The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-14
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: PYTHON SKIN FOR CLOTHES ,
Chambers Journal.)
For once fashion has taken a di-
rection which promises to he of gem
eral benefit to humanity. The new
idea silences severe critics, and leaves
humanitarians to grumble at. Wom-
ankind. or at least such as have ac-
cess to the longest purses. are shortly
to use snake-skin for garments of
quite everyday wear. II is a startling
suggestion. and. in view of the hor-
ror with which the sex has always
picturesqueness about it. Whether the
new robes will prove as artistic as is
expected remains to be seen: they
will certainly lend themselves in Skill
full hands to the emphasizing of what
ever sraces there may be in the per-
son of the wearer, and if the fashion
thins out the numbers of these dan
gerous reptiles all over the world.
humanity will W a debt of gratitude
to the inventor of new modes.
We may vet come 10 see python
skin sold by the yard over u drap-
ers' counters. for the python is a big
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full grown, 80 feet in length and a
foot or more in diameter; thus. APP
parently. a single skin might sup
ply enough stuff to make an ordinary
gown on modern Empire lines. What
the cost will be We cannot say. 1t
will obviously be high. for serpents
of the largest size are not to be met
With every day. The market price
of skins. in view OF the coming de-
has already gone up to a very
high figure, and in Borneo, Sumatra.
and all over the Malay archipelago
native hunters are securing the Wild
erness, tempted by the offers of deal
ers in Paris and Vienna, and killing
or capturing every big snake they
meet with.
In Malaga the "reticulated" python.
or rice snake-so called from his
habit of f~requenting the paddy
swamps. where small game abounds
is the largest of available serpents.
The native hunters. when seeking
them. look for the tracks they make
in their nightly foraging expeditions.
and place on each a large cane con-
s'ruction much on the principle of
the eel trap. The python entering
this TO get at some small animal used
as bait finds himself unable to- retreat,
and is starved INTO quietness. Pythons
are also captured in the open. which
is a distinctly exciting kind of sport.
If the hunters should have the good
luck to find one asleep. coiled up on
some branch or rocky ledge. sorged
with his last meal. they throw a net
of strong rope ever him. and then
a long battle begins: for the python
combines the strength of a horse
with a special inability to understand
when he has met his match, it be-
ing as much as a dozen men can do
eventually TO bind and secure a full
grown specimen.
But it is not only in eastern coun-
tries snakes big enough to supply
rough material for blouse and skirt
are to be found. In South America
the dense forests. especially of the
Amazon, and the swamps of the in
terror. Brazil has its boa construc-
tors: while in other regions the wa
~ter-loving anaconda is numerous.
growing to a length Of 10 or ~ feet
with a girth of a yard in the thickest
part. this representing a great deal
of availa BILE fabric for the Partisan
dressmaker to exert her skill upon.
Ranging in proportions below these
immense reptiles are a world Of 9TH
err snakes. fascinating in patterns
and infinitely delicate in coloring.
no doubt he reserved for dresses, the
lesser varieties may lend themselves
to scarfs, muffs. gloves. and so on, for
it is said that properly prepared
snake skin is both soft and durable.
The anaconda is already bespoke"
for the latest thing in motor coats,
and thus used makes an attractive
novelty. Made up in delicate shades
Of cream-color and brown. and lined
with satin to match, the material
forms most attractive garments.
which are especially desirable by rea-
son of their lightness. They weigh
ported never wear out" Four fair
sized skins make a touring coat. but
there is some trouble in matching
them perfectly. Other uses will
doubtless be found for species of less
er girth. and q. novel change will
come over our diapers windows
when the fashion is fully established.
and snake-hide becomes a common
article Of wear.
Fashion has already made such
good use Of the skins Of lizards for
purses n the like that certain spe-
cies have been almost exterminated
III NiCii "lluS. AAlo dlllSolol
has lent its hide. unwillingly. of
course. to the manufacture of hand
bags and various articles of feminine
fancy: why. then. should 1t be inn
possible to utilize snake-skins in the
way Indicated? The fair sex has had
a grudge against the whole race Of
creeping things since the time Of our
first parents. and should feet a
piquant sense of revenge in the OPP
portunity of now putting 1t to such
practical use. The new material is
beautiful in itself; it must always re-
main more or less exclusive. as every
garment will be a separate work Of
art. The wearer will be conscious OF
comforting a benefit on humanity by
causing the destruction of creatures
which could have brought about end
less calamities In other countries;
and. finally. there should be a dis
tinct thrill in knowing one is wrap
ped in h hide OF a giant python.
whose folds could once crush the
strongest to death. or in wearing a
sYrtout. say. Of now harmless cobra
any one OF which when alive would
have carried Destruction and death