A Superhuman Feat

It has been said that man "isn't in it" when his strength is compared with that of the lowly ant. You've seen an ant carrying a burden twice his size and weight, haven't you? Can a human being tote a 300-pound object on his back?

I have been observing another amazing show of strength and stamina in the insect world. Well, not really an insect—a worm or type of caterpillar would be more accurate. As I sat in my recliner (as usual!), I watched an unbelievable feat of endurance. There was a single long line of cobweb suspended from the eaves outside, straight down toward the ground. About five feet up was an inch-long "worm." He was "shinnying" up the cobweb, contorting this way and that, in an effort to make headway up his "rope." Each struggle caused him to advance upward. This went on for perhaps half an hour. Up he went, never stopping to rest. Now, the roof that apparently was his aim and destination was at least eight feet from where I first started watching him ascend. That's 96 inches (let us say 100, just for a round number). That means one hundred times his own length—can you imagine a person shinnying up a rope, without pausing even once to rest or catch one's breath, for 100 times one's height, or 600 feet?

When reaching the eaves, the little fellow climbed on the roof and continued to crawl along the edge, still not stopping to rest! Isn't that amazing? On another occasion, I saw the same feat accomplished again. Was it the same worm or another? Who knows? Regardless, it is unbelievable, really. Is man really so great, in the scheme of things? Now, there is something to ponder! No offense intended, of course.