The Washington herald., 1908-05-17

A London newspaper, probably at loss
for a subject Of general interest. publish
ed a report that an Irish resident in New
South Wales, whose farm was infested
by venomous snakes. had "teiegraphed'i >
to Ireland for a consignment of the soil
of the Emerald Isle to be sent him. so
that he might have it spread about the
vicinity of his dwelling His faith In the
land once blessed by the presence Of St.
Patrick Jed him to believe that Irish soil
would be protection against snakes even
IN Australia.
This report was no doubt based on an
old but true story OF the importation OF
a shipload of Irish soil into New South
Wales. Some time before the transporta-
ton Of criminals eeased-that is, about
iSs6-the well-known Wentworth family
built stone mansion on the south shore
Of Sydney Harbor, near the Heads, and
named it Vancluse. But after a years
occupation of their new home the family
became so terrified at the number Of
deadly black and brown snakes which
infested the beautiful grounds, and oft
en- got into the house itself, that serious
thoughts were entertained Of abandoning
the mansion.
The assigned servants went about their
household duties in terror, and at night
every door and window was carefully
closed But in some mysterious way the
reptiles still found an entry Then it'was
proposed that the whole lower course
OF the walls should be sheathed with
glass TO prevent the snakes from ascend
ing This idea, II carried out. must
have failed; a network Of closely woven
barbed wire would have been more TO the
purpose Then came the happy inspira-
ton to have soil brought from Ireland
and 70 form a complete inciosing ridge
around the entire estate The scheme
was duly carried OUT. and two cargoes
of the precious soil We're brought 10 Aus
traiia, each in a convict transport.
stiII Believed In Irish Soil.
But it soon became apparent that ST.
Patrick's miracle had been performed
only for the benefit OF those patriotic
Irishmen and women who remained In
their native land For. alas. the snakes
came crawling about the Wentworth
mansion as usual Nevertheless many
Of the emancipated Irish convicts who
were living In the vicinity firmly believ-
ed in the virtues OF the earth from the
"Ould Sod. and begged for some Of it to
protect their own humble homes. And
Mrs. Leo Myers. well-known contrib
utor TO current English literature, whose
grandfather was an Australian and had
a large estate near Nancluse, says that
her mother well remembered that when
she was a child she was always taken
by her Irish nurse 10 play in an especial
part Of the garden, which was made safe
from seTpents by a circle OF ground
about fifty yards in circumference. in
closed by ridge a few inches high OF
the soil imported from Ireland by the
Wentworths
An exact sCientinc explanation OF St
Patrick's miracle has never yet been
given to the world. Though snakes Of
the venomous species are most numerous
IN tropical countries, there IS nothing in
either the climate or soil Of Ireland TO
prevent the reptiles from living and
breeding on the island. The winters Of
Central and Northern New England are
very severe, and yer the deadly crotalus
the dreaded Tattlesnake-makes its
home among the hills OF Vermont New
and Massachusetts.
Every reader OF Oliver Wendell Holmes
weird romance. Elsie VenueT." VIII re-
member the schOOl-teachers encounter
with a crotalus on the mountainside:
THE dreadful sound that nothing which
breathes. be 1t man OF brute. can hear
long, loud stinging whirr'
Of the snakes manyjointed rattle. That
sound is never heard in Ireland. nor is
the glitter of two diamond eyes. small.
sharp. cold" ever seen there. Fortunate
Ireland