The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-15
FIRST SNAKE SHOW OPENS.
BTG DIAMOND-BACK RATHER THE
STAR OF THE EIHIBITION.

Women the Most Interested Visitors and the
Most Fearless in Handling The Harm
less specimens-Bo n Are the Beauty
Prize winncrs-other Reptiles on show.
Several hundred feet Of assorted snakes,
varying in value from q few cents TO as muo
as 800 a yard, according to the pattern, were
put on exhibition yesterday at the Grand
Central Palace. Horse shows. dog shows, cat
shows, bird shows. food shows. flower shows,
and many other forms OF exhibitions New
York has become familiar with by years OF
repetition. but this is the first snake show ever
held in this vicinity. though. as q matter Of
fact, It is moro than q snake show, other rep
tiles being exhibited there. A good-sized
crowd was present last night. composed half
OF persons scientifically interested. and the
other half OF those who came for the pleasure
OF feeling that creepy sensation which watch
ing q snake gives to most people. Some Of
them seemed to be fairly fascinated by the
serpents. and that without any efforts on the
reptiles' part.
Naturally the venomous snakes attracted
the most notice. 1t Ia o curious attribute Of
human nature that a man Is usually attracted
to that which is most deadly to him. To DO
sure, the dangerous snakes were all behind
barriers OF glass, but the power of death was
there Just the same though restrained. and 1t
was that which drew the crowds.
What catches me-" said q man who had
stood In front of the diamond-back rattle
snakes box for fifteen minutes. rs that II that
fellow could get 1t this crowd. our lives
wouldn't be worth 80 cents. That's what I
linen somebody poked a silver through a
crack in the box and stirred up the big dia-
n,ond back. which male a swift pass at the
who had Just spoken knocked a dozen people
rlRnt and lett In his haste 70 get across the
q mans wrist, super5ly marked. and its,head.
nat and blunt. with little beady eyes. is the
ing who ever vsf'G saw y that %t'f head you'd NS iau nesd t ISs
warning OF the rattles to know that this.wasa
SlSsf1f iS 90 syi ti g fr0 the r Tas saf feepi %sr eoi Roi
up all during the evening. Other varieties OF
the rattler on exhibition we're the ground rat
nelghbor Of New Jersey. the copperhead. was
represented by a number OF specimens, none
OF which was very large or noticeable for fine
In point OF beauty the boas deserved first
place. In one showcase there were four speci-
color. One, is a beautiful ashy white, another
whitish, with a double trown line ornamenting
tied In a design not unlike that Of the diamond
back. and the fourth. a thick, fellow. is deep
brown with, light, sharply defined diamonds,
felt an instructive sympathy with, the remark
OF 40 old man WHO said with a sigh:
4 bhOulu Iuluk IL .WOulu mdk6 GIL awful
cross to be crawled all over that way:
A box OF fine pine snakes attracted much at
%tention. and when the exhibitor from time to
time took one or two OF them out Of the box he
was surrounded by women who asked to be
allowed to handle the reptiles. 1t was notice.
able that only the women visitors seemed to
care to handle them the men kept q respect
tul distance. AS the pine snake Is quite harm
less and even, good-natured. the spectators
were permitted to cuddla the reptiles and even
wrap them around their necks. The experts
at the show admired a fine exhibition OF black:
snakes; the cleanest, most graceful and one OF
the swiftest snakes In the world.
There, were also garter snakes, ribbon
snakes. king, snakes. ~hog-nosed adders. black
adders neither of them real .addersl. corn
snakes. milk. snakes, green snakes and many
other varieties common hereabouts. There
were also some ella monsters. which will never
settle the question. as to whether their kind
are venomous, as they were dead and picked.
Other assorted pickles were scorpions. taran;
tulas and centipedes. There were several
cases. Of small lizards. efts and s~alamanders.
showing them In pretty and artistic limitations
OF their natural surroundings.
The snake show will continue through the
week and there will be many additions tn the
axhihifa