The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-03-27

@s.-@---@---aas.saa--
fascination for mo. and when twenty
years ago I visited the Doc FOR TIE arsf
time I developed such an interest fa
the snake-house that applet f1r art
secured the position OF Keeper. anf
have held u ever since.
MY love FOR art was not dead how
ever, and used % watch the painters
who came here to sketch the snakes
With heartbrcaking rcgrcts that 7. Cor.
could not have the opportunity o. 81
this congonlal work Finally. che fra.-
ing became so strong with me thar I
could not suppress 90. and fourteen
years ago, out Of my scanty resources.
| raised enough 90 start my studies.
Since that time 7 have had the aHyan-
tage OF the tuition % several vel
known artists. I had received some
praise for my pictures. notably q ar1-
scape, which won many favorable COM
ments at the annual exhibition. but
soon discovered that my real forte. mv
speciality, was IN the field which I had
created, the casting and painting ~
snakes. and It IS 90 this branch that
I have devoted the greatest part % ms
life
Il believe have made casts ~ every
known variety. including gigsrtIc
python over Is feet long. rattlesnakes.
cobras corperheads. moccasIus. pine
snakes. indigo black snakes addcrs.
harlequin salamanders. lizards. frogs.
and even an alligator.
Sometimes the results have beer 60
life-like that they have even fright
ened myself. I remember especially
the cast Of a Florida diamond RATHER.
I had finished II and was showing L
to two friends. and in order % re. the
full effect removed il from its accus-
toned place AMI put n on a soap-aox
which stood near the door. Engrcssed
In other duties I nd gone a-qv. for
getting all about the snake. and left q
standing whore Il was. II was a rar-
ttcularly life-.ike specimen. and was
poised as II about 20 strike Entering
the room suddenly. there. by the dim
fading twilight, I beheld what az first
thought I took 70 be a gigantic RATHER.
eoiled and ready 20 spring az me. I
jumped about three feet. and I'm spite
of long experience with reptiles was
FOR the instant paralyzed with fear.
An excited rattlesnake is a tickllsh
customer for anybody 20 handle. and
was afraid To move. knowing that in
my little room I should have but a
small chance Of escape. Nv natural
thought had been that some q the big
fellows had escaped from their cages.
and l believe that I stood there mo-
ionless for fully three minutes before
recalled that the cause OF ny fright
vas only my poor harmless plaster
'ast. Many OF my visitors and friends
lave had almost the same experience.
md my casts have been the cause Of
many laughable occurrences.
While the art OF snake reproduction
md everything having the slightest
with reptiles Is highly dis
asteful 10 many people. I believe that
Is mere matter Of scientific record. II
or nothing else. some effort should be
made to preserve reproductions OF ev-
.ry living species. I have long been
working on a plan looking 10 this end.
md which I shall eventually present
o the national authorities. Nv idea
would not necessitate any great out
ay. and in years to come would COM
rise collection which would be sim
'ly priceless. My plans involve the
rection Of museum devoted exclu-
lively to snakes. Here every known
'ariety could be shown fuIl-sized. in
heir natural colors and exact living
onditions. Such a collection could be
ollated for a comparatively small
UNI. would be Of great educational ad-
'antage. an invaluable aid TO students.
nd would insure the lasting ureserva-
ion Of the reptiles. even after they
eased 20 exist in their living state
t seems criminally negligent TO miss
his opportunity OF doing a priceless
ervice to ourselves and TO future gen.
rations"