Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-14

STEPPING around in cage where half
- dozen big rattlesnakes are squirrning
and coiling in space ten feet square is not
very pleasant even to snake Charmer.
When she f1irts a piece of flannel among
them to make them uglier, she must keep
her eyes about her to prevent strike. Even
then one is likely to hit her with its fangs.
This happened once to Mile. Clio. She
left the cage before any of the spectators
knew what had happened sucked the wound
vigorously for two or three minutes, and
then put powder on it and bandaged it.
The next day was Sunday and Clio was
an ordinary woman. Dressed in ordinary
costume, with big apron to prevent her
dress from getting soiled, she prepared the
weekly bath for her pets. Yes, the snake
that struck me had its poison sacs; but |
do not mind that. l do not wonder they
get angry, teasing them as have to. You
see, they won't rattle until they are mad,
and have to do it because it makes the act
more interesting. But they are quiet
enough today" and she pulled a flannel
blanket from box that contained big
knot of reptiles the size of bushel basket.
Pulling one fully six feet long from the mass,
she threw it round her shoulders as if it was
a fur boa. 1t knows me, and l should not
think of being bitten as it is now, and she
stroked the smooth skin along its back.
Certainly snakes get to know you, just
like dogs or cats. If you treat them right,
they will not harm you, and | am always
sorry that | have to tantalize them; but it
is part of the business.
Then she took the snake from her Shout
ders and laid it on the floor near the big
stove. It slowly crawled toward the box,
while she placed big pan near the stove
and directed an attendant who had brought
<x,o i1c FILL ~ 1r,1;f ACID
one is so careless around here that I gener-
ally do everything myself when l want to
battle the snakes; but feel rather tired and
my wrist pains me yet where it was bitten"
CHE picked up the big RATHER and laid
- him in the bottom of the pan, which was
three-quarters full of the fluid. One by
one the half-dozen snakes in the mass we're
pulled out and put into the bath; for this
was the weekly ablution of her charges.
They suffered themselves to be carried like
so many pieces of rope, wriggling slightly
as they were pulled out and laid in the pan.
One was young python about eight feet
long. Clio merely put his head and neck
over the edge Of the pan, and he did the rest.
He knows what's good for him, and would
get into the bath himself, l believe, If I
waited long enough for him to find out
where it was" Then she covered the pan
with another cloth and let them remain
fifteen or twenty minutes.
Now they are not only bathing but feed
ing. That is milk diluted with water and
little cornmeal sprinkled in. 1t is warm
enough SO that it feels good to their skins,
and while it cleanses them it is nourishing.
Some of the snakes will swallow five or six
tablespoonful while they are in there, un-
less they are not feeling well. Yes, they
like to mix themselves all up. l do not
know why, unless they feel warmer in that
way; for snakes suffer from cold more than
you would think. 1t makes no difference
about the species. Rattlesnakes, moccasins,
and boa constructors will get themselves
into regular knot SO that you can scarcely
tell where one begins and the other ends;
but it is easy to pull them apart, as their
skins are SO smooth. How long would they
stay there? All day, if 1 did not bother
them. 1t is snug and warm for them
Perhaps, after the bath got cold, they might
try to get out; but the cloth keeps them
from seeing how they came in, and snake
is very stupid when his eyes are covered. i"
Next she picked up piece of soft flannel
and, taking off the cover of the pan, lifted
one of the dripping reptiles from the mass.
Taking it by the neck near the head, she
began wiping it as one would knife or a
fork. Every part was thoroughly dried
fho @lo 81. 8