The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-03
Snakes at Ine1r Bath.


scum. Four large glass cases took up
most of the floor. One contained a
dusky-looking alligator, nearly five feet
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
keeper suddenly but quietly grasped
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 a slight culver and
little struggle. The dark coils rose
and moved in sinuous 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 givep-e snake
his warm BATH" he said, as the reptile
settled into enjoyment of the water.
'..We give them bath once week.
It keeps them in good condition. We
tried Yesterday to find somebody to do
it. but couldn't. SO L says, why see
here, I've taken care of snakes for
year and half and [ amt afraid. I'll
give them their bath. T" 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 saurian in his two-inch pool of
water slept on as he sleeps most of the
time. Fifteen minutes, said the as
sistant. The keeper rose, and lift
inc the snake from the tgb, shook it
gently, carried it to the cage, and laid
it on the wooden 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. 1.-The older a snake gets
the quieter he is said the keeper.
"You see I've got to hold them Just so.
If / squeeze them too tight it hurts
them. and if | 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 l 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, "do you see those scales? Well
that's the way snakes crawl. Hitch
along with those scales. The upper part
of the body is carried along, They are
very delicate, though, M9e -'lakes
die of canker in the mouth. '4-ny sort
of an injury seems to produce that.
There is man up town who claims to
be Il snake doctor. He came from
South America, where these snakes
were born. We had seven, and few
weeks ago one became sick. The snake
doctor took him up to his place, and
last week he came in and says he: L
can't do anything for your snake.
He's got canker' The temperature S
getting too low, Tom (to the assistant) :;
ire upm A small stove under the cage
was attended to. 1--WE keep the tenn
pcrature up to from so to 80 degrees, :"
said the keeper, IF boa gets chilled
through he'll die"
A ray of sunlight found its way into
the room and fell upon the dark coils
on the floor of the cage. The little
eyes of the reptiles twinkled and the
forked tongues flew in and out Under
the sunlight the brilliant markings of
the snakes, enhanced by the water,
came out. AS the snakes moved, the
dull cOlors changed to brilliant hues,
in which green, black and blue pre-
dominated. The flat heads seemed to
! grow flatter, and the glittering scales
rose and fell as the snakes crawled
over one another around the cage
''No, they never fight said the keep
er ''What do they eat? Well, birds,
mostly, though they are fond of guinea
pigs. We give them small live birds
of different kinds. never saw
them eat. They won't eat when
anybody is in the room. never knew
| one of them to eat more than four birds
at meal, and that sometimes lasts
two or three months They don't al
ways eat when food is put before them,
because they are not hungry, sup
pose. No, | don't think they have any
affection for me. l don't believe you
can teach snake anything. They
haven't any brains. How did come
to do this workP Well, ! ait .tiT rl,-a-. !.
fancy for mastering animal 12ovem5
handling lions and tigers. and so got
down, or up, whichever youh have amind
to call it, to snakes. Tigers and lions
you can generally control with a club
or whip, but if you strike snake he'll
jump at you sure. fused to be piano
player. N y Times.
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