Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-30

bite poison from otherwise doomed
comrades. Some OF them have been
repeated so often that their narrators
actually believe them.
1t has been grand sport for the
rural brethren to make the blood of
the city folks thus run cold and to send
them off to bed seeing snakes at every
step. But it's all wrong, ST. it's all
wrong; take it from the State Depart
ment OF Agriculture. 1t is.
In the weekly bulletin OF the de-
partment. which has succeeded the
proofsheet which our old friend and
erstwhile official bugologist, Professor
Surface. originated for the edihcation
and instruction OF farmers, we read
that snake stories are bad for the sum-
mer boarder crop. They are reckoned
next to the San Jose scale and the
boil weevil as a reducer OF farm
revenue.
Says the bulletin:
The horrible big snake stories
that often originate in the minds OF
persons who wish to tell something
own prowess or skill in combat, ana
repNolished in the newspapers do
much more harm than good. In the
first place, big snake stories gener-
knowing this are frightened by
them so that they resolve they will
keep away from the country and
thus not be in danger OF horrible
snakes. Nervous or timid women
and children. instead OF going out
into Gods pure air on the breezy
hills and along wooded streams. be-
come so afraid of the horrible deni-
ZenS OF such places that are so
vfvidly pictured that they decide 70
so TO the Seashore and live in stury
rooms amid crowded humanity, or
TO stay at home. This does grest
injustice TO persons who lead the
most natural and enjoyable recrea-
tion mankind can take.
Then the writer goes on to knock in
the head the hoop-snake and other
reptilian traditions by pointing out
that there are only two kinds OF
venomous snakes in Pennsylvania, and
they are to be found on few farms.
Finally. farmers are given this bit of
advice:
II is very important to the agri-
cultural people that they induce
city visitors and country Soarders
20 come and dwell among them. To
snake stories, and show that the
country is far safer. more healthy
and moro pleasant than the sea-
country produce can ind much
more ready and profitable sale foi
his goods among campers, or per
in his vicinity than by attempting
should be a great demand in the
fresh butter. eggs, milk, meat,
vegetables and fruits, and there
should be all inducement offered TO
to do this in the country where
they can have a real outing and
set in touch with real nature. II
come ACQUAINTED with the country.
people and learn their problems
and method OF living. and il will do
see life from the Viewpoint OF the
snake stories Should not be the
means Of keeping them apart.
II will be q real hardship to rule the
snake story from the popular amuse-
merits Of the rural districts. It has
been TO the farm what the sea serpent
has been TO the coast resorts. But in
the light OF the facts set forth, and
with a somewhat intimate knowledge
of the average Pennsylvania farmers
feelings where profits are in question,
it is not hard to imagine that the
snake story will shortly become almost
as scarce on summer boarder farms as
the snakes themselves-at least among
readers of the department bulletin.
Thus does the ruthless money god
trample roughshod over even our most
firmly founded traditions.