Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-30
SNAKES H THE STREETS.
where do They Come From.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR
was quite startled and shocked this morning
by the intelligence that q snake more than
three feet long had been found on the railroad
track Immediately in front OF my residence on
New York avenue, only a few feet from 14th
street. Upon examination 1 found that the
reptile had evidently been crushed under the
wheels of the cars. The question naturally pre-
sented was how did this snake get there and
whence came 1t, whether it had come up
through the sewer, brought there by the cars
from distance. or escaped from the Smiths
oman institution, were among The many sur
misses and speculations suggested. In view OF
the fact that snakes have been frequently found
in the grounds OF the Smithsonian institute
ana the existence OF q subterranean den under
that building used for the accommodation and
propagation OF these reptiles, consider the
suggestion that the one in question had escaped
from that quarter, the true solution of the
mystery. Accepting this a fact desire TO
call your attention and through you that OF the
city authorities 10 the presence in the heart of
the city OF this snake breeding establishment and
enter protest against its continuance. L am
we'll aware that the excuse for maintaining
TINS dangerous nuisance Is scientific purposes"
but this apartment of snakes includes
am told, some that are venomous, what scien-
tific advantage in the study OF serpen-
toiogy can compensate for the loss Of a
single human life by the bite of one of this
hnement. Hundreds OF children are PLAYING
daily in the grounds of the Smithsonian un-
consciously exposed TO such a palpable danger.
can see no good end 10 be achieved by the
study OF this particular branch of natural his
tory. The varieties and species of different
genera, habits aud customs OF such reptiles
possess no attractions for Inc. Apart from the
element of danger 10 life to be considered there
is a natural antagonism between man and the
bosom of our progenitors in the Garden of
Eden, which an tagOnism, In my case, has been
transmitted with progressive intensity from
that remote epoch to the present time. fully
recognize and accept the decree of the Almighty
when He said to the serpent "rhou art cursed
above all cattle and above every beast OF the
field and 1 will put enmity between
thee and the woman, and between thy seed and
her seed" / also sy mpathize with Moses when
cast his rod upon the ground land il became a
serpent and Moses fled from before it." Every
where through the scriptures do We find that God
selected serpents as instruments of his ven-
seance, "And the Lord sent fiery serpents
among the people and they bit the people;
and much people of Israel died" Pronouncing
curses upon his rebellious people, he says:
"They shall be burnt with hunger and devoured
with burning heat, and 1 will also send the
teeth OF beast upon them with the poison OF
penis OF the dust" jeremiah declaring the
punishments OF the Lord-"For behold will
send serpents, ockatrices, among you, which
will not be charmed, and they snail bite you,
saith the Lord. And though they hide them.
selves In the top OF Carmel and, though they
be hid from my sight In the bottom OF the sea,
thence will even send the serpent and he shall
bite them" Our Saviour, In the plentitude of
his indignation against the hypocrites and sim
hers before MIN, eXclalmS, "1e Serpents, We gen.
GRAFTON of vipers." These quotations from the
Bible sufficiently show that the serpent was re-
garded and intended by God to be ty pical of
Satan and sin, and abhorent to the civilized
and christian man. The pretended love for
science furnishes no rational excuse for violat-
Ing these divine DEGREES. suppose some would
be scientific crank were TO stock the Babcock
lake with dozen full grown crocodiles, there
would doubtless be lively manifestation OF
maternal apprehension and indignation against
the chances of having their unwary progeny
devoured by these anthroponiverous creatures
Yet we quietly permit arepOrted source OF a
somewhat similar and insiduous danger to ex-
list in our midst. 1t is to be hoped that this re-
ceptacle OF serpents may be speedily abolished
and its venomous occupants exterminated. Let
the enthusiastic naturalist whose tastes run In
this serpentine direction, whether the female
Elsie Nennas, or the male philoreptilians, be
prosecute their unholy researches without det-
riment to anyone but themselves. q,