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than to block up the gates of their subterranean town。 And the spectacle of
their triumphant toil to…day impels me to attempt an essay on Ants。
I should have like to preface my disquisitions with something from the old
Japanese literature； something emotional or metaphysical。 But all that my
Japanese friends were able to find for me on the subject； excepting some
verses of little worth； was Chinese。 This Chinese material consisted
chiefly of strange stories； and one of them seems to me worth quoting；
faute de mieux。
*
In the province of Taishu； in China； there was a pious man who； every day；
during many years； fervently worshiped a certain goddess。 One morning；
while he was engaged in his devotions； a beautiful woman； wearing a yellow
robe； came into his chamber and stood before him。 He； greatly surprised；
asked her what she wanted； and why she had entered unannounced。 She
answered： 〃I am not a woman： I am the goddess whom you have so long and so
faithfully worshiped； and I have now come to prove to you that your
devotion has not been in vain。。。 Are you acquainted with the language of
Ants？〃 The worshiper replied： 〃I am only a low…born and ignorant person；
not a scholar； and even of the language of superior men I know nothing。〃 At
these words the goddess smiled； and drew from her bosom a little box；
shaped like an incense box。 She opened the box； dipped a finger into it；
and took therefrom some kind of ointment with which she anointed the ears
of the man。 〃Now；〃 she said to him； 〃try to find some Ants； and when you
find any； stoop down； and listen carefully to their talk。 You will be able
to understand it； and you will hear of something to your advantage。。。 Only
remember that you must not frighten or vex the Ants。〃 Then the goddess
vanished away。
The man immediately went out to look for some Ants。 He had scarcely
crossed the threshold of his door when he perceived two Ants upon a stone
supporting one of the house…pillars。 He stooped over them； and listened；
and he was astonished to find that he could hear them talking； and could
understand what they said。 〃Let us try to find a warmer place；〃 proposed
one of the Ants。 〃Why a warmer place？〃 asked the other； 〃what is the
matter with this place？〃 〃It is too damp and cold below；〃 said the first
Ant； 〃there is a big treasure buried here； and the sunshine cannot warm the
ground about it。〃 Then the two Ants went away together； and the listener
ran for a spade。
By digging in the neighborhood of the pillar； he soon found a number of
large jars full of gold coin。 The discovery of this treasure made him a
very rich man。
Afterwards he often tried to listen to the conversation of Ants。 But he
was never again able to hear them speak。 The ointment of the goddess had
opened his ears to their mysterious language for only a single day。
*
Now I； like that Chinese devotee； must confess myself a very ignorant
person； and naturally unable to hear the conversation of Ants。 But the
Fairy of Science sometimes touches my ears and eyes with her wand； and
then； for a little time； I am able to hear things inaudible； and to
perceive things imperceptible。
II
For the same reason that it is considered wicked； in sundry circles； to
speak of a non…Christian people having produced a civilization ethically
superior to our own； certain persons will not be pleased by what I am going
to say about ants。 But there are men； incomparably wiser than I can ever
hope to be； who think about insects and civilizations independently of the
blessings of Christianity； and I find encouragement in the new Cambridge
Natural History； which contains the following remarks by Professor David
Sharp； concerning ants：
〃Observation has revealed the most remarkable phenomena in the lives of
these insects。 Indeed we can scarcely avoid the conclusion that they have
acquired； in many respects； the art of living together in societies more
perfectly than our own species has； and that they have anticipated us in
the acquisition of some of the industries and arts that greatly facilitate
social life。〃
I suppose that a few well…informed persons will dispute this plain
statement by a trained specialist。 The contemporary man of science is not
apt to become sentimental about ants or bees； but he will not hesitate to
acknowledge that； in regard to social evolution； these insects appear to
have advanced 〃beyond man。〃 Mr。 Herbert Spencer； whom nobody will charge
with romantic tendencies； goes considerably further than Professor Sharp；
showing us that ants are； in a very real sense； ethically as well as
economically in advance of humanity； their lives being entirely devoted
to altruistic ends。 Indeed； Professor Sharp somewhat needlessly qualifies
his praise of the ant with this cautious observation：
〃The competence of the ant is not like that of man。 It is devoted to the
welfare of the species rather than to that of the individual； which is； as
it were； sacrificed or specialized for the benefit of the community。〃
The obvious implication； that any social state； in which the
improvement of the individual is sacrificed to the common welfare； leaves
much to be desired； is probably correct； from the actual human
standpoint。 For man is yet imperfectly evolved； and human society has much
to gain from his further individualization。 But in regard to social insects
the implied criticism is open to question。 〃The improvement of the
individual；〃 says Herbert Spencer； 〃consists in the better fitting of him
for social cooperation； and this； being conducive to social prosperity； is
conducive to the maintenance of the race。〃 In other words； the value of the
individual can be only in relation to the society； and this granted；
whether the sacrifice of the individual for the sake of that society be
good or evil must depend upon what the society might gain or lose through a
further individualization of its members。。。 But as we shall presently see；
the conditions of ant…society that most deserve our attention are the
ethical conditions； and these are beyond human criticism； since they
realize that ideal of moral evolution described by Mr。 Spencer as 〃a state
in which egoism and altruism are so conciliated that the one merges into
the other。〃 That is to say； a state in which the only possible pleasure is
the pleasure of unselfish action。 Or； again to quote Mr。 Spencer； the
activities of the insect…society are 〃activities which postpone individual
well…being so completely to the well…being of the community that individual
life appears to be attended to only just so far as is necessary to make
possible due attention to social life；。。。 the individual taking only just
such food and just such rest as are needful to maintain its vigor。〃
III
I hope my reader is aware that ants practise horticulture and agric