The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-05
a Queer Taste.

The old Romans had an adage which
reads, There is no accounting for tastes {"
That this maxim is rs true today us it was
when uttered 1000 years ago we see proofs
ON every hand. The most remarkable en-
ample that has come to my notice for some
time is that of Mr.. Higford Burr, n rich
bachelor who lives in the midst of a fine
park near Reading, in England.
Mr.. Burr's hobby is snakes. He matches
them out OH his grounds, and MS he will
permit none to be killed, and particularly
dotes OH large and vicious reptiles. his
pnrk is not Il particularly attractive place
to his neighbors.
Mr.. Burr keeps II frog pond, and it is his
greatest delight to watch the snakes hunt
ing for frogs.
Colonel Ewell, of Texas, CHANGED to meet
Mr.. Burr two years ago and they Mt once
became friends, and the American was in
vited to Aldermaston Hall, us the snake
lovers home is called.
After dinner the colonel was taken out
to see the pond and the snakes, and his
opinion of the collection was asked.
"Wa-al," drawled the American, cpl
allow you have u right smart lot of snakes,
SIGH as they are, but if you'll come over to
see me OH the Sabine and put up for week
Dr. two I'll show you snakes till you can't
rest, and they'll be snakes MS are snakes "
BLESS mol" exclaimed the Englishman.
what do you call those extraordinary
reptilcs?"
"Oh. different names. There's some
dandy fellows we call copperheads; then
thnr's moccasins, puff adders, pizen hoop
snakes and SIGH, but reckon the boss
snake over OH the Sabine is the RATHER,
more particular when they git to be ten
feet long and bout as thick rs your
thigh.s
why, you excite my curiosity,"V said
the Englishman. "and if on your return to
Texas you could send me n consignment of
the snakes you mention l should gladly
pay you whatever the expense may be.
But let me ask. do you think your Texas
snakes would get along friendly with their
English cousins?"
"Wa-nl. that'll depend OH how their Eng
lish cousins trent 'cm. Our Texas snakes
are high toned and rather like fight, but
they never go out hunting fuss, that I'll
say for 'em," replied the colonel, who,
though not fond Of snakes, felt that state
pride compelled him to stand up for the
Texas reptile.
Six months after that three frightened
men left number Of crates marked
"Texas snakes" ut Mr.. Burr's mansion.
A letter had preceded the consignment
Englishman to "treat the snakes kindly
till they got paturalizcd," and as he loved
his life not to take them to his bosom "nor
fool with their business ends"
The delighted naturalist took tho crate,
down to tho frog pond and let the Kissing
squirming creatures free. The snakes
were famisbed, and Mr.. Burr rubbed his
hands rs he pictured them fcasting or
frogs. but he WIS doomed to disappoint
ment.
Instead of attacking the frogs the Amer
lean snakes started for their 'English
cousins" incidentally swooping in frog
on the raid.
Three days after this Mr.. Burr's man
entered the library in great alarm and re
ported that the American snakes had killed
and eaten everything in the pond, includ-
ing the ducks and young swans, and that
some of the larger ones had started after
the lambs in the park
I'VE must keep the American reptiles in
separate Enclosure till they get accli-
mated,' said Mr. Burr.
AL once every man on the place and
every man who could he bribed by double
pay to do the work started out with nets
and pitchforks to corral the Texas snakes,
but the snakes We're not of the same way
of thinking. They invaded the neighbour
ing farms and one entered the city of
Reading and frightened the people out of
their wits.
The magistrates had Mr. Burr arrested
for encouraging dangerous nuisance and
all the country was up in arms
am aware that this reads as if it were
fiction, but it is true in every detail and it
was not till year passed and the climate
OF the country killed the snakes that the
people near Reading breathed easier or
dared to venture out at night.
Mr.. Burr still cultivates snakes. I learn.
but they are of the harmless English
variety.
voItaire and Chesterfield.
My private opinion is that many of the