The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-23
ANOTHER SNAKE STORY.
A Rattlesnake From Virginia in Parii
Excited on Hearing English Spoken

Excited on Hoarln8 EnBlSn spoken.
From Hdrpers' Young People.
An American lady from Virginia was
spending some time in Paris, and one day
was asked to go with some friends to the
Jardin des Plantes. After wandering about
for some time in the gardens, it was sug-
gested that they go around by the serpent
house. The lady from Virginia, who had
an unconquerable dread of snakes Of all
kinds, objected strongly, but finding that
the rest all wanted to go, and yet were too
polite to leave her behind, she at last con-
sented. Once near the row of cages, how
ever, she begged the others to go on and
see what they wanted to, leaving her to
wait for them there One English lady
preferred remaining behind also; so after
some talk the two ladies were left standing
at one side of the first cage, where glimpses
of torpid-looking snake from beneath the
folds of an old blanket on the floor of the
cage had been enough to frighten both
ladies from going any farther. The CONVEX
sation until now had been ehtirelyin French,
but as tie rest of the party moved on, the
two left behind began talking in English.
With the first words the English lady
spoke the tornid snake began moving uneas-
ily. As the Virginia lady answered her, and
went OH talking at some length, the snake
grew more and more restless, till IL finally
Showed every sign Of intense excitement.
evidently" said the English lady,
"thats a snake that understands English.
They laughed little and moved away,
the dreadful head pressing so near the wires
of the cage unnerving both ladies for long
er stay But as they came out in front Of
the cage, and looked up to the label TO see
what the creature exac ly was, they read to
their astonishment, Crotalus Vlrginlensis or
"Virginian rattlesnake,"
Think of it" exclaimed the American
lady: she not only knows English, but he
recognizes my Virginia dialect"
The whole affair seemed so uncanny that
they begin to think they would rather move
ON and Joined their friends. The gentle
men. however, when the story was told,
were so anxious to see the experiment them
selves that the American lady consented to
conquer her dread again and go back TO the
first cage.
When they reached it the snake was
again lying torpidly on the floor. Conver-
sation was begun in French quite rapidly
and very loudly, to see whether it would be
reused by the mere noise.
II paid no attention TO them, however,
till the English lady spoke in her native
tongue, when the slight restlessness at once
began again, and as soon as the lady from
Virginia had uttered rev Sentences inc
creature was evidently furious, rousing it
self with such baleful fire in its narrowed
eyes that tho nerves of the lady could bear
1t no longer, even in the interests Of science,
and she beat a retreat
She WAS urged 30 go 10 the garden again
and again by scientists anxious 10 make
every experiment possible, but she found
herself utterly unable 70 face the creature,
even with iron bars and wires between. She
assures me that the whole party said IL was
imDossbl 10 doubt bu hat the rattlrsnake
did recognize the Language and tie dinlsct.
The strnngest part Of such a thing would
naturally be that the rattlssnake, unhke
any domestic animal or bird, could d 4 have
heard much talk from human beings, owing
10 the secrecy, ~ H. movements and the
obscurity Of ia hannts Whatever reeol.
lections Of the language 10 had carried
with u across The sea when ~ Was sent -
France must have come from that one 90
counter with Nirgiuians when - Was cap
tufed. lts very oyifirnt assoeiation Win tie
Virginia soceat being 0ig " enraSc ~ D.
you'd measure,