The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-26

sion until Jney become the foreground.
and, in fact, it is all snake and no back
ground whatever. From that point for
ward you see nothing but snakes. Snakes
OF all sizes, all colors and conditions-in
repose, writing twisting and kissing so
true TO life that you can almost see them
going through their various performances.
While contemplating this remarkable
scene gentle zephyr stirred the canvas
and put the snakes in motion My blood
froze, my hair stood on end, and was
rooted to the spot, terrified but charmed
knew there was no danger, but could
not realize it. The artist brought me
back to my normal condition by hearty
laugh. What / had taken to be a picture
OF very large spotted snake was the
skin of a snake. stuffed and hung up the
ARTIST being somewhat of a taXidermist
also.
Smilingly, he told me that that snake
had history which he would give me-
Saying this, he conducted me to his snake
farm, only short walk from the gallery.
We came to a gate double locked, which
he opened. On entering the farm it
turned out to be an inclosed grotto,
nicely laid off into walks with a music
stand in the center. 1t is about forty
feet in diameter, lightly boarded and
ironed up for about four feet from the
ground inside and out with galvanized
and egress of snakes.
On entering this Enclosure, which was
about noon, not a snake was visible.
was concealed in kind of recess or press
connected with the music stand. BY this
means l could observe everything that
passed without being seen myself As
explained by the artist, stranger would
prove disturbing element to the snakes.
When all was ready the artist brought
forth his violin and commenced tuning
1t. AS he plucked the strings to test
their tension, snakes of all sizes, species
and colorS began to appear around the
music stand. AS the music of the violin
Heated out upon the air the snakes all
reared their heads and listened with rapt
attention. He played various tunes with
varying effect upon the snakes.
During one moment they were raised to
hilarity, as evinced by their playful man
ners, while at others they were dashed
into frenzy. Finally, when they had as
sumed various attitudes. the artist played
Home, Sweet Home" which caused
them to seek their respective places of
abode.
Before many minutes had elapsed was
called out Of my hiding place and invited
to take seat on the music stand The
artist then stated that he would give
few exhibitions for my entertainment.
lie called for different snakes at different
times, each well knowing his name and
responding promptly when called 1t
would occupy too much space to give an
outline of these exhibitions, which | may
be able TO do in some future communica-
ton 1t is really too wonderful to de-
scribe, but l may attempt it in the future
l asked the artist why there was no odor
from so many snakes. He pointed out to
me pieces of rotten wood scattered in all
parts of the grotto, which absorbed all
odor of the snakes without giving it forth
again.
II learned this remarked the artist.
Sin hunting for the various specimens of
snakes which you have seen in my snake
farm. l always found my snakes by the
use of my highly cultivated olfactories
l soon discovered, however, that never,
by this means, found a snake that was
reposing beneath a rotten log. Upon dis
covering this l transported all these
pieces of rotten wood into my grotto and
require each snake to make his bed and
abode beneath one of them. Perhaps,
my friend, you have heard of the fox-fre
Perhaps you have seen it. 1t is some
principle or element in partially rotten
wood which grows like fire in the dark
ness of night. walk out here fire.
quietly and view remarkable scene
The grotto glowing throughout with
cleaning foX-fire coupled with the fact
that deadly snake turks beneath each
artificial fire. With all my familiarity. it
is impossible for me to suppress my
fears"
But tell me. about the spotted snake
whose skin is hanging in your gallery"
He smiled and shuddered. He said the
history was brief but interesting.
after had barred out all interloping
snakes, as previously stated, found my
community, frequently, in an uproar, and
l often saw large, spotted, strange adder
gliding into the bush when l approached.
How this snake got in and out was a mys-
terry to me. | finally seated myself in my
observatory with field glass in hand. I
was soon rewarded, for l saw the spotted
snake ascend a large tree on the outside,
move out on to projecting limb-pass to
limb projecting from the inside of the
inclosure and descend in to the COM
mnity. Instantly | saw a commotion
within. | seized my needle-gun and fired
cutting the projecting limb from each tree
with two well-directed shots / then pro-
ceeded to the grotto and took my seat in
the music stand, the spotted snake
fleeing, as usual, at my approach.
watched him ascend the tree and saw his
CONSERVATION when he found that the
bridge had been torn away He first
seemed to think that he had assembled the
wrong tree, but, after an inspection and
uuulnR IndU MS Dfluge was certainly no
more, he turned his venom and his ven
geance on to me. He seized a limb with
his tail whirled himself in midalr several
times and threw himself at me with all
his power. l lodged in time for him to
pass over my head. l arose and OBJ
served him in the little space of open
ground in front, and never have / seen
such passion shown or depicted. After
watching him for an instant l gave the
war signal. Instantly snakes were all
over and around him, and in less time
than l can tell it the last spark of life was
crushed out of him and he was lying on
the ground, with every bone broken, every
muscle crushed into pulp, while the
host of domestic warriors glided proudly
back TO their respective places"
just at this point the dinner bell rang.
/ was invited in, but | can assure you my
appetite was frightened away from me,
and l did not do more than half justice to
the ample spread before me, and my
dreams have been of snakes and snake
ology ever since.
Prevention is Better