Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-08
SWALLOWED THEMSELVES.
SerDents as Related by @ veracious Scribe.

SInS uAAR PGrTOrm&mCG Ox Two snow serpents as Related by veracious Scribe.
 "We are all here, believer"
 The conscientious press agent glanced l. .inquiringly at the group of reporters. re- lates a New York Sun writer.
 Then we may as well begin Befors I am through, gentlemen, you will see that the urgency of my request for reps resentatives of the press was by no means unwarranted. Even press agent has some conscience, and in this case. gentlemen, feel that my duty to the pubs lie outweighs my duty to my employers.
 While it is true that the public an nouncement of the death of Sinbad, the most vicious, violent and venomous rep tile in the collection of Mme. Medusas the soporiferous soother of sinuous ser pents, will undoubtedly keep thousands away from her daily exhibitions in tha side show of the Ring Brothers circusS yet-yet, gentlemen, iE view of the res markable manner in which this writh ing reptile met it's death it would seem unjust to posterity to withhold the des1 tails attending this--
 Snake dead. eh ?' interrupted an im- patient reporter. How'd 1t happen 2
 .'Twas case of jealousy" ]" explained the press agent. For years Sinbad, or the Only Original Sin, as he was better known on account of his vicious temper. reigned in unchallenged supremacy over all of Mme Medusa's snake chests.
 .AIl went well until the advent of 1o r<f al wriggling India, two days ago. Thera was bad blood between her and the Only Original right from the start. but Mime. Medusa hoped in time to reconcile tha two to life of harmonious happiness.
 with this end in view Mime. Medusa placed the two on the floor of her tent early this morning. For time every thing was lovely Then. without any warning the O. y Original thrust out his fang and whispered:
 "H-h-h-hhhln which is an awful thing for any s to call another
 s.H-h-h- .-lln yerself." snapped back Cleo.
 At the same instant two black streakss flashed through the air, and moment later sinuous snar1 of sissing serpenta , was seething round the floor.
 "Clop! Clop! Their jaws snapped almost simultaneously at what, in the general tangle, each mistook for the tin of it's rival tall.
 Mime. Medusa stepped forward to. separate the struggling serpents, but suddenly sprang back, terror stricken by the strange sight she saw. "In the mix-up of the occasion each snake had mistaken it's own tail for that of it's rival and was consequently vie ciously devouring itself.
 Around and around, coil within coil. each internally looped it's loop.
 "A sudden click brought Mime. Me- dusa to her senses. She rushed toward the fast disappearing reptiles, but, alas. too late!
 Poor old Sinbad, the Only Original Sin. had already breathed his last. He had swallowed himself so rapidly that hs came to the back of his head with 8 sud- denness that snapped his neck.
 Cleopatra was rescued. Just as her back teeth were about to pass in through the front of her mouth. Mme. Medusa seized her firmly with both hands, and by dint of hard work succee1sd in draw ing her out or herself. bur IL was close call A second later and Cleopatra would have swallowed herself entirely.
 'How many times was the snake coiled round in itself? Heavens! don't know Mme Medusa became dizzy after extracting the thirteenth loop. and lost all count.
 ''But you can figure it out for yourself easily enough. The problems simply this: If 12-foot snake takes it's tail in its teeth, and eats 1t way round to the back of it's neck, how many, times will the tip of its tail pass any given tooth? But all that. of course, is mere detail.