Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-02-19

Eye Witnesses OF Things That Arc De-
alei by this FlIppant.

ye-Wttn ssses OF Things That Arc De-
sisi BY the Flippant.
Two popular beliefs concerning the
behavior of certain snakes under cor
tain circumstances have been very
positively met by some persons with
very fat and absolute denial that any
snake ever did anything OF the kind.
One thing largely believed and fire.
quently reported on tho testimony OF
somebody else Is the alleged fact that
some snakes ut times exercise the
power Of charming or drawing to-
ward them by the fixed power OF tho
serpents eye small birds or squirrels,
the purpose being to make meal OF
the victim. This belief has been We.
hemently maintained and as vehe-
mently denied the denials being &C
companied by the sneer: You didn't
see this yourself" IL would seem
that those who firmly believe the re-
port-generally speaking, on the
strength OF the testimony OF some abb
sent friend in whose word they have
implicit trust--largely outnumber
those who deny; but among the latter
are few who profess to speak 60
scientists
The other popular snake story is
that in moments Of danger the mother
snake of some species, will open her
mouth and her brood of babies will
run head first down her throat This.
too, has bean dismissed as an lido
tale.
Now it so happens that there are at
present living in Hartford two emin-
eutly trustworthy men who can by
personal experience confirm the
actual truth Of both these stories. says
the Hartford Times one having wit
messed the performance first named
and the ether seeing the second
Mr.. Samuel Taylor. OF Charter Oak
place. when boy OF 10, lived in
Glastonbury. There when out In
the fields ono day. his attention was
attracted by the strange actions OF q
small probably some ground
sparrow or. perhaps a 'chippy."
The bird paid no attention to him as
be came near it but futtered In a wild
and peculiar way on the path. some
times nuttering up 10 low twig .
foot or so above the path. and again
fluttering down. seemingly in great
distress and then Tapping up and
down, but all the while getting along
in one direction.
AS the bird paid no attention to the
boy, and did nothing to get away
from him, the lad began to investigate
things in the direction the bird
seemed 70 be aiming at and he dis
covered blacksnake. The reptile
wcS coilod. and its head was some
what lifted above the coil. His gaze
was fastened upon the futtering bird,
and his eyes were bright and glitter
ing. The specta or OF this remark
able scene waited until the reluctant
and distressed bird had advanced SO
near that he was not over yard from
the serpent Then ne interfersd-
Picking up q stone he hurled it at the
snake and killed him. The bird then
seemed dazed. confused and helpless
Gradually it recovered and finally
few out OF sight
1t is needless to add that nobody
who knows Mr.. Taylor will for = mo-
ment question the truth OF his state
msnt. He is one OF our best and most
respected citizens.
The other witness Is Colonel I. w.
Prince, OF the Calling guA company.
Colonel Prince was good deal OF
fisherman before he went into the
war. Once he says while fishing ca
q stream. net many miles from Aus
burn. n. Y. he went TO a half-hOllow
stump near by to deposit his box OF
bait. IN doing so ne disturbed q
good snake in tho stump ap-
parently an adder about whose head
and body her young brood were dis
porting themselves. Instantly the
mother snake opened wide her mouth.
and down her throat ran the baby
brood, one on the heels (perhaps we
should say the tally Of the other.
Being confron ed by u hat denial OF
this statement by MIR. N. Starkwsather
OF this city. Colonel Prince Indignantly
and firmly held his ground. 1T may
do TO deny what other people have
reported" 'he holly replied. ''but
what i have seen myself l am sure
Of"