davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12
@RATTLESNAKE PETE"
Interview with the Famous Snake
 Handler"
He Discusses Snake Nature and the Cures for Snake Bitea-Tells some Queer Snake Stories-They
 Can't He Charmed.
fcopyright. 1ss7.l

Peter Gruber, otherwise known as "Rattlesnake Pete," who has just re- covered from his tenth snake bite, de clares that in his judgment no one need ever die of the venom of the ser pent from which his sobriquet is de- rived. Peter began his career as a snake handler''-he disdains the title "snake charmer''-at Oil City, Pa, 15 years ago. For the past five years he has been located at Rochester, N Y, and it was there the writer met him few days ago.
 Its an exceedingly simple matter to cure snake bite" he said, thoughtfully surveying his gnarled right hand on which is to be seen the scars from every one of his ten bites, eff you only knew how. And I haven't the slightest ob- jection to telling my way, though it may not be the best, and I'm sure it isn't the only one. In the first place I want to say that the habitua1 bad heavy whisky drinker stands pretty poor show in case he is bitten, just as he does when attacked by pneumonia, and that is one big reason why I rare ly drink much whisky. In fact l never drink whisky at all between times, so to speak.
 "But the minute I am bitten begin to pour down the whisky. I don't even wait until feel it's effect before ] begin on the proper accompanying remedy, permanganate of potash.
 "A solution of this should be injected into the circulation without any delay whatever The sort of syringe used in administering morphine is exactly the instrument to use in making the iniec- tion which should be located close to
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

Have two grooves cut in it the entire length at two sides, as shown in Fig. 8. The grooves can most easily and accurately be cut with a circular saw an eighth of an inch in width; they should be quarter of an inch deep in all cases. Cut this stick into four pieces, each 12h inches long, and drive them down into the holes in the base, 30 they will stand firmly and in such position that the grooves will line with those of the base board, as shown in Fig. 1, A. Before driving these sticks into the holes it would be well to coat the ends and the hole with thin white lead to make the joint water tight. To hold them in place, drive long slim screws up through the bottom of the base board and into the ends of the sticks for distance of two inches.
 Have a groove cut in one side of an other stick an inch wide and three quarters of an inch thick As shown in Fig. 1, this stick is to be cut into four pieces for the top raif. IIaiizc a. good joint at the corners, cut lap joints at the ends, as shown in Fig. 5. Care must be taken to get these very accurate, and sharp chisel and fine !coth saw should be employed in mak-
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

able color prepared with oil for out side use.
 When the lead is in place, slide down each plate of glass, and force it into the groove in the base; then fasten on the top rails as previously suggested, after allowing the lead to dry for a week or more, scrape off the surplus and the hardened edges around the grooves. A putty knife is most con venient for this purpose. It is better to use an excess of white lead rather than to be too sparing of it.
 To prepare the inside for water, give the wood several successive thin coats of enamel paint or asphaltum varnish Finally, treat the outside to a finishing coat of the original colored paint There are several good prepared enam- els in various light shades, we'll adapt ed to aquarium use, and they can be applied to wood, glass or metal.
 A substantial table should be made for the aquarium, and suggestion for one IS shown in the Illustration, where solid top and the upper ends of the legs may be seen. The table top should be two inches larger all around than the bottom board of the tank.
 o. HARRY ADAM.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

dangerous. l know this is true, for have made experiments here in Koch e-s'ar that bear it out. These experl- ments were made with rats which 1 allowed both sorts of snakes to bite under conditions as nearly identical as possible. From the rattlesnake's bite death comes in four minutes; from the eopperhead's in eight minutes. hard ly think it would be safe to infer from this that the rattlesnake is twice as venomous to man as the copperhead. but it certainly bears out my conten- tion that atthecopperheadb bite is no worse than the others.
 T often wonder why folks kill snakes so vindictively. They are of great benefit 10 farmers They kill and eat good many small animals and in- sects thatare injurious to the crops. and they really harm no one unless they are attacked 1 have never known either rattlesnake or Q copperhead to at- tack man or an animal except when cornered, and l have never been told of such case by trustworthy person. When driven to bay, however, both rattlers and cnpperheads wilI 1: a:-sss; perhaps in such instances the latter are the more to be feared. This circum- stance and the fact that, unlike the rattler, the eopperhead cannot give warning of his presence, do certainly make this snake more to be dreaded: and doubtless the same reasons ac- count for the fact that men pursue and kill copperheads with greater persist ence than they show in following up rattlesnal1es. There is comparatively little risk of being bitten by rattle- snakes except where they are very thick indeed; but it requires some eau tion to avoid copperheads in their haunts."
 "I myself have never killed a snake, except after it had been in captivity some time, nor have I ever been bitten by snake save when I hav been hand- ling one. The popular belief that rattlesnake will bite itself to death rather than be captured is true. Cop perheads for some reason rarely or never attempt suicide. All that is said about the virtues of rattlesnake oil
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

Picture hats and picture effects in gowns will be very popular during the fall. Many of the girls affect the poster style. and one might also picture them stepping from some background of dull blue or greenish yellow. with all the grace of the artists creations.
 A tall, slim girl, with oval face and dark eyes and hair that fell in waves over her ears, wore the other evening large black velvet hat far back on her head. Above the hat few black wings were dimly discernfbfe. merely suggesting the trimming that could be seen only by getting behind her. How. ever, in front, nestling close to her hair, were two large, brilliant buckles, light ing up the hair and the somber-hued hat.
 Her gown was delightful. The skirt was black and plain. The bodice had full, square yoke of black mousseline de soie; below it hung a blouse of black silk, embroidered with green pai1Iettes of the color of fishes scales. They, too. caught the light, until our maid fairly
 ~ N1 o44N III hS1 S1l4teII1Ss 4le sleeves were black and tight, They were topped by founce Of green sill, sofft soft t. eDed with a veil of black mousseline. This introduction of a contrasting color in the sleeve trimmings, by the way, will be most of the popular features of the coming seasons dress.
 Another gown introduced several new features The skirt had a broad front panel of nuns yelling, which seemed but the continuation of a full vest of the same material. The short, round bolero was of brocade, material which will be very fashionable, caught together with long loops of jetted black cord. In this gown, again, the sleeve puffs contrasted, and were made of nuns yelling, like the front panel
 It seems a pity that so charming a garment as the tea gown should not be worn to a greater extent, but the, dis habille effect which is essential to its perfection perforce relegates it to as, semblages where only women are pres,
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

as a remedy is true, but I never heard
 of anybody making oil from copper heads.
 Here "Rattlesnake Pete" paused long enough in his talk to go to cage where he constantly keeps from doz- en to 20 rattlers, every one of them with it's poison fangs undrawn. First he stirred up the whole den of reptiles with a long stick. The result was q sudden enliyenment of the coiled snakes, dozen sharp and prolonged hissings, as of steam escaping at a high pressure, and perfect storm of door of the cage, Gruber inserted his hand, and when the head of one of the crawling, deadly creatures came within reach he seized it by the neck and brought it wriggHng and squirming into the open air. The reptile was frantic with rage, and when Gruber placed piece of metal within it's reach this was instantly covered with mass of amber-colored venom-enough to kill roomful of men.
 'sThat looks bad, and it's as bad as it looks," he said, putting the snake back into the cage, but you're in no dam ger handling your snakes unless you lose your nerve. Nerve is the whole secret of snake-charming- rather, in my opinion, there's no such thing as snake-charming at all You want to keep yaur snakes afraid of you con- stantly. I know that many snake charmers, so-called, cause the snake to move their heads in unison with stick, and this is supposed to be an is nothing of the sort, however; the snake is merely afraid that be will be hit with the stick, is watching it close ly, and is so constituted that he cam not watch anything in motion without moving his head to conform with the motion of the thing he watches. | have heard a great deal about the snake-charmers of India and other heather lands. am not prepared to say they do not possess some mysteri- ous power over their snakes of which I know nothing; but I am prepared to say that doubt this power, and shall not believe it until I see it. do not believe, either. in the story that the poison of the cobra or the ferdelance is worse than the poison of the rattle snake or the copperhead, and I shall not believe it until have succeeded in comparing the poison of both with that of our American snakes 7
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

the bitten spot. At the same time the wound should be immersed in kerosene have never tried this last but once; bite. As usual, the wound was on my right hand, and at first it seemed a pretty stubborn case. Somebody rec commended the kerosene bath, and I soaked the damaged hand for hours in tin milk pan full of the oil. It worked to a charm. In short time the pain grew less, great clots of blood came from the wound, and the swelling began to go down. It was a week or ten days before [ felt it right to say I was cured, but that is a shorter time than usual
 ''How does it feel to be bitten? We'll, the first two or three times it feels like death. The first time I felt the fangs of a rattlesnake I was nearly scared out of my senses. But aside from the fright, it is really not very painful to be bitten by rattlesnake. The pain be- gins to come pretty soon after the bite, however. It streaks up the arm or leg most bites are received near the ex- tremities, of course-with amazing rapidity. In little while the bitten member swells tremendously and changes color. Then the tongue swells up. You feel as if you were made or pith. Especially is this true with re- gard to the tongue, which not only swells but practically refuses to speak with any distinctness, though my inn pression in this matter may be some what due to the fact that drink so much whisky when am bitten.
 "Once, acting on the advice of stranger, I soaked my middle finger, which had been bitten, in ammonia It took the skin off and partially routed the flesh; the finger has been pretty bad looking member ever since. The eyesight is generally affected more or less, and it is when the vision begins to clear little that the fight with the venom may be said to be turning in favor of the victim. The symptom that remains longest is soreness of the mus cles, especially those of the bitten member. My right arm is tender now from the last bite, though, it occurred some weeks ago.
 Are the bites Of copperheads worse than of rattlesnakes? Nixey. In spite of all that has been said to tha con- trary, there is very little difference in the poison of these two snakes, and if anything, the rattlesnnke is the more
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

ice and joints as the water will find every outlet, however small, and will gradually make it larger.
 To begin with, procure a clear pine plank 24 inches long, 16 inches wide and 11a inches in thickness for the bottom. The piece of wood selected should be entirely free from imperfec- tions, with the grain smooth and even. Across the under side of this board, three inches in from the ends, fasten battens securely by means of a screw driven at intervals of an inch. These battens should be of ash or oak, about two inches wide by an inch and a half thick. They will strengthen the bot tom and prevent the action of the water from warping it. Then, at each of the corners and half an inch in from the edges, cut holes an inch square and an inch deep, and with growing plane or narrow ehisel, connect the holes by grooves one-eighth of an inch wide and quarter of an inch deep.
 Fig. 1 shows a plan of the bottom board with battens at the under side and holes and grooves on top; the grooves should be made uniform as to width and depth, and must always be directly in the middle of a stick or at the edge of a hole.
 Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the bot tom, the dotted line showing the rela- tive position of groove and holes, while B indicates the position of the battens
 At sawmill or carpenters shop ask for a clear pine stick, planed on all sides and exactly one inch square.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12
TO BUILD AN AQUARIUM.
Nothing Else So Fascinatiny and
 Instructive for a Boy.
A Simple Way to Construct One What Such a One WiII Cost and Where to Get the
 Materials.
Copyright, 1897. I

There is scarcely anything that. boy can get hold of so fascinating, and at the same time so instructive, as an aquarium, in which to keep fish and small reptiles that live in the water. It will be no difficult matter to con- struet a strong and spacious tank that will accommodate two or three dozen of these little fellows, provided the fol lowing instructions are faithfully ear nied out
 Making water-tight box with glass sides is, of course, a matter requiring some care; every precaution must be taken to seal dramatically every crev-
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12
ing them. This top rail should not be

ing them. This top rail should not be attached to the upper end of the corner posts until the glass sides are in place. but when the time comes to unite them, it is done as shown in Fig. 6. Two round-headed brass screws will hold the sticks in place; and if orna- ments are desired, they may be at. tached to pins driven at the center of each corner, as is also shown in Fig. 6.
 At one end of the bottom and at the middle, bore hole half an inch in diameter. At a gas filters obtain 8 piece of brass pipe 12 inches long, and have it threaded for distance of three inches at one end. Have two brass nuts and washers made to fit snugly on the pipe, and secure it in place through the hole by screwing one nut of the thread three inches from the end; then pass washer up to the end, paint the whole with white lead, and give the washer a liberal coat also. Push the pipe down through the hole from the top of the base board, and paint the pipe again with white lead; then put the other washer on, embed,
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12
THE LATEST FASHIONS.
Poster Effects to Be Sought by the
 Autumn Girl.
smart Ten Go,vns-Hip Pads and New Gorsets for the Followers of This Seasons
 Modes.

As September is usually so warm, it is becoming quite the thing to wear thin gowns during this month. In fact, many are gotup especially for late sum- mer wear and introduce features that will be worn during the coming winter. Gingham is good material for autumn wear, if handled like the heavier goods, and has the advantage of presenting that trim appearance essential to the fall gown, and also of being light in weight.
 There is one very important point re- garding these gowns-they must be as carefully hung and fitted as the heavier gowns, and the bodice must be well lined and boned In the making they are not handled as wash gowns, but rather as though they were wool.
 4 gown that is particularly smart is of green gingham, traced with a fine hair line of black The skirt is very scant. and well fitted over the hips. The bodice is bloused and has full vest of red crepe de ehine tiny bolero of black guipure is worn, and a sash of the crepe, that encireles the waist twice and falls in two long ends at the left side.
 Another gown, not quite so rich in coloring and yet suggesting the autumn sun, is of yellow gingham plaided with deep heIotrope. The slirtis plain, save for fold of yellow pique inserted in the left front seam, and caught down with loops of fine heliotrope cord. and buttons. The jacket fits tightly in the back, faring in front over a soft vest of yellow chiffon. Regular coat sleeves are worn, trifle smaller than those
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

of last season, and capped by gingham edged with a fold to match the skirt trimming. Similar folds finish the front of the jacket also. The collar is of gingham, plain; the gloves are vel low, stitched with heliotrope, and the small hat, far back on the head, is of vel low straw and heliotrope wings. and finishes this natty costume.
 What with narrow skirts, and bustles, and hip pads, and tight sleeves, the au- tumn girl bids fair to be quite different Efrom her sister of the summer. Skirts are now barely four yards in width, and fit snugly over exaggerated hips. Hips are from two to four inches above their natural size, and are made so by sthe use of little cushions of haircloth; <; Tor, if one wishes to be particularly Kswell, she may have satin cushions, highly perfumed with sachet of some sfavorite flower.
 q To return to skirts. The smartest Shind are of silk, left plain from waist 8Io knee in front, and for a slightly #shorter distance in the back. There a #Rlounce of gauge, dipping in front and Nery full, is sewed on the skirt. The 4iounce has am old-fashioned heading, |fl nd IS finished at the bottom with nar- grower ffounce-about six inches wide salso very full.
 With these skirts, ribbon belts con Fl lnue in favor. It is so easy for the
 A American girl, who is ingenious, if Reuhlng else, to take handy ribbon, #orn 1t around the waist twice, and #asten with perpendicular bow placed the left side with just the proper ShWlng. Or the ribbon may be longer, 'eno passed but once around the waist. 80, 1t should be finished with four
 po oped made bow at the back, and n' reaners to the hem of the skirt. z The fall corset throws the bust at
 ast two inches higher than was mo-
 psh during the summer, and a full
 gure IS therefore very popular. If
 { girls who are slim and wasplike
 'nelr proportions will finish the lin-
 gs of their gowns with a full, four
 en nounee across the bust, they will
 M tnat 1t gives the figure very desira-
 e' soft fullness, quite superior to that
 9uired by the old-fashioned and not
 roe countenanced, padding.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

ding it in lead, and screw the nut on. connection will be waterproof.
 Fig. ' is a side eleva tion of the aqua rum, showing the stand pipe at D, and the joint at E; the dotted line near the top indicates the water line; if the box is filled to a greater depth the water will be carried off through the stand pipe.
 Below the bottom nut at E there should be a short projection of pipe, so that piece of rubber tubing may be attached to it, leading down to pail This will be needed when changing the water.
 A very good way to do this last is to use a funnel, to the spout of which a short rubber tube can be attached. Hold the funnel against the side of the aquarium so that the end of the rubber tube will reach the bottom; then with pitcher fill the funnel. Thus the pure water going in at the bottom of the tank will force the im- pure water to the surface, where it will flow off through the stand pipe, and down into the pail.
 From a glazier or at hardware store purchase four panes of clear coach glass, or heavy selected stock free from bubbles and wavy places. Have it cut to fit the grooves, and so that an eighth or quarter of an inch will project above the top of the corner posts. Fill all the grooves with white lead; first, however, giving the wood- work two coats of naint of some f1esi1.-
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12
The Are. of Criminals.

Statistics prove, it is said, thatin New York state more crime is committed by men 29 years old than of any other age. The fact is so far unexplainable by the student of criminology. A man at that period of life is supposed to be in full possession of his mental and physical powers, and to have a complete ap- preciation of right and wrong and their respective consequences. For the 16 years following go the percentage of crime is small. At 45 there is another outburst of evil, which nearly equals that accredited to criminals 29 years of age.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

ent, and it's field of usefulness is, there fore, very limited. For the business woman, however, when her days work is done, nothing more delightful can be imagined, and her wardrobe usually includes one of these gowns. Now and then she even wears it when entertain ing informally a male friend, although he must, of course, be quite an intimate friend of the family to permit her to do so.
 One of these gowns is so charming that it's owner may be forgiven if she does invent excuses that make it inn perative for her to don the garment. It is made of pale pink basket cloth, with double watteau plait falling from the neck to the short train. The front is open and reveals the full vest of deep coral lawn, slashed with two rows of yellow lace insertion above the waist line. 4 full accordion plaited fiounce of the same lawn, edged with lace, falls over the shoulders, and is gathered into two rosettes on top of the arms. The sleeves are tight fitting, and lace trimmed at the waist.
 The collar, of course, as is natural inn this kind of gown, is high, with frills of lace tumbling over it in the back.
 Many tea gowns are made of &C., contemplated chiffons and worm over silk slip. They have pretty ribbon collars, and belts formed of a double row of ribbon with the perpendicular bow so fashionable now, but, unfortu- nately, they are tooexpensive to be pop ular. THE LATEST.