Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-07
AGREAT SNAKE FARM
THE REPTILE FAMILY HAS BEEN
MASTERED BY A kENTUCKlAN.
They Readily Respond TO the Sweet Strains
Of the vioiin-An InterIoping Adder
Some snaseology.
Lancaster Ky) Correspondent OF the
St Louis Republic.)

river and the Dix river, both OF winch
wash her shores, admiring their stupen-
dous cliffs, which rear their evergreen
heads towards the shining sun.
A short distance from Lancaster. our
county seat at the foot Of the rolling hills
which trend off towards the classic shades
and entangled dells of "Sweetwater Creek
IS the home of wealthy farmer. Henry
0. Sutton by name. The approach To his
Uncovered brick mansion is Ike the
glimpse that the wandering peri caught
through the opening gates OF Paradise.
Children reared in such romantic sur
roundings can but give loose rein to the
Imagination. and all the hooks and cor
ners are soon filed with creations OF the
brain. II. Clay Sutton, the only son OF
Henry o. Sutton, early In life exhibited
not only a wonderful imagination, but
marked artistic talent lie was not
mere copiegt, but possessed remarkable
inventive powers. He would sit for hours
in profound study, totally Obvious TO the
surroundings and would then in few
short hours. with pencil and brush, paint
n picture strikmgly original, thoroughly
lifellke. and which would well stir the
jealousies Of the old masters. He loves
10 part with them for a great many con-
slderations and he admits but the chosen
few TO the optical feast always spread
in his picture gallery. He Is possessed
Of great culture and refinement lie Is
thoroughly educated, and all this Is set
off by grace and manners and charming
conversational powers. largely natural, but
greatly aided by travel and society. OF
course. he Yields a graceful pen. and
many Of his articles treat OF snakes and
their habits. a subject in regard to which
he Is thoroughly informed, as this letter
Will show.
A GREAT PRIVILEGE.
1t is doubtful IL he ever admitted any
one but your correspondent TO the Utmost
recesses Of his picture-gallery. Strolling
in that direction few days ago, l found
the distinguished artist, for the first time.
neither busy with his hand nor in pro-
found meditation, but in a laxative. com
municauve mood. lie at once invited me
into his gallery, on entering which a sight
burst upon my view which almost stag
gered me The walls were entirely COW
cred, and all kinds OF stands and tables
were likewise covered with pictures, all
from the pencil OF the wonderful artist.
They were arranged and numbered after
a most perfect system OF his own, rang
ing from one up into numbers which !
dare not give. for fear Of exciting mere
dulity.
The first picture was that Of a landscape
with Il perfectly-painted snake at a dis
lance In the background. The next picture
exhibited a snake further to the front,
with another snake in the background.
AS you pass along the gallery snakes In
crease in aruhmetical progression until
they become the Foreground and, In fact,
1t is all snake and no background what
ever. From that point forward you see
nothing but snakes. Snakes Of all sizes,
all colors and conditions--in repose. with
ing, twisting, and hissing-so true TO lie
that you can almost see them going
through their various performances
While contemplating this remarkablu
scene a gentle zephyr stirred the canvas
and put &he snakes in motion. My blood
froZe, my hair stood on end, and l was
rooted to the spot, terrified but charmed.
/ knew there was no danger but could not
realize IT, The artist brought me back 10
my normal condition by hearty laugh.
What had taken to be picture Of very
large-spotted snake was the skin OF
snake, stuffed and hung up. the artist be-
ing somewhat Of a taXidormlst also.
MUSIC AND SNAKES.
Smillnely be told me that that snake
had history which he would give me.
Saying this, he conducted me To his snake
farm, only a short walk from the gallery.
We came TO gate double locked. which
he opened. ON entering the farm ii
turned out to be an Enclosed grotto, nicely
laid off into walks, with music stand in
the centre. IT is about 10 feet IN diameter.
lightly boarded, and ironed up for about
four feet from the ground inside and out
IL d, -oI 81 fe
the ingress and egress of snakes.
on entering this inclosure which was
about noon, not a snake was visible. i
was concealed in kind Of recess or press
connected with the music stand. 10y thls
means I could observe everything that
passes without being seen myself. AS eX-
planned by the artist, stranger would
prove disturbing element 10 the snakes.
when all was ready the artist brought
forth his violin and commenced tuning II.
AS he plucked the strings 10 test their
tension snakes of all sizes, species, and
colors began TO appear around the music
stand As the music OF the violin hoated
out upon the air the snakes all reared
thelr heads and listened with rapt atten-
ton. He PLAYED various tunes with vary
ing effect upon the snakes.
During one moment they were raised TO
bilarity. as evinccd by their playful man
ners, while at others they were dashed into
frenzy. Finally, when they had assumed
various attitudes. the artist played
''Home. Sweet Home" which caused them
TO seek their respective places of abode.
RESPOND TO THEIR NAMES.
Before many minutes had elapsed l was
called out OF my hiding place and Invited
TO take a seat on the music-stand. The
artist then stated that he would give a
few exhibitions for my entertainment. He
called for different snakes at different
times. each well knowing his name and
responding promptly when called. 1t
would occupy too much space 10 give
an outline Of these exhibitions. which l
may be able to do IN some future COM
munication. 1t Is really too wonderful 10
describe, but / may attempt 1t 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 scat
tered in all parts OF the grotto, which
absorbed all Odor Of the snakes without
giving II forth again.
Il learned this" remarked the artist,
Gin hunting for the various specimens OF
snakes which you have seen In my snake
farm. / always found my snakes by the
Sc of my highly cultivated olfaciores. 1
soon discovered, however, that | never,
by this means, found a snake that was
repOsing beneath a rotten los. 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
fire. Perhaps you have seen II. 1t Is
some principle or element in partially
rotten wood which CLOVIS like fire in the
darkness of night. i walk out here fire.
quently and view a remarkable scene.
The grotto glowing throughout with
cleaning fox-fre. coupled with the fact
that a deadly snake turks beneath each
artificial fire. With all my familiarity, II
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.
THIS BEATS ALL.
after had barred out all interloping
snakes, as previously stated. / found my
community frequently, In an uproar, and
often saw large. spotted. strange adder
gliding into the bush when 1 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, l
was soon rewarded, for l saw the spotted
snake ascend large tree on the outside,
move out onto projecting limb, pass To a
limb projecting from the inside OF the
Enclosure, and descend in to the commu-
nifty Instantly i saw a connection with
in. / seized my needle-gun and fired, cut
ting the projecting limb from each tree
with two weil-drected shots / then pro-