The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-09-12
TAME SNAKES.
Demonstratiye Caperishness or Pet
Pythons and Boa Constructors.

hole in the wainscoting, the mantel-
piece. In reply to my inquiry as to
what this meant, my host said, 'Oh!
that is where we keep our snakes; arc
you afraid of snakesP" Before could
stammer out reply, and while was
trying to steady my nerves, he thrust
In his arm. and pulled out with tho
blanket lot OF serpcnts, which
tumblcd on to tho ground and the
table. Another dive brought out the
rest of the blanket, and with it two
large snakes, which he informed me
were special fayOrites-a python and a
Demonstration. These ut once coiled
themselves all round my hosts body,
in and out of his arms. and about his
neck.
Dazed with astonishment and shak-
ing with fear, tried to retreat, but he
assured me, in winning accents and
soft words, that tho 'dear things
were quite tame; and for some minutes
wo stood, close to the window-which
l thought might afford means of es-
cape-and he between me and the
door. Suddenly my eccentric host,
who had very large, exciting eyes,
called out that he must really fetch
down his wife. and shovelinS off tho
two monsters on TO the floor (Which he
did not do without some difficulty, he
darted from tho room, closing tho door
behind him. leave you, kind readers,
to imagine my feelings Experienced
A CREEPY SENSATION
in my hair. and strange feelings of
fascination, faintness, and fear stole
over me, rs stood rooted to the floor,
afraid even TO look round at my
possible window-cscape. The two
hugo monsters crawled stealthily up
the sofa and kept stretching out their
necks to gaze ut me, their forked
tongues jerking in and out and their
eyes staring with what seemed to me q
devilish inquistivcness.
The silence was only disturbed by
the boating of my poor heart, and /
knew not how long it was before the
door opened and my host reappeared
with a pretty lady, who, after smil-
ing curLesy to me, lifted the snakes
from tho sofa, or rather, leaning to-
ward them, allowed them to cntwine
themselves quickly round her comely
figure. Although still frightened, !
began to heave signs of relief, and
could not help being impressed by the
picturesqueness of tho scene. The
lady's black velvet bodice showed off
to great advantage the large snake
coils, with their curious markings, and
her rich brown hair was soon charm
ingly ruffled by the caresses of the
snakes as they poked their noses
through it. In q few minutes two lit
tie girls appeared, and, tripping up to
their mother, began playing with the
snakes, calling the boa cleopatra
DEAR" and actually kissing its nose
until the snake tried impatiently to
withdraw its neck from their fond lit
tie hands.
Mrs. NJ, who seemed overweighted
with the two snakes. asked her hus-
band to relieve her of the python, and
she then proposed that we should have
some coffee, which was brought in by
the little girls. BY this time had ro-
gained my self-possession, and watched
her with the keenest interest of an
artist as she poured out the coffee and
tapped occasionally
| THE HEAD OF THE BOA,
which was inquisitively stretched out
toward me. During this time tpc
smaller snakes were all about the
room. u green one half hidden in tho
blotting book, and others hanging from
the tables and chairs, and from Mr..
Ms pockets.
Several months after this adventure,
happened to be ut n rather smart
wedding, and meeting Lord Arthur
Russell (who knew was lover of
snakes) narrated the circumstances
to him, and was rather taken aback by
his proposal tina. we should go away,
there and then. in hanson cab to
Chelsea. Surely" | exclaimed, 'you
don't propose 10 leave this goodly
company" (Mr. Gildtone was there
among many other celcbritics) "and
this goodly cheer. to see the snakesP
1.-The guests are met the feast is set;
Mays't hear the merry din.
But he was evidently determined.
So off VIC drove TO Cheyne Walk, where
we fortunately found the snake-charm-
ers mt home, and saw much the same
scene that l have already described.
Lord Arthur was more venturcsome
than | was, and got one of the smaller
reptiles up his sleeve, and Mr.. NJ. had
10 come TO the rescue and draw it
forth through his shirt cuff. We were
shown very perfect skin. apparently
about three yards long, which Mr.. nj.
cOOlly told us the boa had cast while
in bed with him one cold night. He
felt 1.-The poor thing frctting about"
and kept telling it to be qaet. but it
would persist in squeezing between his
legs and feet, and in the morning he
found that it had shed its skin.
Mr.. and Mrs. nj. informed us that
once. when they were away for two
months, they left the two big snakes in
charge of a keeper at the Zoo. On
their return the keeper said that if they
had delayed much longer the boa
would have died. rs it was refusing
food; and when he produced the snake
it recognized Mrs. MS voice, and
spranS ut her with
SUCH VEHEMENT AFFECTION
as nearly TO upset her, coiiing itself
closely round her until they reached
home In q cab. Our hosts also in
formed us that one summers evening,
when the family, including all the
snakes, were having tea in the garden,
Cleopatra kept swinging from tree by
its tail, and Mr.. NJ, thinking it good
opportunity to gauge the strength of
the boa, placed himself under the tree
and allowed the snake to coil itself
round his waist. He then found that
he could lift his feet from the ground.
We were also informed that if the big
snakes once made pets of live animals
given for food-which they were apt to
do when not hungry-they would never
eat them, but would wait until fresh
beasts or birds were provided.
Some years later, while l was
abroad. noticed in the English news
papers an account of chancery suit
affecting my friends and their beloved
snakes, and on my return, finding that
they were likely to be turned out OF
their house, owing to stray snake
having frightened neighbours servant
into fit, Iwrote letter to the Times
in defense of the snakes, which will be
found quoted in DIR. Romane's book on
animal Intelligence" In spite of my
protestations the serpents were de-
clared to be dangerous nuisance, and
my friends were turned out nearly
broken-hearted and ruined.
After long interval heard of them
again from the late Frank Buckland,
who was kind friend to the family.
They were living quietly with their
snakes in small lodgings near Leicester
Square. One day Mr.. NJ, who was a
delicate man, was seized with a faint
ing fit. and remained on his bed insen-
sible while Mrs. NJ. hastened out for
the doctor. On her return with Buck
land, they found Mr.. M. still on the
bed, but regaining his consciousness.