The Saint Paul globe., 1903-02-14
SNAKES CHARMED
THIS PAIR TO WE'D
Hearts of a Maid and a Man
Are Oddly En-.
tWined.

NEW YORK, Feb. 13. = Snakes
intertwine Themselves into every phase
of the romance of Raymond L. Dit
mars and Mss Clara Hurd, who are
to be married by the Rev. Mr.. Strader,
of st. PauIs Episcopal church.
The acquaintance between Miss Hurd
and Mr.. Ditmars, who is a curator of
reptiles in the geological park of the
Bronx, began when Mr.. Ditmars saved
Miss Hurd from the fangs of an angry
rattler in the snake house; it deve1-
oped into affection when Miss Hurd
was bitten by python while pursuing
her studies in serpentology there a
trifle later; it grew into violent love,
finding it's natural end in matrimcny
after the two snake-loving young per-
sons had wandered together during the
beautiful days of early autumn pluck
ing garter snakes from the grass of
the Bronx wilds and noting with the
enthusiasm of the devoted snake lover,
the beautiful colors and sinuosities
of the quaint little pets.
AS a mere lad Ditmars collected
snakes as other boys collect postage
stamps or hoard marbles. His pas
sion fer snakes found it's natural end
in his selection as curator of snakes
in the Bronx geological park.
Miss Hurd and Mr.. Ditmars will be
married today at the home of the bride.
at No. 1924 Bathgate avenue. 1t is
understood that it will be a very pri-
vate affair, only the immediate reIa-
tives Of the bride and bridegroom be-
ing present.
Music Ike Coe+ape+e
trained band of crotail horridi will
perform Beethoven's wedding march.
Eight CT the finest rattlers in Mr.. Dit
mars collection have been selected and
carefully taught their parts. They
range in tone from the little rattler
with a high treble note to an eight
foot diamond back from Florida with
a Whtr like an automobile striking a
40 per cent grade. The effect Of the
eight rafting off, "Here comes The
bride" is said to be unique
But few Of Mr.. Ditmars old friends
knew he was to be married, and fewer
still knew of the romance which devel-
oped in the snake house in the Zoo.
and which will end so happily today.
A year ago Miss Hurd visited the
reptile houses at the Bronx Zoo and
was gazing with fascinated eyes at a
huge rattler which was whirring mad-
ly when Mr.. Ditmar suddenly caught
her and Whirled her away from the
case. A fraction of a second later the
snakes fangs struck through the wire
cover of the case just where Miss
Hurd's hand had rested.
From this developed an acquaint-
ance that both have found very pleas
ant. A few months later Miss Hurd.
while in the snake house examining
some OF Mr.. Ditmar's treasures, was
bitten severely by a python, and again
Mr. Ditmar's ready wit and knowledge
of snakes saved the girl he had grown
to love. A python, though not poison
Gus, as is the rattlesnake, often causes
serious trouble through a bite. and the
quick action of Mr.. Ditnar in clean
ing out the wound and neutralizing
the effect of the poison won the heart
OF the young woman.
Also she developed for snakes an
adect1on as strong as that of Mr.. Dit
mars. She grew to love their graceful
shapes, the soft, gliding motions and
the beautiful colors of her husbands
pets, and came to know almost as
much about them as Ditmars himself.
ouiverine Bands of Love.
This common love for the snake
brought them even closer together, and
many pleasant days in the summer and
early autumn they wandered together
over the Bronx, gathering snakes on
the hllisides, comparing and listing
them and filing them away for Mr. Dit