St. Landry democrat., 1879-08-09
A Remarkable Snake Story.
iCincinnati Commercial. |


Mt. VERNON, O., July 2S.-A very rare
psychological phenomenon was related
TO us by ME-. Campbell, about a snakes s
influence over q young lady living east
; of Mt. Vernon, by the name of Bertha
Miller. For some weeks the parents
had noticed that their daughter was
showing marks of declining health,
evidenced 10y an increasing palcness and
emaciation, accompanied by u nclan-
choly mood. SO marked was the change
becoming that they began feeling great
solicitation concerning her and con-
suited q physician Of this city about the
matter. The physician visited the girl,
but was unable to explain the cause OF
decline or to render her aid. 1t also
fell under the observation Of her mother
that each afternoon about three o'clock
the girl would leave the house aud re-
main away from one to two hours. This
fact being communicated to the other
parent, it was decided to watch the
young lady and discover if possible the
reason for such habitual absence. .Ac-
corlingly, on the day following, when
the hour had about arrived, the father
left the house and watched for the gOin 9
of his daughter. In Il few minutes the
young girl was on her way through Il
wood and up ravinc leading from the
! house to Il small stone quarry, some
halr-mile distant, reaching which she
took seat on Il fiat stone under small
clump OF trees, and remained sitting
Il here quietly for several minutes, her
head held in one position, and eyes
evidently fixed Oh one spot. The fat her
had gotten up 50 near by this time t!.at
he could observe all that would happen.
In Il few moments, to his amaZement
there proceeded from the direction in
which the girl was looking II snake
about four feet i'll length, and known to
him rs our common black snake or racer.
SO aStonShed was he at the peculiar
manner of his daughter and the aDpcar-
arce of the reptile that he remained
quiet in his cOnccaimcnt, to observe
what would happen. The snake crcpt
slowly along towards the girl until it
halted close to her feet. After reniain-
ing there mOtionleSs for minute or
more, and gazing tiXculy into the face
of the girl, it slowly and steathily be-
gan creeping toward her, and in IL mo-
ment lay coiled in her lap. The girl
remained perfectly motionlesS, appar-
emily not the least alarmed at the pres
ence of her visitor, but gazing intently
at it. After lying i'll that position for Il
short while, it slowly uncoiled, crept
down to the ground, and hack to his
hiding place in the rocks. The girl re-
manned sitting motionless for Il con-
siderable time, and then got up and
retraced her steps to the house. On the
next day the father, at the appointed
time, took his gun and proceeding to
the scene killed the reptile. The girl,
startled at the report OF the gun, sprang
to her feet, but Immediately recognizing
her father, proceeded without farther
ado back home with him. She, when
interrogated, could give no intelligible
reason for visiting the spot, except that
at a certain hour she felt strongly in
clined to go and sit there. She has
rapidly recovered her health, and ap-
pears in no way affected in her mind
Experts can offer no solution to this
strange proceeding, the most Ineligible
being that the animal possessed Il pow
erful mesmeric influence, and had so
wrought upon the mind of the girl that
she went automatically to the place.
This, in connection with an naccumnlated
inherited disposition to be beguiled by
il serpent-tramsmitte from our first
mother, Eve-offers the only rational
explanation.