The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-11-29
Snakes at Their Bath.


long, with a nick in his tail. Monkeys
of various kinds and degrees occupied
two high cases. The fourth sheltered
six boa constructors varying in length
from seven to twelve and half feet
The snakes lay close together for
warmth. In the dim light Of the moon
it was hard to follow one snake its en-
tire length. The keeper rolled up his
sleeves and sliding back one of the
glass panels of the cage thrust his arm
boldly in. Running his hand slowly
down the back from the head of one of
the snakes the reptile glided gradually
toward the open door. At the door the
skeeper suddenly but quietly gTasped
the snake just back of the head, his
large, strong hand closing firmly
around the body. The other hand ran
slowly down the body and clasped the
snake about three feet from the head.
The tail, which happened to be near
by, was brought within the last grip.
Then the keeper drew the snake
slowly from the case, while an assistant
closed the door, and turning to the tub
softly lowered the reptile into the
water. There was slight quiVer and
a little struggle. The dark coils rose
| and moved III situous waves. But the
keeper held the head and fore part of
/ the snake firmly in his hands. This
/ is the first time I've ever given a snake
! his warm BATH" he said, as the reptile
/ settled into enjoyment of the water.
I eve give them a bath once q week.
I It keeps them in good condition. We.
tried yesterday to find somebody to do
"a r
/ here, I've taken care of snakes for
year and half and L amt afraid. I'll
! give them their bath. While he
talked he slowly moved the snake in
his hands around the tub. The mon
keys looked down in solemn disgust
upon the kneeling man and the coiling
reptile, as much as to say: You don t
catch us taking baths!'' The dusty
looking sa,lTian in his tWo-ineh pool of
water slept on as he sleeps most of the
time. Fifteen minutes, said the as
sistant. The keeper rose, and lift
ing the snake from the tub. shook it
gently, carried it to the cage, and laid
it on the Woolen blanket which
covered the bottom. Taking another by
the same process he carried it to the
tub, gave it fifteen or twenty minutes
in the water which was replenished as
it cooled, and carried it back. The
young ones struggled more than the
older ones. ssThe older snake gets
the quieter he is, said the keeper.
ssYou see I've. got toihold them just so.
If I squeeze them too tight it hurts
theba. and if I don't hold them close
they'll get away from me. Yes,
could catch one in five minutes if it cot
away, but it might hurt itself. Al
though they are strong they are tender
animals. Would they crush me Well
/ don't know. OF course they might,
but I should be more afraid of the bite.
It's poison, but if you fill up with
whisky it won't hurt you. Now" he
continued, as he took the twelve and a
half foot monster out of the water
and held it so that its belly was
visible, 'sdo you see those scalesp Well
that's the way snakes crawl. Hitch
along with those. scales. The upper part
of the body is carried along, They are
i very delicate, though, Most snakes
die of canker in the mouth. Any sort
s of an injury seems to produce that
There is man up town who claims te
be a snake doctor. He came from
South America, where these snakes
were born We had seven, and a few
weeks ago one became sick. The snake
doctor took him up to his place, anc
last week he came in and says he: =
can't do anything for your snake
He's got canker. The temperature
getting too low, Tom Ito the assistant)
fire up!' ,Asmall stove under the Gags
was attended to- ave keep the tenn
perature up to from 80 to go degrees,
! said the keeper, IF boa gets, chilled
through he'll die. !"
A ray of sunlight found its way int,
the room and fell upon the dark coil
on the floor of the cage. The .1ittl,
eyesof the reptiles twinkled and thi
forked tongues few in and out. Unde
the sunlight the brilliant markings 0
the snakes, enhanced by the water
came out. As the snakes moved, tn
dull colors changed to brilliant hues
in which green, black and blue pre-
dominated. The flat heads seemed Il
grow fiatter, and the glittering scale
rose and fell as the snakes crawlet
over one another around the cage
tNo, they never fight, = said the keep
er. what do they eat? Well, birds
mostly, though they are fond of guine
pigs. We give them small live bird
! Of different kinds. I never say
, them eat. They won't eat whe
! ANYBODY is in the room. ] never kne1
one of them to eat more than four bird
i at meal, and that sometimes last
two or three months. They don't a
ways eat when food is put before then
because they are not hungry, | sur
! pose. No, don't think they have an
affection for me. I don't believe 70
, can teach a snake anything. The
, haven't any brains. How did / com
to do this workp Well, / always had
/. fancy for mastering animals. / took t
] handling lions and tigers, and SO &c
) down, or up, whichever you have amin
: to call it, to snakes. Tigers and lion
you can generally control with clu
D or whip. but if you strike o snake he
jump at you sure. fused to be piano
player. IN. Z. Times.
, Apropos of the announcement tbs
man descended from the bear, a Bosto