher shares And our Philosopher, though cool,
the prevailing Prejudice. Was no exception to the rule.
His Method. He let it settle on his plate;
He poised a knife above--like Fate.
The Blow falls. Next--with a sudden flash it drops
Right on that unsuspecting Wopse!
Which, unprepared by previous omen,
A Tragic Meeting. Awestruck, confronts its own abdomen!
And sees its once attached tail-end dance
A brisk _pas-seul_ of independence!
A pang more bitter than before racks
Dignified Behaviour of That righteously indignant thorax,
the Wopse. As proudly (yet with perfect taste)
It turns its back upon its waist,
And seeks, though life must all begin new,
"Business as usual" to continue!
A Philosopher's Remorse. The Man of Science felt his heart
Prick him with self-accusing smart,
To see that ineffectual torso
Go fluttering about the floor so;
The Uses of a Scientific A wasp for flight is too lopsided.
Education. So, with remorsefulness acute,
Reparation. He rigged it up a substitute;
Providing it a new posterior,
At least as good--if not superior.
His Process. He cut it out a tail of card,
And stuck it on with ox-gall, hard.
(This he prefers to vulgar glue)
And made that Wopse as good as new!
Forgiveness. Until the grateful insect soared
Away, with self-respect restored
To find that mutilated part of his
Had been so well replaced by artifice.
Further proceedings of The Scientist, again complacent,
the Philosopher. To pen and ink and paper hastened,
And, in a letter to the _Field_,
Told how the Wasp, though halved, was healed,
And how, despite a treatment rigorous,
It left consoled--and even vigorous!
Moral. The Moral--here this poem stops--is
_'Tis ne'er too late for mending Wopses!_
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