However, to-day things are very different.  With the development of scientific studies—­especially of microscopic study—­it has been found that insects, far from being the lowliest of creatures, are the most highly organized of all beings; that their special senses are incomparably superior to our own; and that in natural history, from the evolutional standpoint, they have to be given first place.  This of course renders it impossible any longer to consider the insect as a trifling subject.  Moreover, the new philosophy is teaching the thinking classes in all Western countries the great truth of the unity of life.  With the recognition of such unity, an insect must interest the philosophers—­even the man of ordinary culture—­quite as much as the bird or any other animal.

Nearly all the poems which I have quoted to you have been poems of very modern date—­from which we may infer that interest in the subject of insects has been developing of late years only.  In this connection it is interesting to note that a very religious poet, Whittier, gave us in the last days of his life a poem upon ants.  This would have seemed strange enough in a former age; it does not seem strange to-day, and it is beautiful.  The subject is taken from old Jewish literature.

KING SOLOMON AND THE ANTS

  Out from Jerusalem
    The King rode with his great
    War chiefs and lords of state,
  And Sheba’s queen with them;

  Comely, but black withal,
    To whom, perchance, belongs
    That wondrous Song of Songs,
  Sensuous and mystical,

  Whereto devout souls turn
    In fond, ecstatic dream,
    And through its earth-born theme
  The Love of Loves discern.

  Proud in the Syrian sun,
    In gold and purple sheen,
    The dusky Ethiop queen
  Smiled on King Solomon.

  Wisest of men, he knew
    The languages of all
    The creatures great or small
  That trod the earth or flew.

  Across an ant-hill led
    The king’s path, and he heard
    Its small folk, and their word
  He thus interpreted: 

  “Here comes the king men greet
    As wise and good and just,
    To crush us in the dust
  Under his heedless feet.”

The king, understanding the language of insects, turns to the queen and explains to her what the ants have just said.  She advises him to pay no attention to the sarcasm of the ants—­how dare such vile creatures speak thus about a king!  But Solomon thinks otherwise: 

  “Nay,” Solomon replied,
    “The wise and strong should seek
    The welfare of the weak,”
  And turned his horse aside.

  His train, with quick alarm,
    Curved with their leader round
    The ant-hill’s peopled mound,
  And left it free from harm.

  The jewelled head bent low;
    “Oh, king!” she said, “henceforth
    The secret of thy worth
  And wisdom well I know.