Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-11-24
MRS. JOHN R. FRANKLIN
IS RAISING TURTLES
Found Eggs OF Snapper. hatched
Them And Now Preserves Her
Pets To Ascertain Longevity.

ioW, 10 udupilleT VI III. anu MtS. ".
Jones, of Snow Hill. and is well-known
to many people of Worcester. The
Baltimore American of a recent date
contained the following:
Probably the most novel experiment
being made in Maryland is that of Mrs.
John X. Franklin, who is making an
effort to ascertain with some degree of
certainty the length Of life of the snap
ping turtle. Mrs. Franklin has four
turtles which were Matched in the sitting
room of her home, at 24lS Maryland av-
enue, last August, which she proposes
to keep as long as she lives, unless the
demise of the turtles takes place first.
At her death the snappers are to be
handed down to any scientific investiga-
tor who will take up the work of caring
for them and continuing the search af-
ter scientific truth in regard to snap
ping turtle longevity, or to Mr.. Frank
lin, if he will continue the experiment.
The turtles are now about the size of a
silver half-dollar, and give every sign
of being in the most perfect health.
Mrs. Franklin was induced to take up
the matter in purely accidental way.
While visiting her daughter, Mrs. Car
son w. Harris, in Kent county, last
summer, one of the men on the farm
plowed up 20 turtle eggs in the fallow
field. Ten of the eggs were replaced
in the ground and Mrs. Franklin brought
10 Of them to the city, and, placing
them in a pan in the sitting room of her
home, began the experiment of hatch
ing them. Each morning the pan was
moved into the sun, and in due course
Of time 10 tiny turtles were found
Lcrawing about in the tin.
Then came the real puzzle, said
Mrs Franklin yesterday. 81 had no
idea as to what to feed them on. butt
my knowledge Of the ways of the coun-
try and country things q was raised on
the Eastern Shore. the garden spoD
came To my rescue, and at once de-
cided that fresh fish and meat were the
natural foods of the big fellows, which
are used to make the splendid potpies
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, so
furnished the crawling bits of turtle
dom with all of the tender raw meat
and fish that they could possibly want,
purely as an experiment, for ! could
scarcely imagine them pitching into
real diet when so young.
HUNGRY FROM THE START.
To my delight. however, they were
devouring the food within an incredibly
short time, and ever since have been
the livelest turtles one ever saw in
captivity. The little fellows. though
so wild by nature, have shown the
most unmistakable signs of not only
being tame, but they love TO be fondled,
and will creep under ones finger to be
rubbed on the back 1t is most amusing
to watch them eat. Holding piece Of
meat under their forefeet, they seize
big mouthful, and, raising themselves
on their tiny legs, haul away at the
flesh until piece is torn off of the re-
quired size to be devoured.
mot one of the eggs replaced in the
ground hatched," said Mrs. Franklin,
"and as all of those placed in the sun
in my home did, ! see no reason why
should not be able to continue the care
of the curious pets until they are well
grown, and even after they have reach
ed ripe old age. place clothespins
in the pan each day, first having put
water in the receptacle in an effort to
make the artificial conditions as near
as possible those of the ponds and
streams which are the natural habitat
of the turtles, to give them an oppor-
tunity to sun themselves. The young
sters Immediately crawl upon the pieces
of wood and stretch their legs and
necks out as far as possible in evident
satisfaction. | call the pan my turtle
farm, and am deeply interested in my
experiment to see just how long the
pets will live. And at the same time
have the dearest pets anyone ever saw.
1t is claimed that turtles live to be over
a hundred years old. and, though |
have no idea of living hundred years
longer, someone else can take up the
work of my farm after am gone may
be Mr.. Franklin will love the big snap
pers as much as | expect to and will
care for them"
SOUP PROPOSITION.
This suggestion failed to appeal to
the head of the Franklin household,
and it soon became evident that maybe
the longevity of the turtle portion OF
the Maryland-avenue home would stand