The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1886-11-25
Schoppenhaur's Snake.

Conversing with your correspondent
to-day, says 3 Columbus. S. c., CORE
spondent of the Atlanta Constitution,
MIR. Diedrich Schoppenhaur, a worthy
German farmer of Lexington county.
spun the subjoined grotesque snake
yarnlet which is rendered in more
luminous English than the narrator en-
ployed. albeit the quaintness of speech
Is hereby lost
You remember the musical snake I
told you about last year? Well, have
still more remarkable account to give
you of another reptile found a few
days ago. l am passionately fond of
music and painting, and devote much
Of my spare time to the cultivation of
these arts. am no mean performer on
the cello, and few artists in South Caro-
lima can WELD brush more deity than
IAcan. l am fond of painting land
scapes, and do most of my work out in
the open air. A few afternoons ago
repaired to my faTorite haunt-a most
picturesque retreat-a few miles from
my home, carrying my paints, brushes,
palette, easel. and other paraphernalia,
also my canvas upon which sublime
eoHASSstlS NiCW OullAilcu. IldO
devoted many days to this picture, and
1t is my intention to make it my chef
d'euvre.
Il worked long and earnestly, ex-
haustiug my ingenuity ahd skill in de-
picting upon canvas the brilliant hues
of the scene. i was anxious to paint
true to nature the gorgeous sunsct-to
make faithful miniature of the exquis-
lite picture hung in the western heavens.
] had worked diligently for, perhaps,
an hour, when, tired and drowsy, l
abandoned my task and lolled lazily
upon the greensward. 1t was not long
before fell asleep. How long con-
tnued in q somnolent state know not
When awoke / heard rustling of the
bushes to my left and discerned an
enormous serpent majestically drawing
himself through the underbrush. He
turned to look at ME and halted. A
glance was sufficient to enable me to
discover that the intruder was no other
than the musical snake. The rccogni-
tion was mutual. Iperceived instantly
thAkthe snakeship had been dabbling
his ponderous tail in my paints which
had been mixed on my palette. / had
no time TO pursue the investigation, for
the reptile glided OH rapidly, and was
both mad and surprised. / was still
madder when, going to my easel. /
found it overturned and my canvas ly-
ing upon the ground. could instantly
see that my beautiful picture was daub-
ed all over with paint hastily placed
It in position upon the easel. Amaze
ment all! What did / see2 Why, q !
picture the exact counterpart of natures
handiwork which l had been laboring
80 hard to initiate. there saw the gor-
geous sunset reproduced with Turncrian
brilliancy and fidelity. Every line and
hue was perfect The lines blended
with exquisite tasto. l could scarcely
believe my eyes, but here was the pict-
ure before ME. The snake had ap-
preached my retreat, and finding me
asleep conceived the idea of finishing
the picture himself. Using his tail as
brush, he used it with all The skill and
taste of master artist All who have
seen the painting declared it to be the
greatest work they have ever beheid.
But few of the spectators can be made
to believe my narrative, which Is as true
as gospel. There is 10 mistake about
It / can swear to the exact facts have !
stated"
Mr.. Schoppenhnur's tale does seem q
trifie improbable, but lar be it from any
enc to doubt It