Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-07-01
A WOMAN ) \ !, or NERVE.
"A Femsss Kh0 Permits Rattle
.SE snakes -
To Cod About Hef Neck snd Repose in Her
Bosom, But Who Breads the Sight
OF a Spider.

and mon whom devolves the duty of
caring for an aged mother and two
children, rendered tatherless by rail.
road accident during the early part OF
last summer. She has acquired some
little reputation as fortune teller and
tha compounder Of antidotes for the
bites of poisonous reptiles. She has
Great Fondness for Pets,
and possesses to remarkable degree
the power of subjecting them to her will
and educating them in the various
branches of knowledge" Dogs, cats,
rats and mice, from the common rodent
to the pink eyed and white-furred
mouse, are among the members of her
household. Anyone acquainted with
the nature of the cat tribe will readily
comprehend how more than difficult it
is to teach the feline to comprehend and
obey the tones of the voice. She has
several species of cats-magniticent
specimens OF their kind-which she has,
after many months of labor, sue.
ceeded in placing under complete sub
lection to the method of instruction.
At a sign or word from their mistress,
either one of the felines will leap
through hoop, walk on its hind or fore
feet, counterfeit death, and perform
numberless other feats surprising to
witness, and almost impossible to be-
lieve unless seen.
When the Eyes representative, who
called upon the female Van Amburg,
made known his mission, he was
ushered into q plain, but neatly fur.
nished, room, within which were stored
her collection of curious pets. Upon a
rug in the centre Of the apartment re-
posed
Three Enormous Cats:
llying about the felines, and occasional
" perching upon the heads OF their ma
rural enemies, were score OF canarles;
white and brown mice scampered fear
lessly over the floor as the scribe enter
ed, some of which courageously nestled
beneath the sheltering forms of their
catships; number of CANNES, from the
iong-eared King Charles spaniel to the
diminutive "black and TAM" ran bark
ing toward the scribe. At word from
their mistress, the noisy animals skunk
away, and retired to the quiet of their
respective corners of the room. In
large rings suspended from the ceiling,
swung parrots Of almost every color
and variety, who were making the
scene hideous with their constant chat
teriDg. At the word of command the
parrots ceased their confused chatter
ing, and with closed eyes remained
silent. The female motioned her visi-
tor toward chair, from which he arose
more quickly than he had seated him.
self. The sudden "upheavel" was Oc-
casion, d by the sharp sQuealing ola
White Mouse.
which had become imprisoned between
the cushion and the coat tells OF the
sitter" the mouse, finding himself re-
leased, darted from the chair across the
floor toward his mistress, and, climbing
rapidly up her skirts, perched in all
contentment and safety upon her shout
der.
"Your pets seenNto appreciate your
protection" said the writer.
"Ts is stranger" she asked. "They
have been under my care for years.
They are as tractable as an Obedient
child, for a word is.sufficient to quiet
them under all circumstances"
"Do those cats never attempt the
destruction of their companions, the
blrds:!"
son the contrary, they would protect
them ifprotectiOn were necessary; but
here it is not needed. The female train
H fGst every &c y" wSSsrfd
of command addressed to her pets was
uttered in German-which, rising to its
feet, sprang purring upon her lap. A
few more words We're spoken, and one
Of the numerous canaries perched upon
her finger, which almost Immediately
became apparently inanimate as it
came within the hollow of its mistress
hand.
The FeRthcred pet
was placed upon the floor where it re-
NAMED immOvable. A few words ad-
dressed to the "maltese," which sprang
to the floor, and as carefully as a mother
would lift sleeping infant, took the
motionless bird in its mouth, and, ear
rying it to the rug from which ii the
cat had arisen, laid it tenderly down
"Does not your presence restrain the
cat from injuring its captive"
"Not in the least. If you wish we
will leave the room sufficient length
oftime to demonstrate
The writer declined to make the test.
A command was given, and the bird
"awOke," so to speak. Perching on the
eats head it begau singing loudly.
al has required deal of patience to
effect so much" the scribe suggested.
More than you or anyone else can
imagine"
The dogs were put through variety
OF exhibitions. Not a few Of their an
tics surpassed the most novel deg show
the writer has ever seen. The parrots
were aroused from their long silence,
and replied in fair English to the ques-
tons of their mistress.
II have yet to show you my choicest
pet, " said the woman. "Ifyou are ma
turally afraid of
Reptiles.
perhaps the sight will he too much for
your nerves.
The scribe assured the trainer that he
was not timid, whereupon she with
drew into another apartment, return
ing shortly afterward with an oblong
box. Placing it upon the floor, she
thrust her hahd through an opening
in the top, and drew forth squirming
rattlesnake, which, Kissing loudly, coil
ed about her arm. There are some
things that test even the nerves of q
man used to repUlsive sights. A
Chill crept over the writer's form as he
saw the diamond-shaped head of the
deadly reptile come in contact with the
smooth cheek of the woman. At every
motion of the trainers arm or body the
tail of the reptile would vibrate rapidly,
and the warning rattle would sound
the alarm. The snake coiled itself
around the woman's neck, and thrust
It's Head Within the Bosom OF Her
Dress,
in which position it remained quiet.
From the box she produced several
more snakes, and allowed the reptiles
to coil themselves, Kissing, about her
arms, neck and waist. Not until they
were again safely housed did the writer
expert ence feeling of relief
Have you no fear?" the reporter
asked.
'tNot Of the pets with which sur.
round myself; but is it not strange,
dread the sight of a spider: I have
tried to conquer the aversion, but with
out success"
When questioned as to why she did
not engage with some show man, she
answered that she bad received a num-
Der Of offers, but owing to the condi-
ton OF her family she could not accent.