The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-03 00:00:00

SNAKES AT CHELSEA.

In the Vice Chancellors' Courts the cause of "Cockburn
Maori has been heard, nod was a motion for an injunction
behall of the plaintiff, who r,-sides at 5, Cheyne. walk,
'Wane. t restrain the dereinlant, who resides at the ad-
joining house, 4, Cheyne. walk from keeping, or permitting
.0 be In or about lits house or cardoll any snakes, and
!ruin permitting them to escape into the plaintiff's ari.leit
and premises.
It appears the defendant, who is a music-master.
Seeps tame Maki.) as pets, and the intrusion of simory
.pecimens into the plaintiff 's garden aull the garde* of
a lady WOO resides at No. 3, Cheyue-walk, has excited
great terror in the minds of the neighbours, hi sixte of
the defendant's'annertions that they are very has mien*
and affectionate. It was alleged that some of the
sakes had eseaped into Floxi-street and otbers
into Manor- atreet, Chelsea, and that, supposing it
to be true that the snakes are tame, their very
tameness induces them to "make trasks" at once for
the interior of houses, and that their harmlessness is
by no means obvious to persons ignorant of this branch
of natural history. A correstwudence took place be-
tween the plaintiffo soilic-itsoa and the defendant before
;be bill wan Med, ani one extract from a Liner of tn.,
lefendant shows that he gives a very high character
indeed to his favourite reptiles. Ile says
"At no other vine has any snake escaped from me-sad
the seven cre.tures that I ass possessed of are now in diets
anal place.. the table where lam writing. I reply thus
dreci.ly, because I 1,14Vd been rather annoyed lately hi to.
iniries as to whether I have list a snake, Mid being cre-
dited by my neighbours with the ownership of &weir/ ray
wt., puppies, none of mine, which me sent 0, m. 4 for
identification. S 'much for the past For the fu:ure, Mr. Ode*,
mum may What,- erhl meelf safe as; farm him concerned. Partly
misuse some of these animate are of considerable pecuniary
value principally because I eutertaM a etroug attachment
to creatures who are faithful and affectionate companion:,
and no motive to keep them safe in toy noise would it e.l
strong as the horror I have of exposing them to the stimid
brutality of any terrified cockney who might encounter them.
%astir, they are absolutely harmless and indeed becoming
sought after as 'pets' by maw private person., so that it is
iifficult to buy one et all now."
This statement by no means satisfied the plaintiff and
the neighbour on the other ride, awl their solicitors
.main represented to the defendant the terror and agony
of mind occasioned by the presence of these =invited
guests, and, in the words of the lady at No. 3, "It
:trail:era every donie.tic comfort, for one is ever on the
qui rise." The fact appears to be that none of the de.
fondant's snakes are venomous, altinsgh some of them
being boa rionstrictow µsass uther means ui making
themselves disagreeable. The defendant. on the ilear-
mg of the motion, undortook to prevent any, (1 his
snakes escaping from. his lacu—.: cr :fraying Into, the
plaintiff's premises.

& eorreipontent of 4MTHWWñtdS.
I happen to know the gentleman and Is iy againd
whew a complaiut hail been made bocaabe a the anakea

they keep, and I should like to give a short amount of
my first Shut to them. Mr. hi., after we had talked for
a little time, asked if I had any fear of eniileekMáatter
a timid "No, not very," from me he produced out
of a cupboard a large boa constrictor, a python,
and several email snakes, which •at COCO zood•
themselve. at home on the writing table among pada.
ink, and books. I wee at tire a good deal startleel,
especially when the two large maker:oiled Mond lee
ro md my fn. nd, &lad began to notice me with their
bright eye,, and forked tongues • bee won fueling how
tame they were I eaased to reef I. igetened After a
short time M eioressed a whit to call 51ra..1.1.
, anti left me wi.ll the ba el,p,sited on au arm chair.
felt a little queer when the animal began
gradually to come near, but the enttithee of TIIV
604 mel b./CW.SIS 1010 Wt a by tIV,, &lull:tug little
ob,!,iren. pot we at my e..eu again. After the
first intercluiege of cis .lities ale- and the chilaien
wem, at to the boa, aid *since; it by the
met endearing names, allowed it to twii it,ett
most gracefully ro:tud aitout thou). I sat. tdking
for a lone t iu wonder at the picture
before m Two bestut:lul little girls with their
charming mother sat b- foe ine wi it a boa con-
strietor (es thick round 9.4 a ran it tree), ti itiin,i play.
fully ronnd the lady's waist an 1 ueok. and rosining a
kind of turban round her had. expeetitif to be pelted
and made lunch of like a kitten. The childree over
and ever again took its hem In their hand... and kissed
its mouth, pushing &aide its forked tongue it, doing 50.
The animal Bee med much pleased, but kept ttmuing
it* head continually towards me with • ottrionajaue,
until I allowed it to nettle its head for a moniezit
up my sleeve. Nuthing c•ould be prettier than to See
this splendid serpent coiled all round Ma i M.
while she moved about the room, and when she
stood to pour out our coffee. He seemed to adjust his
weight so nicely, and every coil with its beautiful mark-
ing was relieved by the black velvet dress of the lady.
It was long before I could make up my mind to end
the visit, and I returned soon after with a friend (a
distinguished M.P.) to see my make-taming acquaint-
ance again. lam sure he did cot think there was any
necessity for either law or Legislature to interfere. It
seems to me mere prejudice when snakes are not
venomous to abh ir them as we do. They are in-
telligent and harmleet, perfectly clean, with no sort of
smell, make no kind of noise, and move about far more
gracef oily than lapdogo or other pets. These seemed
very obedient, and remained in their cupboard when
t,,ld to de 00. About a year ago Mr. and Mrs. M.
were away for six weeks, and left the boa in charge of
a keeper et the Zoo. The poor reptile moped, dept.,
, and refused to be comforted, but when his muter dad
ruietrees aepeared, he sprang upon them with delight,
icoiliog hiniself round them, and showing every syrup-
torn or intense delight. The children are entirely
devoted to their "darling lIleo,"as they call the snake,
and they smiled when I asked if they were ever
, frightened of it. Is it to be wondered at that Mr. M.
. does not like to give up his favourites?

JUSTICE TO AKERICA.
" (Barge, Bennett, charge ! On, Stanley, on!'
So came last news from Isvingstone. —Punt*.