Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1912-11-15
Python Skin May Soon Be Sold
by Yard Over Counters.
GOWN FROM SINGLE REPTILE.

Boa Constructor and Anaconda VIII,
Supply Enough Rough Material For
! Startling Creations In Motor Coats
! and Skirts.
For once fashion has taken a direc-
! ton WHICH promises to be Of general
| benefit to humanity. The new idea
! silences severe critics and leaves hui
manitarians nothing to grumble at
Womankind. or at least such as have
access to the longest purses, are short
! ~ TO use snakeskin for garments OF
quite everyday wear. 1t is a startling
suggestion and. in view of the horror
with which the sex has always regard
ed the serpent. has a certain pictur-
esqueness about it. Whether the new
robes will prove as artistic as IS ex-
pected remains to be seen. They will
certainly lend themselves in skillful
hands to the emphasizing of whatever
graces there may be in the person OF
the wearer and If the fashion thins
out the numbers of these dangerous
reptiles all over the world humanity
will owe debt Of gratitude to the in
ventor Of the new modes, saws Cham
bers' Journal.
we may Yet come TO see python skin
sold by the yard over our diapers coun-
tiers. for the python is big reptile. oc-
casionally reaching. when full grown.
thirty feet in length and foot or more
III diameter. Thus, apparently. a single
skin might supply enough stuff to make
an ordinary gown on modern Empire
lines. What the cost will be we cannot
yet say. II will obviously be high. for
serpents Of the largest size are not 10
be met with every day. The market
price Of skins in view Of the coming
demand. has already gone up to very
high figure, and in Borneo, Sumatra
and all over the Malay archipelago ma
tive hunters are securing the wilder
ness. tempted by the offers of dealers
in Paris and Vienna, and killing or cap
turing every bic snake they meet with.
In Malaga the ''reticula(ed" python,
or rice snake-so called from his habit
of frequenting the PADDY swamps
where small game aboundS -- is the
largest of available serpentS The ma.
tive hunters when seeking it look
for the tracks it makes in it's night
Iy foraging expeditions and place
on each Il large cane construction
much on The principle of the eel trap.
The python entering this to get at
some small animal used aS bait finds
himself unable tC retreat and is
starved into QuietnesS. pythons are
also captured in the open. which is
distinctly exciting kind Of sport. If
the hunters should have the good luck
to find one asleep. c0lcd up on some
branch or rocky ledge. gOrged with
his last meal. they throw a net Of
strong rope over him. and then long
battle begins, for the python combines
the strength Of a horse with Il special
inability to understand when he has
met his match. it being as much as
dozen men can do eventually to bind
ard secure q full grown specimen.
But il 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
some remarkably large kinds haunt
the dense forests. especially of the
Amazon and tho swampS of tho inte-
rior Brazil has ifS EOa constructors,
/ while in other regions the water low
ing anaconda is numerous. growing to
length Of ten or twelve feet. with
"A girth Of Il yard in the thirkest part,
thiS representing Il great deal of avail
able fabric for the Partisan drrSSmak-
or to exert her skill upon. Ranging
in proportions below these immense
reptiles is n world of other snakes,
fascinating in pattern and infinitely
delicate in colorng. While the more
important sorts will no doubt be re-
served for dresses. the lesser varieties
may lend themselves 10 ScarfS, muiTS,
gloves. and so on for il is said that
properly prepared snake skin is hoih
soft and durable.
The anaconda is already bespoke"
for the latest thing in motor coats
I and thus used makes nm 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 reason Of
their lGhtness. They weigh almost
nothing at Ill and it is reported never
wear out" -Four fair sized skins
make 4 touring coat. but there is some
trouble in matching them perfectly.
! Other uses will doubtless DC found for
species Of lesser girth, and novel
change will come over our diapers
windows when the fashion is fully as
! tahliShed and snake hide becomes Il
! common article of wear