St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-06

into Mysteries. The reporter drew back
as the strengthening creature displayed
tendency to creep out of the box.
"Oh, don't be afraid of Tim. l call
him Tim O'Brien, you KNOW" said Mr..
Schandley; Its only a little nickname.
He can't hurt you. I've drawn the
poison from his nippers. Come, Tim"
and, to the horror of the reporter, Mr..
Schandley reached his hand out and al
lowed the tarantula to crawl upon it. A
tarantula is not very handsome or
pleasing specimen of an animal under
any circumstances, but it causes Shud-
der to come over the ordinary man to
see one dragging its hairy form over the
head of human being. Mr.. Schandley
allowed the creature to crawl around his
fingers, and it worked its way up his
coat sleeve. 1t stopped when near Mr..
Schandley'S elbow and cooked its eyes
up at the reporter in what the latter
considered wicked manner.
go back to your box, Tim," COM
manded Tins master, in harsh tones,
aud 10 the reporters surprise the ami
nal Smelled over the owners hand and
dropped into the cigar box.
Il have him well trained, you see,"
laughed the owner of the tarantula, as
he closed the lid Oh Mir. O'Bren, but
I'll show you another specimen. Here
is jim Blaine" Mr.. Schandley op ened
another box and exposed to view red
dish-brown tarantula. 1t was lively
customer, and as soon as the lid of the
box was thrown back it
FAIRLY I.E.i PED OUT UPON THE TABLE,
The reporter sprang back. Don't be
alarmed said the trainer, and he
seized Jim Blaine" around the body.
Jim is Texas boy, and the dandy of
his kind. Just feel him." The reporter
requested to be excused from feeling
Jim" The only failing that Jim has
is that he drinks whisky and is a con-
iirmed TOPPER"
"a queer business Pm in," said the
tarantula trainer, in reply to question
thrown out by the reporter. "Yes, it is.
Money in it? Yes. was snake hun
ter in Berks county, Pennsylvania,
about fifteen years ago. l made cOnsid-
cradle money out of it, but the rattlerS
got kind of scarce, and | followed Hor-
ace Greeley's advice and came West.
When was in Texas | got an idea that
tarantulaS could be trained, and l
started in. | was successful, and soon
had about fifty of the ugliest devils of
tarantulas that would do almost any
thing. OF course, 1 drew their poison,
so that there was no danger to be in
VA ~ HI tIoituiiliS liiChi' tOOh Gill
to New York and sold 'em. Who
bought them? Well, the greater part
of them were purchased by sa-
lOonkeepers who wanted to at
tract customers by exhibiting them on
their bars. Some of them | sold to
ladies who had bent of mind some
what like Bernhardt. They made pets
of them. / tell you there are at least
dozen Murray Hill bellies who keep their
pet tarantulaS with their lap dogs now.
| got very good prices from them for
tarantula that was well trained and
would not betray any viciousness.
Some of the brutes can never be
trained. They will bite. No. don't
exactly make living out of selling
tarantulas, but am always willing to
accommodate any one who wants one of
the animals. I've got about eighteen
tarantulas now. | hope to inaugurate
a craze among the ladies for the
creatures. If l can get up a boom you'll
see women promenading on Market
street on Saturdays with their pet
tarantulaS on their arms. A small blue
ribbon around their waist is what keeps
them in place.