The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-16
SNAKE SKINS FOR EASTER.
SULLIVAN HAS a LOFT FULL OF
SNAKES SHEDDING THEIR SKINS.

To BE Worn by WOmen-Pretty
Girls Visit Him and Say, GIVE Me
That Snake For an Easter Belt.
Sparkle with Brilliant Scales.
! New York, Jan. 14.-'Mr Shopman, you
may give me the skin of that copperhead
for belt. That one with its head up
looking right at me now. And let me nave
| it for Easter"
Impossible. madam. That copperhead
will not shed its skin by that time But
if you say July or August, then l might
promise"
| ''No matter! l must have the skin. Coax
the snake to shed its coat. No other one
will suit me-"
The snake in question drew a tight skin
over its eyes, lowered it's head slipped its
coils together in a strange folding way.
and, caress;ng itself with it's long I'M
duladons, cured up and sank to sleep
| as though it had heard, and was deter
mined to do its best to produce the skin
by Easter
The scene was in loft in New York
city, where snakes are raised, fed and
coaxed for the sake of their skins, which
they shed annually. The rage has come
for snake skins, and to cater to the needs
of certain Sullivan of certain city
has rented loft, and is supplying skins.
The snakes are brought to him from all
the boys and swamps Of the country. and
he gets rich selling them.
The many strange uses to which snake
skins are now put would surprise the
ordinary woman who buys a strip Of
leather for a belt and yard of satin
for a handbag, for snake skins are used
for belts and handbags and for great
many other things.
The strangest use to which Mr.. Sulli-
vans snake skins were put was at Christ
mas time when a young lady visited him
and wanted two skins for suspenders for
her best young man. She was tired of
the woven ones and her resources in
crewel work were exhausted. She wanted
something nice.
The stakeholder selected two long sleo-
der skins which had just been obligingly
shed, and offered to get them up for her
in good shape. When she called a week
later she found the finest most beautiful
pair of suspenders she had ever seen They
were tan, with long green stripes run
been
removed. In the middle OF the largest
part OF the green stripe was big black
eye looking not unlike a snake eye
Carriers are one of the uses also to
which snake skins are put Many of the
skins, when she'd are imperfect They are
torn half way their length. This makes
them ideal for garters. Small. narrow
strips of skin are made up with elastic
backing to be worn round and round the
leg. Then there are long side elastics set
with jewels.
The cobra, that part of the neck next TO
the head, makes the most valuable part
of the snake skin. The cobra is the bag
which the snake initiates when he is angry.
1t is big, loose, soft and handsome. This
is made into tobacco pouches and hand
bags for ladies' to carry.
Snake skin, when dressed. is no more
Objectionable than sealskin or calfsI<in.
Alligator skin has been so long in use that
no one objects to it, yet old dealers will
tell you the trouble they once had intro
ducing it. The same with snake skin.
Many object, but it is coming in just the
same.
The ways employed by the man Sullivan
to keep his snakes in good health, happy
and numerous are peculiar He tames
them as though he were an animal charm
err He gets them so he can
hold them in his hands easily.
When he wants to keep a snake
back he puts It ~ a cold room and let's
it hibernate. When he wishes TO rush the
season he provides a tropical heat and
pleases the snake. To see If the skins
are ripe" for shedding, he allows one
chilly night to come on, removing the
snake to colder room for twenty-four
hours. and the appearance Of the skin
then tells him the probable time Of she'd
ding
The s. P. c. A. will be after Mr.. Sulli-
- II
up quantities of live frogs, live mice. fies
and other small food for his snakes TO
sat, and allows them the pleasure OF catch