The times., 1901-04-07
MAUD SIMS, SNAKE cHARMER.
This Young Woman May Consider
Herself Distinctly Unique.

Miss Maud Sims is one of the most
charming young women in Pasadena so
ctetv. saws a California exchange, but
she recently ran great risk of destroy
ing her popularity by appearing at cos
tune ball as a snake charmer~ The per-
sonatfon was decidedly realistic, for she
carried with her number of her hldeous
pets.
Miss Sims belongs to one of the best
families of Pasadena and is young, pref
ty and talented. Her one hobby is a
passionate fondness for snakes. From
early childhood she has had a positive
mania for the repulsive things, and at
various times has owned a number of
them. They were not all Of the harm
less sort, either for pythons, boa CON
strictors, and anacondas We're included IN
the collection
posely delayed her arrival till all the
guests were present. A delicious waltz
was in progress, lace bedecked cavaliers
were whirling around with fair ladies'
dressed in almost every style known TO
ancient or modern times. Suddenly
shrek arose and the guests made WIG
rush for the far end of the room-the
snake charmer had arrived!
In the doorway stood Miss SIMS, DOW
ing and smiling; twined around her were
four great serpents, the largest one, q
monster python, forming sort Of ami
The newcomer had received a rather
dubious welcome At first sight of the
hideous reptiles the horrited hostess had
hastily retreated, and when the pseudo
snake charmer advanced toward the
guests she was saluted with a chorus or
frenzied entreaties to keep away
Having had her joke and having startled
her friends. Miss Sims removed the en-
circIing snakes, placed them in great
box that she had brought for the purpose,
and Joined the dancers
''Of course. il was a daring prank, said
Miss Sims in the course Of a recent chat,
but when the idea dawned on me II
seemed so irresistibly comic that l simply
could not resist carrying it into eXecu-
WAS the effect as funny as you had
.Oh. quite answered the fair snake
fancier with peal of laughter i ere
ated genuine CONSERVATION. In tact, l
don't believe that any OF the guests got
a warmer reception than my pets and l.
NO. | am not afraid of snakes, ana
have handled some of the most danger
GUS OF course. TO be able to do this a
person must understand reptile character
and know Just about how much fondilnS
his snakeship is willing to endure Some
snakes can be handled in wild state.
others must first be trained and made IA
miliar with human beings Some OF the
untamed, untutored SNAKES are very
tractable | have had a great python
fresh from the forest dumped from a OdS
on the floor and have picked 1t up, ca
ressed it, and made free in many ways,
without having suffered for my temerlty
Through careIessness, proceeding, l sup
nose. from the familiarity that breeds
contempt, l have been bitten several
times.
.'The first time was by a whipSnake.
fortunately not a poisonous snake | was
showing ii to some friends when suddenly
| if became alarmed at something and fas-
| tened its teeth in my arm The jaws had
10 be pried open. Several of the teeth
| were broken off and one l stiH carry in
nv arm as a souvenir Of the incident.
I Since that time | have been bitten proba-
| bly, dozen times.
AT present | have four large snakes,
| q pvthon from South America, boa con
/ strfctor from Africa, an anaconda fIom
/ South America, and boa from Cuoa