The Washington times., 1901-12-22
LOVE FOR SERPENTS
HER RULING PASSION.
TALK WITH A SNAKE CHARNER,

TALK WITH A SNAKE CHARMER
PcriiS OF the ofe-sion-Hnndiins
| Ncuomous Rcptiics--t Dearly
! Loved Pct-Bittcn by n Rat
| tIer-Tattoo Marks as
nm Antidote.
\ dealer in this city has in his shoS
window some specimens Of large boa con
strictors, and back in his shop are moro
snakes of various descriptions. The query
naturally occurs to the ordinary spectator,
why should these abhnr-ed creatures find
a place in the stocx Of a dealer in pet
| animals?' Surely" exciafrns the visitor
to the merchants establishment nobody
would want such huge aud 1oathsome rep
tiles" But that Is where the person with
the common prejudice against snakes
would be very much mistaken.
One visitor at least to the store saw a
woman look with longing eyes at the
largest boa In the window. debating
whether or not to pay the hundred dollars
asked for that reptile. which is larger
around in the thickest part of the body
than good-sized stovepipe. II is true
that the lady follows the profession of
snake charmer. and that the boa would
be something more to her than a mere
pet; but pet IL would undoubtedly be
also. for she confessed a feeling of at
tachment as she looked upon the huge
coiled body of the reptile.
\ Deadly Pet.
II once had snake which slept with
me every night" she said. 1T was a
California shake. pure white. with pink
eyes and deadly poisonous. But it be-
came attached to me. and to it, and
loved it like a child 1t was the only
snake out OF the many l have had that
ever loved
Yes; was bitten recently for the first
time in my life. and by a rattlesnake. The
wound was cauterized as soon as a doctor
came. and l was sent to Johns Hopkins
Hospital, in Baltimore, which they say
is the best place in the country for the
treatment of snake bites. 1 was bitten
on the arm. and it swelled up to a tre-
mendous size; they put me on a diet and
/ was not permitted to eat any greasy
food-just milk or wine, or something of
that sort was what lived on, and It had
a great deal to do with my recovery.
still, have never had the same power
in that arm that | used to have, and |
don't suppose that ever shall have. Here
is the spot where the wound was made.
and she rolled up the sleeve of her dress.
disclosing an arm covered with tattooing
in artistic and intricate designs. "You
can just feel a little rough spot here Oh
the upper arm. and that is all the visible
sign of the snakes work.
Tattooing Versus snnke Poison.
sDo you think that the tattooing had
anything to do with counteracting the ef
fects of the rattlesnake poison was
asked.
II think it is likely that 1t had was
the reply. II am tattooed over my whole
body, so that the poison Of the India ink
is. believe. actually in my blood. did
not get oyer the effect of the tattooing for
five years, and the process Itself was
dreadfuIly painful. The work was done
in Manchester. England. by electricity.
and | had sixty needles going over and
into my body at once, so you can i'm
agine what il was. For long time after
the operation l could not wear any
clothes: had done so the irritation pro-
duced would probably have resulted in
blood poison. The Lords Prayer. SET in
an ornamental frame, is written across
The back of my shoulders.
"Did you have the tattooing done as
preventive against the effects OF snake !
poison?" was the query.
"Oh, no, / posed as.a tattooed woman !
before | took up snake charming. But |
he public got tired OF that sort of thing, |
and so-one must live. you know"
Did you have an aversion for snakes |
when you first handled them. Didn't you !
EEL rather uncomfortable"
'Ycs: / thought I should have tainted. |
but the thought that had 10 go through |
vith i; gave me nerve. suppose, until |
low | am not afraid to handle any kind |
If snake
us it not true that the poison fangs
ire extracted from the deadly snakes and
IN optiate administered TO the large con-
.trictors before they are handled by the
harmer?"
Snakes Not DruE-ed.
81 never did either. trust entirely to
az nerye-and then, can tell by the look
II snake when to handle 1t. Look at
his one. for instance. in this case here.
t is shedding. and its lids are closed
yer its eyes; it is. therefore. dangerous,
should not like to handle it in that
condition. This small snake here. you
ee, is very ready to strike" She re-
erred to lively reptile which closely
ollowed her finger as she held it in
ront of his cage.
Poor little thlug-bless its heart-it
ocsn't know the fate in store for 1t"
No alluded to "a mouse which scampered
ver the back OF a loathsome looking
uake lying coiled, in torpoT evidently.
mother unfortunate little victim. with
yelicr sense OF its situation, perhaps. had
TN up the branch Of tree in the cage
s far as it could go. where 1t stopped.
anting and terror stricken.
Costly stock in Trade.
"It is cruel" said the snake charmer.
18th a shudder. Il used to give some of
ny snakes raw meat; but then again,
hen you have expensive snakes. and
our livelihood depends upon it. what are
ou going to do? One must be very care
nj OF the snakes. They cost so mush and
lie so easily"
Poor little things! You know when
he snake gets ready for meal it fasci-
ates the creatures with it's eyes-the l
ctim does not move a hairs breadth. un-
/ il is struck down.
The snake charmer evidently had her
hare of what would be popularity consid
red superstitfon Thus she affirmed that