The Washington herald., 1912-09-08
BULLSNAKE THINKS
HE'S HITCHING REIN
Wally Dobbs' Pet Reptile, Blazes, Is
Modest, But Has Many
Accomplishments.

Cedar Grove, n. J.. Sept. 7.-wauy
Dobbs' bulInsake, Blazes. is rapidly be-
coming the wonder OF the Gooseberry
Contederacy, which includes this ceIe-
brated community, as Well as Great
Notch, Thumb Point. Rubber Edge, spot
Creek, and Devils Needle.
The overweening modesty OF waIly
Dobbs is alone responsible Tor The world
having been kept in the dark so long
anent the phenomenal qualities or Blazes.
George Henry Smith. eggspert. author,
and recording secretary of the Cedar
Grove Board or Poultry Trade. mas drag
ged the shrinking Doobs out into the
open, and turned the spotlight on him
and his educated buIIsnake.
Blazes is both knowing ana cunning,
ana, for a snake possesses rare discre-
ton. He worshIps his master, DoDps,
like any dog. accompanies him on al
soJourns by day ana guards ms bed at
night. Among the innumeraole little ac-
complishments BIazes mas acquired is
the simple function OF serving his master
as a whip.
BulIsnnkc Acts as whip.
AS waIIy Dopos goes forth IN his rub
ber-tired buggy his faithful snake lies
curled up at his feet with a firm grip
on the whlp-socket with his teeth. he
stirs only when waIIy says Giddap:
to the venerable nag IN the shafts. AT
this mystic word Blazes uncur!s IN
flash and strikes the horse a sharp plow
with his tail across the naunches. waIIy
never has to say "Giddap" twice, for
that old nag-Chauncey Depew, " ANY
calls nim-responds to the lash OF the
pullsnake's tail as II II were an electric
shock.
Intu waIIy trained BIazes to serve as
his whip he never got more than three
miles an hour out or Chauncey Depe"'
and was considering an ouer from FRANK
Hue to trade the tottering old equine Tor
a pair of ed-headed ducks. Since BlazeS
got on the Job. however ChauhceE can
make twelve miles an hour on level
stretches OF road and eight miles on the
hills
Besides acting as a patent automatic
wntp. BIazes also serves as a hltchinS
strap for Chauncey Depew. Just as soon
as the rig stops, Blazes jumps out, runs
for the nearest tree, glides up 10
branch, to which he clings by his tall,
and then swings down and takes hold
of old Chaunce1 by the bride.
1T ART really necessary for blazes
TO hitch Chauncey Depew fast. ex-
plained Wally Dobbs. "Chauncey Is one
o. these standpat nags whatn stay put.
and never so long as / kin remember
has he moved out o. the spot he stopped
in, less'n 1t was to cross the ROAD an
chew the bark O. a chestnut tree. He's
mortal fond o. chestnut trees, ana since
they begun dyin' out on this side o the
Watching range he's been peaked and
But as it humors Blazes to
let him hold Chauncey an as some DAY
I may get a right smart peppery nag
into the shafts O. this here buggy.
there's no use interfering with that
snakes simple pleasures"
We have it upon the authority OF
George Henry Smith that Blazes is an
excellent hunting snake and a splendid
retriever As wally Dobbs is cross-eyed.
he's only a tolerably good shot. Blazes
Is, consequently, a valuable aid to him.
for he sits back on his launches and
charms the birds and rabbits while |
Wally Smpties barrel after barrel at
them till he brings 'em down.
Gus Meyer, the village storekeeper,
ices not share in the local pride over |
The existence of such an unusual snake |
rs Blazes in the midst of Cedar Grove. |
For some time wally Dobbs has been |
sending Blazes to the store for his to- |
oa Geo. which he fetches home khotted |
n his tail.
VIII Cause Trouble Yet.
It'd be all right says Gus, If that
make would come in the front way, drop |
his nickel on the counter. catch the plug |
:, his mouth, and knot it in his tail aud
hen scoot of home. But that consart 4
,ullsnake sneaks across lots, glides into
he cellar and comes up through knot
,ole right alongside my egg basket. o.
,ourse. he's So internal quiet / can't
lear him, an he's so black / can't see
lin, but l know that every time he
ON in he stops at that egg basket an
ucks about four eggs. When he does
how up he's got the nickel fast in his
eeth an an innocent smile onto his
ace. Yes, an when 1 pull out them
mpty eggs an show 'em to him he
hakes his. head an looks innocenter
or ever. But he's guilty, jest the same, L
n waTy Dobbs has got to stop sendin'
i'm arter his tobacco or else pay a
lime for his plug to cover the loss O.
h, m eggs. ....
why not put the eggs in another part
{ the store?" was suggested to the
torekeeper.
"Becuz they've always been where
hey is" was the sharp reply.
Yes, Cedar Grove is some set up over 1
'lazes. who seems to lay 1t all over the I
nv Point hen who can .wiggle her
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