The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-19
SHE LIKES SNAKES
Pretty Little Girl Who Enjoys
Handling Monster Reptiles.
'EMIIe. NOra'' Talks Interesting-
ly of Their Habits.
HAVE QUICK SIGHT.
Boa Constructor Pays No Atten-
ton to Slow Movement.
Shed Their Skins Three Times
in a Year.
HAVE QUICK SIGHT.

"'Teddo,' my snake. you always
know when it is going to rain, don't
you?' Thus spoke Mile. Nora" the
snake charmer to the big East Indian
Rock boaconstrictor at the snake show
with the Cosmopolitan shows at Gar
field park this week.
Yes, 'Teddo' does know when it is
to rain repeated the little woman, or
rather small young lady. as she pat
ted the big % foot, $50 pound reptile on
the head. Before a shower 'Teddo'
always holds his head in the air. waves
it around and acts restless.
day." she continued, stroking the
snakes body which is as thick as
two husky mems arms, 1--WE gave the
snakes their bath. This smaller snake,
the African rainbow boaconstr1ctor'
GA foot long, weighing rs pounds) was
bathed in the same tub after 'Teddo'
had his bath. How 'Teddo' seemed to
know what was going on, and he tried
to get in the tub and push the little
the other had no business in his tub:
You wouldn't think that a snake would
know that much, would your
Not a Heavy Topper.
Three weeks before Christmas the
big snake drank two quarts of water,
but hasn't drank since. He ate several
rabbits weighing from two to i've
pounds on January 10 but didn't eat
again until the other day when we fed
him more rabbits. He also eats chick
ems, feeding on an average about once
in three weeks.
HE is very particular. His food must
be alive and clean before he will kill 1t.
He won't touch a rabbit that has the
least sore spot. He swallows them
whole Both are nonpoisonous and kill
by crushing.
gether fine, but If one was poisonous
and the other nonpoisonous the former
would attack the latter and try to Kill
It. The poisonous one would not be
inclined to start the trouble for l un-
derstand that the nonpoisonous always
attack.
THE big one came from East India
where the natives catch them in ba1ted
nets. The smaller one known as
Rainbow snake is from Africa.
I'VE have had the larger one for
about a year. 1t has shed its skim
Just like you would slip your arm
through your coat. about three times
since last June.
zone of the most curious things about
snakes is that they have what is call
ed quick sight That is they can see
a quick motion better than slow one.
If YOU pass your hand over it's head
it will scarcely notice 1t, the motion
will appear as a shadow, but IL you
give your hand a quick jerk near its
head it will see it and likely make
some sign. 1 have heard that snake
can see a bullet coming when 1t is
fired from a gun or revolver and am
inclined to believe the story.
Yes, 1 know a little about snakes
No, I have never handled larger ones
until recently, but had handled small
ones such as rattleSnakes. This she
asserted with the calm. matter-of-fact-
ness with which a clerk would say;
81 was at the pin and notion counter
until 1 was promoted to the hosiery
department"
Was "Wild Woman"
How did I get started in the snake
charming? Well one time when was
with the Proctor Street Fair show in
Iowa last year, the wild woman
(who wasn't really wild) either threw
up her job or got fred and no one
would take her place in the den with
the snakes Finally 1 said: I'm not
afraid, I'll try it, No, hadn't touched
| a snake before. I was told that the
snakes were poisonous to see II was
| game but 1 went in with the snakes,
| and wore the wild woman's costume.
1t wasn't nice work. Every time !
would pet any Of the snakes one OF
the men would strike me on the Wrists
| or arms with a whip, so that 1 would
| scream and act wild, so 1 threw up
| that job after a short time. Snakes
are interesting, more interesting than
| many suppose"