Dear Family,
I forward this to you as sort of a token on this Father’s Day, 2014. It is just a sample of my Dad’s occasional writing style.
A letter written by Brooks Bryce to a Mr. Eugene Burns, Box 575, Sausalito, California. (Eugene Burns was the author of a series of newspaper articles about nature).
June 18, 1954
How did the ant know?
In my back yard, a few years ago, I noticed a new family of ants building a home. They were of the medium sized red variety. After pouring a good dose of DDT into their main entrance, I stepped back a few feet to watch the results.
I finally noticed an ant about three feet from the hole carrying a bread crumb about three or four times his size. He was having quite a struggle getting it thru the closely cut grass.
Suddenly he stopped, and laid down his bread. He made a right hand turn, and there within about six inches from where he dropped his bread was another ant, very badly crippled. His hind legs probably ruined by one of my two big feet. Well, the first thing he did was to rub noses with the injured ant. Then he walked completely around the cripple, looking him over, slowly and thoroughly. Then a bit more nose rubbing, as if to say, "Cheer up old pal, I'll take care of you".
Then he picked him up and started off. Not toward home, but back to where he had left his bread. After pausing long enough to make sure the bread was still there, he started straight for home.
Now this is what startled me. After traveling a few inches from the bread, he stopped. He laid his patient down, rubbed his nose, and went back after the bread; returning to his injured pal, partly carrying and partly dragging the bread. He didn't stop to rest. He just stopped for a split second. The injured ant reached out with his powerful jaws, grasped a hind leg of the benefactor, and on they went.
This heroic struggle never stopped for an instant until ants, bread and all tumbled down into that damned DDT I had poured in their home.
I sat there dumfounded at what I had saw. I don't believe it. Yet, it is the truth, so help me. I felt like hell. I should have warned them about the DDT.
What I want to know is this--How did the bread carrier find his injured friend? He couldn't see him for the grass. But he laid down his bread and went right straight to him. He knew he was there, but how?
p.s.
I enjoy your articles very much, and if you answer this one, I have several more questions I want to ask about ants. I have spent many hours watching them. Not on TV, but when I was a kid on day herd or while waiting for the "drive" to come down the canyon.
I just love this glimpse into my grandpa Brooks' thoughts and feelings about nature. This was more than just an observation of the ants but also of his interaction with them and how he felt after watching their struggle and how he truly empathized them. Feeling the brotherhood of the ants behavior of "leaving no man behind" and even feeling remorse for his part in their pains, struggles and ultimate demise.
I am especially grateful today for my dad, my grandparents, my earthly heritage and my divine heritage as a child of God. My love to you all this day.
