The Twin City star., 1918-09-14
DADrYyEV[NDN
.IARY TALL 61
SNAKE TSARINA.
~ MARY RAHA0RQMER

SHAME ISAnlNA.
"Every little while," said the great
big snake, In the zoo, II believe ID
causing folks trouble.
perhaps I shouldn't say I like to
cause trouble, but like to do things
differently and get every one excited.
And why shouldn't I? am the big
gest snake in the whole wOrld-that
is what my keeper says-and was
brought to the zoo twelve long years
ago. S.
"Tm sure I wouldn't know the
length of time except the keeper is
always telling people that have been
here twelve years and that that is
good long time. All, it's fine to live
a long time if one is snake, nice,
wriggling, kissing snake"
"Hiss-hiss, ha, ha," laughed Mrs..
Garter Snake, from her cage next
door. <. -.... ..' r
whats the matter with you, Mrs.
Garter; are you overcome from talk
ing to such a great and big and mag
nificent snake as I am? If SO, ! shall
stop talking for a moment, for 1t Is
true, was talking to you, and 1t was
a great honor for me to show you. L
would have talked to some OF the 9TH
er snakes as well, only all of them
have been sound asleep for long
time."
II don't know that it was such an
honor to be talked to when every
other creature is asleep and can't
hear" said Mrs. Garter.
"There, there" said the big snake,
named the Tsarina, which meant some
thing like queen, II know you are
making rude remarks only because you
are embarrassed and shy. For 1t IL
always an honor to have me notice
smaller snake, no matter how many Of
our friends are asleep and can't prop
erly be talked to. Well, well, will
have pity upon you, and pause until
you regain your breath" ...
"The shyness, If there was any, Is
all over WITH" said Mrs. Garter. II
wish you would listen to me for a mo-
ment though"
"Gladly," said the Tsarina. II am
not too big snake to listen to
smaller one.N I am like magnificent
people who are very great who will
listen to the shouts and applause of
the small and the weak"
"Well," said Mrs. Garter, "you said
it was fine to live a long time if one
happened to be snake, nice, wrig-
Cling, kissing snake"
"My-very words" said the Tsarina.
'Yes, exactly what said. You have
a good memory, Mrs. Garter. make
a bow to you-that is I wriggle once,
especially for you. That is to show
you congratulate you on your MEM
ory and for your good sense in re-
membering what said"
"But don't see," said Mrs. Garter,
"why you said it was fine to live a
long time if one happened to be q
snake, ETC., etc. Why didn't you say
it was fine when all snakes lived a
long time, for all snakes we're so nice
and wriggling and Kissing? It is true
all folks don't think we are so nice,
though.
"But to return to your first thought
or first speech. You said you believed
in causing trouble every little while.
Tell me about that? Do you mean be-
cause you got out Of your cage today
and went wriggling around the whole
snake house and the keeper and many
men had to cover you with q huge rug
to catch your"
"Yes, hiss-hiss, wasn't that a joker
I got them all so excited. And had
the place to myself, did, / showed
what queen was-ruling every one
with my wriggles instead of my sceptre
and my crown-for I haven't those
two things.
"You see," the big snake continued.
II had just had little indigestion
from eating forty-pound pig. Usual
ly such meal doesn't upset me, but
must have been nervous and so I
felt ill.
"The keeper tried to give me medi-
cine and didn't like it and managed
to get out. And then he ran and every
one ran until at last they had me
back in my cage. I took the medicine
because felt sick, but kicked up q,
good fuss about it first as a queen
should do when given medicine.
"Ah, but when first came to the
zoo, for ten months they had to shove
things down my throat to make me eat.
L had just lost my appetite"
"Tve heard about that" said Mrs.
Garter, "and I've been told that You
are fifty years old. You're python,
you are, with beautiful colorings. But
oh, Tsarina, you did give the zoo peo-,
pie scare when you got out, for a
snake Of your size isn't what folks