The Newberry herald. (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, January 21, 1880, Image 1
THE HERALD
00 .f i.r s(ouar 4 iL r r:,t in,er
IS PUBLISHED - -- nU e
- -4 f on abo e .
EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING, - r
At Newberry, S. C. - elumn 15 c.s
BY THOS. F. GRENEKER, '
titor and Proprietor. . - - (pcargcts wi t a dv
- . - . - .- . - - -- -"- - - --- - - -- - -- - - -- - ers, with Cli ra d ed u t i n argoe a te s.
Terna se.o er .anin,.. Mt &*
Invariably in Advace. A Family Companion, Devoted to Literature, Tiscellany, News, Agricaltare, Markets
-The paper is sto ed at the expiration 0 - -o--f- - - - - - - - _
time r ad. - yf-sub WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 21, 1880. No. 4. TERMS CASHT..
The , mar du,: -ration of sub t ,
e:ription. .*"'"
Dry'3g ,ie;.
3U&IEl! BU5IEi!!
The s6,er:he- having bought the stock
of the firm of J. T ,vlor & Co., will continue
Se conduct the business in all oF its various
branches of
WHEELWRIGHT WORK,
BLACKSMITHING,
PAINTING AND TRIMMING,
All of which will be done in first class:zrvle.
I have a choice and well sceted stock
of seasoned material and will build
Double and Single Seat
Buggies
for sale and to order, of any style or pat
tern, promptly, and guarantee stisfuetion,
as I will employ none but the best and
most carefal workmen; and spare no pains
to make my work first class.
OLD CARRIAGES AND BUGGIES reno
vated and made to look equal to new.
REPAIRING done in the best manner
and with disp?.teh.
HORSESHOEING and PLANTATION
WORK promptly done.
All of the above will be executed
AT LOVEST6SH PR/CES.
A liberal patronage respectfully solicited.
J. TAYLOR,
Shop Opposite Jail,
NEWBERRY, S. C.
TERMS CAgH.
Oct. 8, 41-6m.
.lIiscelaneoUs.
BURIL CAEN.
Bt 1. CHAPMAN N & O
Respectfully announce that they have on
hand the isrgest and best v.r:ety o BU
RIAL CASES ever brought td New berry,
consisting of
Fisk's Metalic Cases,
bEmbalming Cases,
Rosewoodi Cases.
Together with
SCOFFINS of their own' Make,
Which are the best and cheapest in the
place.
Havying a FINE hEARSE they are pre
pared to furnisi Funerals in town or coun
try in the most approved manner.
Particuar attention giveu to the walling
up of' graves when desired.
Give us a call and ask ouir prices.
R. C. CHAPMAN & SON.
May 7, i879. 19-i.
6' The Best Agricultural Journal Published in
the South."
THE SOUTHERN
MW1 MTZLT
A LABGE QUABTO of 82
pages, handsomely print.
ed, filled'with choice read
ngof interest to the far
mer, with an illustrated
fashion department fothe
ladies.
$2 a year, 1i a % year. Sample copvl15 cents.
Addres- J. H. ESTILL
8 Whitaker street, Savanna,(
ant py of "2he Savanuwzh WeeI4y Newos," a mamn.
mot 8.page newospaper, or of the "Daily Mornig
Newos," the edigayofthe Southeast, sent on
reciDt of -cnt sapAddress as above.
Ev-erybody is deUighted with the tasteful
andi beitutiful selection m:gde by Mrs. La
mar, who has NEvER FAILED to please her
customers. New Fall circular just issued.
Send i for it.
Address MRS. ELLEN LAMAR,
877 BroadIy, \ ew Yorh.
Nov. 2t., 48-0-r
-ALONZO REEPSE,
SIHAbVIN AND HIAIR DRESSING
SALO ON,
Plain Street next door to Dr, Geigei's Oilice,
COLUMBIA, S. C.
Roo.n newly ttte and furn ished, u'mi gen
tiemen atten.ied wih e, erity, after the
most apnroveui s:v les. Nov. 22. 47-tf
S lllA MONTHi guaranteed. S. a day
Liuat ~ome made by 1h md'ustrious.
muake uro:tey Zcaster :t wvo'k 'Ior us. tic
thing else. The work is is:t *"'u pD
who are winMe who se th's notwe w i1 eu
us their addre'sses at On': and: -e' to- mwi
selves. C)s[:y Quint a.. .erm tree \ow
.'s the time1(. ThoseC alreano wor . o ay (j~t
ing up) largre sumi 'of muoey. Aures TRUE
& Co., Augusta, Maine.
WEEKLY,
At PINE GR'JVE TANNERY.
MARTIN & MOWER,
PROPRIETORS.
OWL OJT HIG
UNDERWEAR,
HATS, SHOES, &c.
NEW FALL STOCK
-AND
NEW PRICES
\17 rlIGl!T & Il \VaPPO0k
invite attCntion to tler elegant stock of
Clthn & Furnishig Gods
Guaranteeing Satisfaction
Both in Quality and
Price.
Suits Fine, Medinm, Common,
LOWER THAN EVER.
CIVE US A CALL.
V iGilT &J. W, u P0Ctl
No. 4 Mollohon Row,
NEWBERRY, S. C.
Oct. 1, 1I-1V.
0, B, B Ti & ,,
MACHINE SHOP
-AND
GRIST MILLS.
The undersigned have associated together
for the purpose of conducling a MlACHINE
SHOP and GRIST MILL. and will give par
tieultr attention to
Rpairing Engines and Boilers,
mnd persons having work of this kind to do
a il tind it to their advantage to patronize
i. SATISFACTION UARANTEED.
We are al:o Agents for
GES, TllRESllERS,&.
DUR GRIST MILLS
Ate runing daivy, turning out the best
f Meal, and M eetS e'n rely on bemng
uplied at al timtes and AT? THE LOW
ET RAfES.
B3LACKiSMIT il WORK.
Mr. J AS. R(LLISO.N, the well known
Blcksmith, is with1 us and is assisted by a
first-class Hlorse-Shoer.
WHIEELWR~IGHIT WORK.
Mr. TIIU-. CrIAPM AN, late of Jalapa, is
n hand to do work ini his line.
0. B. IsUTLFr.
R. IT. ANDEIGSON.
Nov. 5, 45-sm.
TFH1 ZLTON PEET1 OLEGB.
.Ar Wf r imzron fa ,~ CA1cuseA
Era 3n nsernch it ? servicg '.'prn - twi.h to ect
fr heiragte:u,s * - m ble r 4at .omhigt . y:eticajl i
at s slr a S :"zz st 5cr- Jorim:
are nade stl .er ?1O j~i pAfP.rove ti pu .-e.
.T: e,'W 'cd e 2. t nFi.ca d Nc;:e
c/a.e rn .vr uar PXCa.. Fwrs, azo
nr me C ogue Sen e ? San ~
IsapretBLo Usa adIs the
only purely VEG ETABLE remedy known to sci
ence, that 'has made radical and PERANENT
CURES of SYPHILIs and SCRoFU-LA in all their
stages.
It thoroughly removes mercury from the
system; it relieves the agonies of mercurial
riematis,and speedily cures all skin dis
IFor sale by Dr. S. F. FANT. Also.
Mi-;;h's Worm' Oil. Apr. 16, 16-1y.
OUR MONTHLY.
ON'E DOLLAR A YEAR.
O a MONTH;r is a magazine devoted to gen
eral and religious reading. Its contains 24
doulec column pates, and every endeavor will
be mde to make it worth the money.
Evr'. chuaritabvr inclined person should sub
scribe for it, as the~entire sub.-cription is devoted
to the support of the orphans in thue
TUI1oNWELL OurIiIANAGE
of Cinton. S. C.. by whom all the work upon it
is done. It is careful! a ed danid is worth the
price asked lor it. Wil .act the frier.ds of the
Urptaiage get up a list of subscribers for us and
so ena:e dewerving boys to assist i supporting
theeves.
All subscriptions should be sent at once to the
editor and publishe.
Ot. 2:. 42-tf. Clinton. S. C.
A a W' E Ei i your own town, atnd no
a eat ital risked. Youu (can elve the
A lt.ines trial withnout expense'.
TMIIhe. best opportunity ever offered
,o hose willing' to work. Ytou shouldl try
onhig else until voc see for yourselt what
\ou canU do at the buine~ss we offer. No
roou to explain here. 'tui can devote all
yotr timhe Or only your spare timHe to the
busiess, andi make great pay tor every
hour that you work. W omenf make as much
as men. Senud Cor spec~i private tertms and
partculars,~ wich we mtail free. $5 Outtit
ree. l)'t complain ot bard times while
vu have such a etamnCe. Address HI. HAL
LETT & 10.. P'ortland, Maine. 23-1y
Books and Stationery
IAT TIIE
LijiALD S1ORE.
%W E "Ira. r oo) - 1l1 lr:
Sweetheart, Good-bye ! Our varied day
Is closing into twilight gray.
Aud up from the chill, bleak waste of sea
The north-wind rises mournfully;
A solemr prescience, strungely drear
Doth haunt the shuddering twilight air;
It fills the earth, it chills the sky,
Sweetheart, good-bye.
Sweetheart. good-bye! Oar joys are past
And night with silence comes at last;
All things must end, yen, even love,
Nor know we if reborn above,
yhe heart-blooms of our earthly prime
Shall flower beyond these bounds of time.
Ah ! death alone is sure! we cry,
Sweetheart, good-bye!
Sweetheart, good-bye! Through mist and
tears
Pass the pale phantoms of our years,
Once bright with spring, or snbtly strong
When summer's noontide thrilled with
song;
Now wan, wild-eyed, forlornly bowed,
Each rayless as an autumn cloud
Fading on dull November's sky,
Sweetheart, good-bye!
Sweetheart, good-bye ! The vapors rolled
Athwart yon distant, darkening world,
Are types of what our world doth know
Of tenderest loves of long ago;
And thus, when all is done and said,
Onr lifo lived out, our passion dead,
What can their wavering record be
But tinted mists of memxory ?
Oh! elasp and kiss me ere we die,
Sweetheart, good-bye!
gittie~ 4srg.
SUSIE'S GIFT.
The days were growir dark
for George Graham. 1is studi
ous habits had resulted in an af.
fction oft e eyes that threatened
to ("row Serious.
This was his last term at school
and if he passed his examination
ereditably, he was to have a place
in Solomou Grant's store, with.l
wages that would not only take
care of himself, but greatly help
his mother.
His mother was a widow, and
eorge's love for her was a sort of
>assion of devotion.
He was very fond of Susie Hale,
but Susie was only a nice girl to
im-a dear sweet, good girl, such
s any fellow would like; but his
rother was the lady to whom was
:ue his love, his care, his utter
most duty.
The plans he made in life were
all for his mother's sake.
What if this gr-owing dizziness
about himn was to increase until all
was dark? What if he must be no
help to his mother, but only a bur
den on her forever.
11is scholarship had been so fine
that his tutor hesitaited to reprove
his nlow continual failures; und
Georg"e said nothing o,f the in
ceasing .dar-kness ar-ound h it>
his mother for~ -he felt that it
would break her heart, nothing to~
tacher er schxoolmnates, for it seem
bed to himi that his grief w ould be~
no(thjing~ to them. But onie after
no.en the crisis came.
Noon who was~ pre'tsent that
da-not even the smialiest clhild
--will ever forget the look of wild
despair that swept over' George
Grah am's face, or- the gesture- ofI
helpless anguish withi which he
stetched out his hands, as if to
seek among them all some friend,
as he cried
"'God help me, I have been going
blind, and now I eainnot see one
tiure i my book!"
There was a silence after this,
thrugh which came no sound but
the audible beating, of George
Graam's tortured, despairmng
heat.
Th 'en the master sent away the
other-s, for school hours were nea
ly over, anid tried his best to comn
fot his str-icken pupil.
T b words of the teacher enter
ed his ears, but they (lid not reach
his heart or kindle his hope.
As su as iie could he went
way. Hie did no g sragh
hofe. tiow could be face his
mother and tell her what he must
tell her now ?
He sat downi on a bank a little
removed from the road side, a
bank which overhung a switIt, deep
vet narrow stream.
An awful temptation camne over
him.
To. be sure to die would be to
leave his mother to fight her bat
te of life alone ; but also it would
.-liev her fmom the heavy burden
he must needs bo to her ni i:
lived.
The river rushing lown thei
below invited him with its mu
mur.
Ho bent forward over th
stream. Then he drew back, for
longing came over him to go homn
first and see his mother just one
more.
"See her! What ^m I talkin
about? Do I not know I sha
never see her again."
And a girl's voice, soft and ter
der, an unexpected voice, auswere
him
"Yes, you will see her agair
Surely you will see her again !"
The boy turned his face toward
the sound.
"How did you come here, Susi
Hale ?" he asked.
"Don't be angry, George," th
gentle voice entreated. "I waitei
for you. I could not go homp til
I had told you how sorry I wa:
and tried to corfort you. Yo
must take heart and try to b
cured. I have known people wh
could not see at all, to be helped
and why not you ? At least yol
must try."
An evil mood was upon Georg
Graham, and he answered, harsh
ly
"Where is the money to com
from, if you please ? It has bee1
all mother could do just to live
and she has struggled on in th
expectation of my being able sooi
to help her. She h s no mone
fr experiments. There is nothin
for it but for me to rest a dea
weight upon her hands, or-die.
"You believe in God, Georg
Graham, and you will not defy him
If he means you to bear this yo
will bear it like a man, and no
try to get rid of the burden. Jus
now, it seems to me, you ought t
go home. . Would you like you
mother to hear this from some on,
else?"
He rose slowly.
"Ylou are right,'" he said, "an
you .are a good girl. Good bye
Susie."
She did not try to go with himr
she foliowed him only with he
eyes.
HIis mother met him at th<
gae.
When she took his hands in her
the poor fellow felt that she knev
all. She wvas very quiet and sel
controlled.
'-Your tutor has been here," shi
said, "and he has told me. M
darling, why have you sat in the
darkness, and shut your mothie
out froma any share in your trou
blec?"
"Oh,I couldn't tell you, mother,
he0 soJbed. "'I Cou l,in't. I thoughi
it would break your heart."
Mean whilec, Susie Hale had goni
home full of anl absorb'ing pups
Somehow mouney' must an
shold be raised( to try what
skllful oca list could do for Geor~
(Graam.
Susie was the or'phan niece
She kn?ew thiats lhe had a mou'
est little for'tunie of her own, bu
it was all in her uncle's hand:
ad withiout his consent she coulI
not dispose evenm of hei' slender it
come.
But would he not be persuade
to let her have enough of her ow
money to accomplish her desire ?
She asked him, using her utmos
~ower of persuasion to touch hi
heart. but lie refused with pei
emptory decision.
Susie had in the world on
treasure, a diamond ring, whic
had been her mother's with
stone white and clear as a dev
drop.
This must, she knew, be wort
hunmd reds.
It was her own.
She had meant to keep it all he
life for' her mo)ther's sake, biu
surely this great. need of Georu
Graham's justitied her in partini
with it,.
She had one friend in whioe
good faith arnd judicious manag~
ment she felt implicit confidec
ani to him she sent her mtother'
ring, with the request that I
would sell it as speedily and on a
good termtis as possible, and rem
her the price of it in bank note
and keel) for. her thle secret tb;
Bhn h-d disposed of it.
I It was a Week alfter Ueorge Gra
ham had giv en up hope, when a
e most u1nexpecied hope came to
- hirn.
A neighbor, going by from the
e post office, handed in at the door
a a letter addressed to him. Mrs.
e Graham opened it.
e "George," she cried, after a mo
ment, in an eager, trembling voice,
"here are one hundred dollars, and
li this is the letter that comes with
them
'This money is from a true
l friend of George Graham',, and is
to be applied to taking him to an
. oculist, in the hope that his sight
may be restored. The giver with
s holds his name, both because he de
sires no thanks, and because he
e wishes to make the return of the
money impossible.'
"It is from Heaven itself." the
I mother cried. "Geoi ge, I feel in my
.1 soul that you are to be cured."
The next day a mother and her
blind son sought rooms at a quiet
e little house in the city, and the
day after that they were among
the earliest patients of Doctor An
u nesly.
The first examination of
e George's eyes was unpromising
enough, and the docter wanted to
see him daily.
e There were weary days and
1 weeks that followed, and it was
curious that the mother was al
ways hopeful, and tne son always
a despairing.
At last it almost irritated him
to hear her speak of hope to him,
and one day he turned on her
with the first burst of passionate
impatience she had ever experi
enced from him.
. "Mother," be said, "for the love
t of Heaven do not talk to me as if it
tI was a sure thing that I am going to
see again. I want to think it
r doubtful, almost impossible. If
3 you should make me expect a sure
cure, and then it shouldn't come,
don't you see t hat I should go mad ?
I I think I should dash my bead
,against the wall. I can only live
by expecting nothing."
. After that the mother held her
r peace, but whenever she wvent out
of that darkened-room those who
e saw her marveled at the light of
joy in her eyes.
s At last the time came ; the band
age was removed, there was just
f one wild cry
"Mother, I see you !" and then
SGeorge lay at the doctor's feet,
swooning in his great joy.
It was weeks yet before he
went home again, but the good
news preceded him.
The mother wrote to Solomon
" Grant, who had agreed still to
tkeep the place open while await
ingr the result of the exper'iment.
e Soloinon read the letter ini full
1 HIe little knew how his niuece
a loniged to s natch the paper fronm
e his hand and rend i tfor h,erself
nor did be hxed the tears ta
f sw am ini he'. darvk eyes. tears o
such deep. uinsJiish joy as or.ly a
. loving' womani know;s.
t Another letter came afterwards
, to tell when the widow anid herL
I son were to return.
- t was Susie who walked over
early in the afternoon, carrying
d with her a basket of dainties for
n the travelers' supper.
Susie's black eves danced, and
ther heart sang within her as she
s set the table in the little parlor
I and lighted a fire in the kitchen
stove, ready to make a fresh cup
e of tea whenever the widow and
hher son should arrive.
a And at. last the travelers came,
sas at lats. every thing does come,
if we waa long enough for it.
h They had expected to find an
empty house ; they found instead
warmth. and brightness, and~ good
rcheer, anid Susie IIale.
IIHad George Graham grown
-e througjhbis trial inito a me.n's per
eeptin of a girl's charms, orha
his eyes been holden before, that
he should not see?
Ionly know that that night,
for the first time in his life, it
~dawned upon him that another
ewoman might some day dispute
with his mother the empir.e of his
heart.
s,But it was not until five years
tafterwards. when Mr. Grant had
takirn him int,o partnership, anid
3Ir. (=r:.i? s r,iee~ Ssic.. had be-1
e<.me( is wife. that GU rge Ga
ham ever 'uessed from V hose
tender hands ha;d come the gift
by means of which he had been
restored to hope and happiness.
11ielt ntaus.
T.tXA'IONi:.ST:ATE AND COUa
TY FOR ISSO.
The Supply Act as passed by
the General Assembly and ap
prvced by the Governor, is pub
lished to-day. It is printed from
a copy which has been carefully
compared with the Act in the
office of the Secretary of State,
and we believe it to be strictly
accurate. As telegraphed to The
News and Courier on Monday,
there were some errors in corn
pleting the Act for ratification.
The effect of these is to make the
State tax 4- mills inst.od of 4
mills, to leave Marion without any
special county tax, and to give the
Charleston militia $3,000 for the
current fissal year. The Act is a
law as it stafds, and State and
County officers are governed by
its provisions as they are. It is
annoying, of course, that the peo
ple in general should be called on
to pay a higher State tax than
was necessary. but the additional
amount is only w25.000, wi:ich
will lie over to the credit of the
succeeding year. The appropria
tion for the Charleston militia is
exceedingly welcome. It is amaz
ing that the Charleston delegation
in the House should have opposed
the making of the appropriation,
but we presa:um that they will not
regret that the Senate amendment
has become a law without their
consent. Marion will not, we hope,
be seriously inconvenienced by
the omission of the provision
for a special tax for that county.
The general State tax is 41
mills, with 2 milis additional for
the Public Schools, and an or
dinary 3 mill tax for County pur
poses. Last year the general
State tax was only 2j mills, but
provision was not then mnade for
the paymer't of the full interest
on the whonle public debt. It is
expected that each mill of tax will
produce $100,000 of revenue, and
the general tax wvill give, there
fore, $475,000. Of this amount
32-i372 are appropriated to the
payment of the interest for 1880
on the Consolidati-n debt, and
34,000 for the payment of the in
terest on the Defleiency bonds o
the State. South Carolina, tread
ingr bravely the paths of publie
honor and private credit. g.ives her
creditors 8358,000, and applies
117,000 to her own neds. This
is not all. Out of the 8174,000 col
leted in previous years and in the
State Treasury, the su m of $144
375 is app1roprnitd to coUilete
the payment of the interest for
1879 on the Con,soiidation deob!.
South Carolina wiii *Apay in in
terest to her creditors next year
ice h tundreCd and thur t|wsand dol
lars. Besides the outlay for in.
terest, there is a tax of 2 mills,
yilding $200,000, and the poll tax
yielding $100.000, which are ap
plied exclusively to the support
of the public schools. The public
reditors an thbe publi. seb-ools in
1880 will reoeive the equivalent of
the proceeds of a tax of 8 mills, or
8800000. For efery other State
expense a tax of 1 mill, with the
phosphate royi.lty, will sufice. No
other State in the Union can make
a beLtter~ showing?, thani this. And
Sout b CL'ro:: na is a'solid!y" Decm
oeratic. Such facts and figures goQ
a long way to explain, and justify,
"irregularities" in elections.
The largeness of the tax in some
of the Counties will naturally ex
ite remark, ou tside of the State.
These special taxen, ovr n
abo;-e the ordinary 3 mill County
tax, are to provide fo'r the indebt
ediess contracted before the Demn
Orats obtainied control, which in
debtedness has been ascertaiined
byv local commiissioners, a.nd is in
process of adjustment. The pe0
pe are replacing what their for
mer rulers stole!
There is no special change in
the manner of collecting the taxes.
The taxes are payable, as before,I
in tW weqnml instalments. The
iirst in s talm ent. is pvai._l from
May 1 to June 1. 1SS0, and the
secn)ili instalnent is payable from
Septem ber 15 to October 31. 1880.
The whole tax can be paid n. hen
the second instalment is payable.
but they w ho take advantage of
tins indulgebnce are required to
pay a penalty of ive per cent. on
the amount of the first instalment.
Taxes remaining unpaid on No
vember 20, with a penalty of 15
per cent., will be treated as delin
quent and collected by distraint in
the case of personal property, and
by sale, in February, 1881, in the
case of real property. All State
taxes are payable ilawful money
exclusively ; but County taxes
may- be paid in juror and witness
certiicates. Prevision is made
this year for a more definite taxa
tion of phosphate lands. When
the land is mined the net proceeds
shall be taxed, and the net pro
ceeds shall be ascertained by de
ducting from the cash market
value of the material mined and
removed one-half of the cost of
production.
It is interesting to compare the
taxation this year with the taxa
tion in previous years. For a
series of years the State tax, in
cluding the S:hool tax, was as
follows:
1870-71. ... 9 1874-75... .10
1871-72.... 7 1875-76... 11
1872-73.... 12 1877-78. .. .7
1873-74.... 11 1878-79. . ..41
1879-S0 ... 6;
This shows a handsome reduc
tion during the three years of
Democratic rule, for it must be
remembered that the State now
pays as she goes, and is not piling
up a bonded debt or an unfunded
debt to be provided for hereafter.
Taking the assessed value of the
taxable property in each year to
be 8135.000,000, for purposes of
comparison, the amount of taxa
ton in the years named was as
follows:
.870-71............ $1,215,000
1871-72............... 945,000
1872-73................ 1 620,000
1873-74............. .. 1,485,000
1874-75............... 1,395,000
1875-76..... .........1,485,000
Total..............$8,145,000
The average State taxation
'luring these last six years of Rad
ical r-ule was 8$1,375,500 a year.
For the current year, includingz
the half million dollars for interest
and 8200,000 (outside of the poill
tax) for~ the public schools, the
amount taken from the pockets of
the people will not exceed 8675,000,
2 direct .savig, in~ one year, of seven~
undred thousanfd dollars ! T his is
what the pecople gan withr peace,
security and prom!: titud* in the
discharg.e of pu.b!!e nbig:ios, by
D)emnecrat ie sol idi. ' ini So ut h Caro
lnThe recordi is b2fore the
e<>uI]ntry and upon it Sr'::n3 Caro
lia s.ands !-ee o: ouir
A R3TrlS . E'S D NERl.
The MIonthy Heal Prepared for the Interett
ing Repiles at the New lora: Aqzaritun.
-A ..e,w York paper says: os
onous snakes very seldom take
fod in captivity. . O1 some spe
ies, no specimen has ever been
found that would do so. As a
rule, they obstinately starve them
selves ; sometimes living for ninel
or even twelve months without
eatingr, growing gradually weak
er, day by day, until they finally
die. The rattlesnake is not that
sort of a snake. Hie is practical,
ready in adapting himself to cir
umstances, and if he is hungry,
is so hceanse nioth,ing digestile is
at hlandI to be killed and swal low
ed.
Mr. B;ergh obje~cts to snakes be
ing fed withe living animals. S
wvhen the ratt ilesnaks' monthItly
meal ti me comnes he is never an
inlvited guest. An hour was chosen
waen*r. thtere wereC no str'angers mo
the aqIuariumI and the dinner was
.'ervedA. A large, fat rat was put
in the eage of a rattlesn;ake about
three feet long. The rat mnanifested
a cheerful induifference to th it
utionJ, that was nto doubt based onl
the happy delusion that its com
pan ion was simpjly a harmnless big
wormt. It trotted unconearnedly
over the outlying sections of th e
siake, peered down amuong the
coils for something to eat, and
t.r.d with innocent surprise and
euriositv at the upraised loudly
ratt!:.l! t:il. I! nonchalance ac
tua iY seemued to astonish the
snake, and caused him to hesitate
thout opening ho6tilities a-ainst
.uh a cool customer. That sit.
nation waS maintained for. five
minutes. All that time the rat
iesnake's warning notes were.
,c.unding and it lay coiled with its
neck curved ready to strike, and
ts eyes fairiy blazing with rna.
ignant ferocity. At last it struck
t the rat--and mised,. The rat
eem2ed to think nothin more of
the occurreucethan that.the worm
wanted to change its position and
was somwbat in a hurry about it,
There was no apparent alarm, but
lnly an access of curiosity in the
rnind of the frisky rodent about
he quivering, whizzing tail, to
aisty concerning which he walk
leliberately up to it and smelled
it. As he did so the snake struck
ag:iin. and that time caught his
nitim's left hind leg. A horrible
thing the rattlesnake was in that
moment of pouncing upon his vie
tim. The flat, broad head was
opened into an enormous mouth:
in the widely distended jaws the
large hooked. venomous fangs
were erected; the eyes glowed with
ury. Quicker than sight could
toilow the motion, the deadly blow
was inflicted. One instant the
snake was motionless, the next its
rangs were fastened in the leg of
the st.ruggling, squeaking, and
now thoroughly alarmed rat, and
' he next it bad returned to its for
rmer attitude, still threatening but
simply following with watchful
:yos the movements of its victim,
witho:it essaving any further at
sack. The frightened rat lost in
statly the use "f the leg that had
een struck. On its other three
isprag ibout as if in wild
e;ror, then urarged itself around
be eage more and more slowly;
t le h it erasrled among the
hes o the snake and there expir.
di. Ti rteen minutes elapsed
nu the time it was bitten unil
t was dead.
Almost imrmediately the snake
'roceedled to the swallowing pro,
ess There was no preparatory
noistening, coiling upon ana press
ng of t he body-. The snake sim
ly seized the rat's head in his
nouth, and commneri opera
~ions. His ujper jaw is bu'ilt in
a o( sections, right and left, and
ae co'n move them separately,
>aekward or forward. Hooking
hie teeth of one section into the
at's hide. he would slide the
>tber section forward a little and
:ake a fresh hold with his teeth.
rhen~ the first that made fast
hsould let gO, come to the front,
tnd rig a new p)urchase. In that
~var,. by alternate advances of the
-ight and left ser-tions 01 his up
er* jaw he slowly pushed his dinm
~er down. Bit it took him twen
v minutes to do it.
Several other rats were fed to
bhe rattlesn~akes with little varia
nlon of incider,t, except that their
ndividual characteristics were va
-iously display'ed. None was as
inconscious o1 danger and im
muetly sociable aIs t be first, and
tone was as plucky as the seventh,
which upon receiving the fatal
ite, sprang at the snake to make
ight. The poison was too active
n the courageous little fellow's
reins, however. Even as he
reacheri the reptile's neck his
imbs stiffened, his jaws became
et, and he roiled over on his back
weakly kicking and gasping for
somne minutes, and then died. The
juickest deathi was that of the
)urthL rat, whbich was bitten in the
acad. feii immediately, and was
~ecmingly dead in less than a mir
ate.
Dr. Durner. who knows al
most as mueb about snakes as if
bad made themo, exp~Lins that as
oen as a rattlesnlake has eateni in
ivity of it.S poison increases, quick
y cauingfl tibe interval between the
ut and iLa f2aa re.sat, upon small
.nimais at least, to Ujecomie very
huort indeed. But i: fed too oftenl
bec rt)tle's venom loses in activi
v, so that sometimes several
jites are insuficeient to 1Riii.
Thermnometers are about the on.
ty things that st ad the heat, and
they get their backs up,