Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SATURDAY , DECEMBEK 24 , 1898.
STRANGE HABITS OF SNARES
Cnrioni Instances of Thiti Intelligence Told
by a Bnaka Lorer.
SNAKE ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA
A Kl ht Rettveen Two Mttle Shrew *
and a Dlir Polnonou * Adder A
Mink's Appetite for Snake
Meat.
I nw the first instance of the hibernation .
, of snakes In this country In 1892. At Or eon- '
vllle , Jersey City , there waa a largo heap
ot rubbish stable-sweepings , I believe
which lay near the creek at the west end
of Cater avenue. There waa a considerable
amount of straw In It , so that It wasn't
very solid. It had been there probably for
several years and had mostly turned to
mould. While passing It ono day in the 1
month ot October I saw a snake's head
sticking out of a hole In the side near the 1
ground. Going to a nearby house I got a I
cpado and dug over the whole heap. I I
found thirty-nine snakes In It , chiefly waterI I
snakes and gartersnakes. They were not all ! i
together , but distributed generally throughout - '
out the whole heap. Now , this manure plre
was not more than two feet high and the '
ground wa very hard and solid under
neath It , so that If a very severe frost had
come these snakes would all have been
frozen as they slept. From this It would
appear that sometimes , at least , the wisdom
of th snakes Is not sufficient for their
safety.
Now the question Is , Did the snakes spy
out this manure-heap during the summer
and decide that It would bo a proper place
to winter In , or , If they didn't , bow came
the whole thirty-nine to find It. Probably
my experiences during the autumn Just
passed Wlir give the true explanation of this
puzzling question.
Ill * NclKhbom , the Snake * .
My bouse is situated In the midst ot thick
woods , with here and there some rocky
hillocks , open eunny spaces , and frequent
swampa. I have bad every opportunity of
observing the proceedings of my ophidian
neighbors as well during the heat ot the
past summer aa when the weather began to
grow cooler. During the ordinary summer
weather I found that tbo snakes were scat
tered generally through the woods , Hvlng
a vagabond life up and down , here and
there , BO that you could very seldom meet
with moro than one at a time. But mark
t the change which occurred later on.
When the cool nights toward the end ot
September warned me to Increase my clothIng -
Ing I noticed that the snakes had also taken
heed of It , for I now began to find them
five or six together around sunny rooks , or
la some sheltered patch of eunshlne In the
1 thickest copses. After a few days I would
find that they had left these places also ,
"
moved on"llko the true vagrants tfeat they
are , to some other place of sojourn.
Grttlnic Ready for Winter.
About the middle of October I saw quite
a number of gartersnakes on a rock-
crowned hillock not far from my bouse ,
where I had often Bought for them In vain
during the previous month of September.
I didn't disturb them , for I was glad to have
the opportunity of observing their move
ments , as the weather grow colder. In hopes
of finding out something about their hiber
nation. For about a week they stayed
around the rocks. During the daytime they
would bask In the sun , flvo or six in the
space ot a few yards. If I approached too
close they would glide In beneath the rocks.
Several tiroes during the week I visited
them , at night and found them always coiled
under the stones. But one night it came on
„ much colder than usual and the next after
noon , when I visited my hillock , not a snake
was to be een , neither under the stones uor
elsewhere. I concluded that they had felt
the nipping wind of the previous night and
had moved away n search of some more
favorable location. Very rarely attor this
cold wind did -I meet with a snake in the
woods or swamps. They had deserted the
rocky hillocks and all the other sunny BpotB
wfcere I used to see them.
I soon found out whore some of them had
gone. In one corner of the grounds at
tached , to my bouse there Is an old well ,
now disused. Once only during the summer
had I found a snake at this well , and that
was at a time when water was scarce in the
woods. But now , when the cold was fast
driving the snakes from ono retreat to an
other , I one day noticed several of them
sunning themselves by the well. For two
or three days I saw them there , and then
found that they had either left this place ,
too , or else stayed closely bidden away , for
I saw them no moro.
' Five Bnakei la a Cellar.
About this time also I found the freshly
east skin ot a large watcrsnake In the
cellar ot a neighbor's bouse ; It had evidently
gone In there to hibernate. A search In my
own cellar revealed a very interesting state
\ of things. Under a pile of rubbish I found
five gartersnakes comfortably colled. When
I uncovered them they put out their tongues ,
but didn't otherwise move , so I fixed up
the place as it was before and left them to
continue their winter's sleep. Slnco then
I have looked at them several times , but
have found them always In the same posi
tion.
tion.But
But the cellar is not the only part ot the
house where the snakes have come in to
,
hibernate. Since the weather grew severe I
rarely go in the dining room , and as there
is nobody In the house but myself , it Is a
very quiet apartment. I never dreamed ,
however , that snakes would have come In [
from the woods and chosen It as a place for
hibernation. Nevertheless this was the fact.
In a corner of the dining room , on the
floor , was a cardboard box with a hole in l
one end of it. What was my surprise one (
frosty day to find a gartersnake In this
card box. He had corno Into the bouse ,
probably weeks before and flndlug the little
bole convenient and the box comfortable 1
had ensconced himself within It. But In '
this he proved very Imprudent ; for when I
looknd at him during the severe frost of
about two weeka ago I found him frozen 1
stiff. I took him Into the snake room ,
thinking that tbo heat might revive him ;
but , ' no , ho was dead. The frost bad crip
pled him as he lay In the box and he had to
lie there- and die In Its clutches.
Though snakes sleep through the winter
It Is very evident that , In this country ,
ebmo of their enemies are very wide awake.
During the last two falls of enow I
noticed the tracks of some animal passing
Into and out of a hole under the steps lead
ing up to my front door. A slight exami '
nation convinced mo that It was a mink and 1
that he , too , had taken up his quarters In
my cellar. I was pleased to know that he
was there , and never feared for my garter *
snakes ; but after writing the paragraph
above about the snake In the dining room I
took a lamp and went down Into the cellar
and what did a flnd my gartersnakes' re
treat broken open , and only the heads of
two of them remaining. The mink had eaten
the rest. Neither had these snakes chosen
wisely. In another part of the cellar there
are two other gartersnakes which have not
yet been molested.
Fate of lielnted finakci.
It is not to be supposed that every snake
succeeds In finding a hiding place satisfac
tory to him before the frost sets In. I have
found them still abroad seeking a refuge
i-y - M late as November 10. Late In the evenIng -
l-x Ing on that date I met with two lying out
exposed in the woods , overtaken by the
cold , so benumbed that they could scarcely
move , and ready to fall a prey to the frost
or the first predatory animal that chanced
to find them. On being taken Into th
house they recovered , and ar now as lively
as they ever were.
Now , bearing in mind the observations I
made above on the proceedings of the snakea
during the autumn in seeking their winter
home , let us go to the captive snakes in my
collection and see If they can give us any
additional information as to the why , when
and how ot their hibernations.
Ono of the things I have most noticed
among my captive nnakcs Is their great
sensibility to change ot temperature. Too
much heat or too much cold discomposes
them , and they show their disapproval by
trying to get out of their cages. With
ordinary summer temperature they are con
tent. Even when autumn comes on , If the
beat In their cages be kept regular , the ?
show no evidence of uneasiness. But , let
! blast of wintry wind blow on them and
the temperature continue low for a few
days , and the snakes which have felt It
will give up eating and scarcely cease from
their efforts to get out to sock some warmer
place. I have known snakes , after getting
j
the first shock of wintry cold , to give up
eating In consequence for two , three or even
four | months , and only regain their appetite
by ] being kept continually at a summer tem
perature. i
Appetite Interrupted.
My bull snakes ( Pltjophls ) , from Texas ,
having ; felt cold winds In September , 1896 ,
gave up eating at once and fasted contlnu-
ously i till the following March ; while snakes
from these northern and colder states resumed -
sumed ; their feeding In January , though they
all bad the same heated room during the
STOROF A UNIQUE COURT
Over it Presides a Husky Terror to
Wife Beaten.
PENNSYLVANIA ALDERMANIC SOLOMON
Laokn Fnlth in Prison Cell * and Is-
OCB and Enforce * Hi * Man
dated with PennaMlve
Eloquence.
The Solomon of Pennsylvania Is an alder
man who presides over a court at Wllkes-
barrc , and his name la Donohue. Just now
the country Is applauding his method of dis
pensing Justlco to wife-beaters , and a sketch
of his career furnished by the Philadelphia
Press Is timely and entertaining : '
The alderman's temple of Justice le ft
llttlo two-room affair , which Is crowded
every time ho Is going to sit. A row of
benches face the desk and a bench for the
accommodation of the prisoners Is at ono
side of It. It U seldom that there Is seatIng -
Ing room for all ofthem. . On the other side
Is the witness stand , and the evidence given
from that plain stand would furnish every
humorist In < the country wHh material
enough for a lifetime.
The alderman Is a florid , rotund , genial
man of 48 , with a sht/rp , decisive tongue , a
period. That they all had their appellees
Interrupted by the first cold only , 10 evident
from the fact that this year and other years
when I have been more careful to keep them
at an equal heat , they have all continued
feeding and casting their skins as It no win
ter were reigning outside ; the casting of
their skins Is , I may mention , a thing they
do not do In hibernation.
Now , It Is only reasonable to suppose that
this Interruption of appetite and great sen
sibility to cold , and this desire to seek
warmer quarters operates the name when
the snakes are at large In the woods , as
when they are in captivity. And In fact , my
observations of the wild snakes on the rocky
hillock and elsewhere lead to that conclu
sion.
Snakes become BO sluggish during the
period of their hibernation that they do not
oven , resent .being touched , and , handled. I ,
have taken venomous rattlesnakes and
drawn their fangs with my fingers without
the least danger , although this usually re
vives them pretty thoroughly from their
stupor. I had a photograph taken showing
how this was done. Such treatment shows
that snakee must be almost Insensible to
pain during hibernation.
Queer Retreat.
Strangely enough ithe snakes of tropical
countries hibernate the same as their cousins
In the north. It was In South Africa In May
or Juno , 187G , that I made my first ac
quaintance with snakes In their winter
sleep. Although the eastern province of the
Cape Colony is a country where frost Is
never seen except in a very slight degree ,
till the snakes there retire from the winder.
And the retreat of most of the smaller ones
Is very curiously and wisely chosen. There
*
Is In South Africa a species of termite or
white ant , which constructs large ant hills
II over the face of the country , but chiefly
on the open plains. These mounds are made
by the ants carrying up the soil from be
neath and piling It In a honey-combed ,
rounded heap on the surface. These erec
tions are generally three or four feet high
and four or five In diameter at the base.
When new or when still occupied by th ants
they are almost as hard a * stone ; but when
the ants for some cause leave them , as they
often do , 'these adamantine dwellings soon
become softer from the action of the weather
and of natural decay. It Is Into these deserted -
sorted ant bill * that the smaller snakes
force they way when the time for hiberna
i : tion arrives. Consequently my method of
' snake hunting In the winter was to take
with me a hoe to break open the ant hills ,
so aa to find the snakes concealed there. In
consequence of ray having discovered this
retreat of the snakes I used to add far more
to my collection In the winter time than In
summer. Nearly every deserted ant hill
would have some snakes In U. Sometimes
I would find as many as ten or a dozen In a
single one , oftenen two or three , but as de-
. scried ant hills ore very numerous my day's
| catch would be quite considerable. The
i snakes would seldom lie together In the
'
same part of the ant hill , but would be scattered -
tered generally throughout. That these do
sentcd abodes of the ants were really the
| very best spots In South Africa for makes
to pass the cold winter In I have no doubt
whatever , and they deserve credit for choos
ing them , because the ant hill being honey-
combed all through the interior and mostly
weather-proof outside , the sun during the
day would heat up the whole structure and
the air in the chambers would preserve the
warmth through the night.
Shrew * Aunlu t Adder * .
That the snakes were exposed to some
enemy In the ant-hills was evident , for I
would often find the skeleton of one cleanly
picked. For a long time this puzzled me ,
until I noticed that I often found ne U of
shrews In the ant-hills. Moat tiny quadrupeds -
rupeds they were , not more than an Inch
and a half In length , and weighing not
I more than a quarter of an ounce , and yet
I I have seen two of them kill a snake fit-
I teen Inches long , and eat a great part of
him afterward. Indeed , I have seen two
of 'them attack a putt-adder three > feet long
and as thick as a man's arm. Now the |
puff-adder Is the most deadly snake In (
Africa , and still these two Incredibly small I
animals were so diabolically savage and I
I active that they would Infallibly have killed I
him , If I had not prevented them. Thus It
will be seen that the winter sleep of snakes
Is likely to be disturbed by something very
much worse than nightmare.
Q. II. O'REILLY.
Younir Woman Commit ! Suicide ,
CHICAGO. Dec. 23. The body of Miss Des-
mania k&wton , who with her brother and
sisters came to Chicago from Kansas City
a few weeks ago. was found In her room to-
day. She had < tak n chloroform and hod np-
parently been dead tor two days. Miss Law-
ton was supposed to bo vlsHlng friends In
Evanston. She had been suffering recently
from ill health.
commanding manner and a knowledge of
law uitjch Is not confined to the text-books ,
for mucTi of It is his own , and good at that.
He has a profound respect for Blackstone ,
but says there Is lots ot law that that great
Jurist never heard about.
"Law , " says the alderman , "Is not so
much for punishment ot evidence as it is a
cure for evil doing. It is a medicine which
much bo admonished according to t'ho ' symp
toms. For Instance , the symptoms of wife-
beating Is bullylsm. Knock the bullylsm
out c the bully and he becomes meek and
'
mild. Knock the same thing out of a wire-
beater and he'll light the fires every mornIng -
Ing , fetch the coal , nurse the baby and say ,
Yes dear' to his wife.
"The lawyers think they know the law , "
said the alderman , "but many of them don't.
Justice and the law are not always the
same , and. this court is run on the 'Justice-
to-everyonb' " plan. '
"My word is law here , whether it is law
or not" the alderman Is half Irish "and It
goes whether the lawyers like It or not.
, It they do not know how to manage a case
'I manage it for them.
"Did you hear ot the man I bad here once )
for brutally attacking a child. No ? Well i
the law says he should be held In $5,000 ball.
His lawyers were ready to furnish It.
"Do you suppose I'd let him go out on the
streoto again a free man ? Not much. I 1
held him In 1100,000 , ball , and he went to
Jail , wbero bo belonged. That was not law ,
but It was Justice. "
Wife-Ueater Cnred of the Practice.
The alderman had an habitual wife-beater
before him on Monday night , Frank Over-
field of Plymouth. The poor little wife ,
with blackened eye and badly bruised face ,
told how she bad bc n knocked down and
kicked. The neighbors testified that It was
a frequent occurrence. Overfleld himself
laughed and showed no remorse.
The 'squire wasted no time in hearing the
othir aide of the case.
"Overfleld , you brute , " he shouted. "I'm
.
going to teach you a lesson that you'll not
soon forget , and if it does not make you
behave yourself I'm very much mistaken.
, , How old are you ? "
"Thirty-eight , your honor , " said Over-
field , wonderlngly.
"Well' I'm ten years older , but take off
your coat. " The alderman removed his
stylish Prince Albert and his cuffs.
I i "Shut that door , Constable Newton , " be
I exclaimed , "and lock it , and you" turning
1 to the thirty or forty spectators "don't you
move from your seats. "
' He arranged the paper * on his desk carefully -
fully , moved back the reporters' table and ,
chairs to a clear space and then yanked
Overfleld out ot the prisoners' dock.
I "Put up your hands , " he cried , "for I'm
going to give you the worst licking you ever
got. "
, Overfleld was too amazed to parry the
right swing which landed on the side of
his head , but when be picked himself out
i ot the corner ho was full ot flght. And he
could flght , too. In a rough-and-tumble fash
ion and for a time gave the alderman all
be could do ; but In the end science In the ,
shape of stinging left and right banders
well placed and clever parrying , blocking
and ducking , won.
Wrestled In the Conrt Room.
Overfleld was not the only sufferer , for
he landed some vicious swings , which the
i alderman felt. There was lively hitting for
a minute or so , and then Overfleld. finding
he could not land , clinched and the two fell
to the floor. The alderman was Just as
scientific a wrestler as a boxer , and a stran
gle hold soon took all the breath and flght
out of the wlfo-beater.
HU honor never does things by halves ,
however , and having studied the symptoms 1
of wife-boating for twenty-three years , ho
.
sat on the prisoner and pummeled him right '
heartily , administering the proper dose and
a llttlo extra for good measure. When bo
at length paused to hear Overfield's cries
for mercy the prisoner was quite ready to
swear by all that was sacred that he would
never ray a heavy finger on his wife again.
. "If you do , " eald the alderman , and
I then In the mldft of profuse protestations
ot good behavior ho discharged the prla- ,
oner.
I All of the spectators except one enjoyed
the 'fight Immensely. The exception was
David Rowlands , wnos * wife was waiting
to tell how he hM beaten her.
"David , " eald his honor , not unkindly ,
"this Is your first offense. Was the lesson
you have Just learned one you wlir remem
ber ? It it is you can go borne. "
David went hastily.
"The first time I thnufted a wife-beater , "
said Mr. Donohue , "was in 18S8. He was a
vicious fellow and bad nearly killed Ills
wife. He got It worse than Overfleld , for
I laid him up for a week or two. It did him
good. Yes , sir. He's been a mighty good
tusband ever since ,
"I had another several years ago. This
was my third. I got letters from nil over
bo world about my first case and I felt
roud of some of them. One French society
wrote me about U. I never heard , though ,
whether they adopted my method. They can
t they want. It Is not. patented.
"I've Just got a letter from a Philadelphia
man about Overfleld. The man's name Is
3. S. Clark and bo sent me his book , 'Men-
al Nuts to Crack. ' Wonder what kind of
mslness he thinks I'm In. Ho says In his
otter :
" 'Good boy , Donohue. Do it again. I
wish I was. there > to see It. '
In Denmml for Advertising Purpose * .
"Ten years ago , when I thrashed the first
onJ , Bomo nerve medicine firms sent me
etters asking to bo allowed to use my name
and picture and say under It , 'I use So-and-
so Nervine and thrash wife-boaters. ' I'm
no advertising agency , though. "
Tha alderman first became famous by an
Interesting settlement of an Intricate case
when he was young In office.
Two Irish women bad n. lawsuit over a
goose. Both claimed It , and each produced
ten witnesses to testify that It was hers.
The evidence on each side was most direct
and undlsputable. Each ten Identified the
goose as belonging to the woman they rep
resented. They all knew the geese from
the tlmo it was a gosling. After bearing
the evidence the alderman said to the prose-
cutrlx :
"Havo you a gander ? "
"Troth , an' Ol1 have , an' a folne wan
at that. "
"Troth , an * 01' have , , an' a folno wan , "
said the defendant indignantly.
"Whoso gander did the goose keep com
pany with ? " asked the alderman , seeing the
end In sight
" 'Twos molne , " exclaimed each woman.
"Well , bring them both to court -this aft
ernoon , " ordered the nrdermon.
The women protested.
"You won't , " said the alderman ; ythen I
will , and he Issued a subpoena for each gan
der and In due time they came in borne
by two triumphant constables.
A Modern Solomon.
The alderman ordered everybody out tea
a big field and the crowd that gathered
there numbered about 500. Donohuo eent
the two ganders to separate corners of the
field In charge of the constables , and ho
stood with the goose In the mlddlo of the
field , "with tbo crowd behind him.
When aW was ready his honor released
tbo goose. The disputed bird ambled slowly
to one gander , examined him for a moment
and then went over to the other. After
a few duckings they waddled down under
the fence together and paddled into a brook.
"That settles It , " cried the alderman.
"Whoso gander is that ? "
"Tho prosecutor's , " shouted back the con
stable ,
"Case decided In prosecutor's favor ; de
fendant wlir pay jail the costs , " said the
alderman and the crowd cheered.
On another occasion twins were born in
a famlry supplied by a milkman with a
quart of milk a day. It was a remote route
end no other milkman went near It. The
supply of this particular dealer was limited
and when the family required three pints
extra for the twins he would not supply
It
The father complained to the alderman.
Donohue had him swear out a warrant for
the milkman. When that worthy appeared
j bis honor said , "You'll supply that house
with milk If you have to build a pipe line ,
or you'n deal with mo. "
The milkman , rather frightened , said he
would try.
"There will be no try about It , " ex
claimed Donohue. "Those babies must be
fed , and , what Is more , you'll make a dally
report to mo that you've delivered the
milk. "
And the milkman did.
A coal company was sued for docking a
miner on the charge tghat the coal he sent
to the breaker was dlrty. The coal com
pany's lawyer claimed -that coal waa not
marketable If it had 'more than 'S per cent
of slate , and that the company n'ever sold
any having that amount.
Examined the Coal.
The alderman Interrupted the lawyer's
argument after this statement and sent a
constable out for a big wheelbarrow full of ;
the company's coal and a pair of scales.
i When the coal came It was dumped on the
' floor and the Justice , who bad picked coal :
In a breaker when a boy , carefully sep-
arated the coal from the slate , despite tba ,
| protests of the lawyer that It had nothing
to do with the case.
"You can sing the whole opera of 'The
Mikado * if you like , " said Donohue , "but
this bos very much to do with thla case.
It's your turn to hedge , " he said , as he
piled up a lot ot slate. Then be weighed
the slate and the coal.
"You made a little mistake , " he said to
the lawyer , "there's 37 per cent of slate
in that coal. "
Then he mounted his bench and ex-
claimed :
"The defendant wilt return the amount
of wages docked and pay the costs , and 1
If this miner Is discharged because be boa i
won his case well , there will bo another
case. I know a thing or two about mining
laws. "
At another time an aged and poverty-
stricken widow was cftut out of her house
by the landlord for nonpayment of rent.
He put padlocks on the door. When the
woman complained to Alderman Donohue
he hired a locksmith , bid the locks re-
moved and sent the woman back to her
house. Then ho bad the landlord arrested ,
fined him for trespass , made him pay the
locksmith and present the locks to the
widow.
> Perhaps the most remarkable Instance of
Alderman Donohue's eccentricities Is the fol-
lowing Instance , which caused quite a furore
In the courts of Montana. On the night
of Cleveland's first election to the presl-
dency the alderman was standlnc in front
of a newspaper office , watching Cleveland
majorities being bulletined. He was ap-
preached by a man and woman whom ha
knew.
"We want you to marry us , 'squire , " sail
the man.
"Go away ; don't bother me , " exclaimed
Donohue ; "I'm busy. "
"But we want to get married. Come
over to the offlce. "
"Go away , will you ? " Donohuo cried , an-
grlly , figuring up the majorities and calcu-
latlng the amounts he'd win.
The man pleaded so persistently that Don-
ohue finally exclaimed :
"Well , if you want to get married , I'll
marry you right here , but not a step I'll
stir. "
"That will do , " they cried , and they were
married forthwith.
Marrlaice Record in a Hat.
Donohue had no paper , eo be made a
record ot the marriage on the white r.llk
lining of his hat and forgot all about it
until years afterward ,
Then there came a letter from the woman ,
who was In Montana. Her husband , a rail-
reader , had been killed ; would Donohuo
please forward the record of her marriage
so she could get the Insurance from tb
Trainmen's union ?
Donobue was quite willing to do eo , but
search through his docket failed to reveal
It. He hunted high and low for weeks , la
j the meantime corresponding with the
I woman , and at last he bad to give It up.
The woman wrote that she needed the money
and that eho could not get it without proof
of marriage.
Donohuo replied that he was sorry , but
he'd done bla best.
Some months afterward be was at home
during the spring cleaning. His wife came
to him with a pile of hats.
"Are these any good ? " ehe asked , "of
shall I throw them out ? They've been In
the garret for years. "
Donohue selected a couple as worth keep-
Ing and brushed them , On the lining ot ono I
he saw some writing. It wa i the long-lost
marriage record. Ho recalled the ctrcumc
stances ot the strange wedding then , made
affidavit to them and sent on the record ,
The union would not accept It and the
woman took the case to court and won.
Dr. Bull's Oough Syrup 1s the best remedy
for j > coughs , colds , sere throat and grippe.
This is the verdict of the people.
CHICAGO'S IIIHD HOSPITAL.
Vnlqne Institution that HBR Not It *
Counterpart Anywhere.
Tbo surgeon In charge ot Chicago's Bird
hospital Is Mr. C. A. Cross or Dr. C. A.
Cross , It should be and he Is a clear case
of Inherited tendencies , being closely re
lated to the celebrated William Cross ot
old Hull street , Liverpool , England , who ,
In his day , enjoyed the reputation of being
the greatest bird fancier In the world , In
deed , a passion for birds runs through the
whole family , though the Chicago doctor
has , In particular , developed the hereditary
Instinct. Fortunately , bis wife Is an equal
enthusiast , and Mr. Cross attributes much
of his success to her delicate care. The
two constitute the entire medical and nurs
ing staff of the hospital.
Finding by personal observation that the
diseases ot birds were for the most part
exactly the same as those that afflict hu
manity , Dr. Cross studied medicine- suffi
ciently to become familiar with the nature
and application of the moro common drugs.
Since the establishment of his own unique
institution , the coot ! doctor's fame has
spread'abroad , until now invalid birds are
sent to him from all over the country , a
beautiful parrot for which bis owner had
refused J300 having been sent to the hospital
all the way from Denver. As with indi
viduals , a largo proportion of the diseases
form which birds suffer is the result of
colds and Improper diet.
"There Is no bird that can stand a draft , "
said Mr. Cross , "and yet people who seem
to adore their pets constantly leave them
near open windows and doors. This Is par
ticularly dangerous during the period of
molting. "
As I walked through the wards I was fre
quently addressed by the Interesting con
valescents. "Halloa , how do you do ? " sang
out a beautiful old gray fclrow , who , how
ever , hadn't a feather on his breast. He
proved to be the victim of high living. His
I over-Indulgent master has allowed htm to
eat potato , meat and all sorts ot greasy food
from the table , and now he was paying up
j i for his good times by riving on a very strict
diet , taking a good blood prlflor , and being
eprlnkled every day with Indian cockle to
keep him from plucking out his plumage.
Next him was another bon vlveur who was
suffering from gout , & disease to which birds
of the upper tendom arc particularly liable.
Their toes swe-ir In the regulation manner ,
and aomotlmea , Indeed , have to bo amputated.
Of course at tbo hospital they have to come
down to plain living and high thinking.
"Poor Polly , " from a cage nearby , next
attracted my attention , and there I found a
bird of brilliant plumage who , however ,
' showed an ugly tumor on her right wing.
She bad already had one removed from her
I left , and was undergoing the tame process
for the one In vlow. The doctor's method for
'
dealing with this trouble by no means an
uncommon ono Is to take a silk thread
previously soaked In an antiseptic , or A sil
ver cord , and bind It tightly around the ex
crescence ; every day he tightens the cord a
llttlo , until the trouble disappears , of course
treating the general system meanwhile.
No sound came from the adjoining cage ,
In which , however , I caught sight of a pretty
seedy-looking bird. Poor old fellow ! He
was suffering from a bad case of tonsllltls ,
and his throat had that day been oper
ated upon. Ho waa , however , being braced
up on a decoction of whisky , quinine , Iron
and water , and was bound to pun through.
The little Invalids Instinctively recognize
Mr , Cross as their friend and allow him to
handle them with the utmost freedom. His
method of administering medicine la to bold
the bird quietly In one band , while with the
other he drops the remedy with a medicine
dropper on the side of the face , crosa to the
bill. Enough Is sure to get Into the mouth
by this process , while It the mouth ic forced
open and the remedy dropped Immediately
In , It is very likely to strangle the delicate
little creature. During my visit to the bos
pltul a woman called to consult the doctor In
i regard to her canary , which seemed to be
j troubled with sere throat and hoarsened
j , The good old-fashioned remedy of onion
syrup waa prescribed , to bo given In the
manner Indicated.
Catarrh , pneumonia , bronchitis , diphthe
ria and Indigestion are among the most fre
quent ailments , and birds , especially par
rots , are almost always affected by
any epidemic. During a period of Influenza ,
for Instance , the doctor had at one time 186
parrots on bis hands for treatment.
Mr. Cross Is entirely modern which per
haps means scientific In his treatment , anc
haa exploded many an old tradition. Just
as there was once a pathologlcar law to the
effect that water must not be given a fever
i patient , eo In blrddom , there Is still the
statute that you must not give water to I
parrot if you wish him to talk , and many a
bird fancier even today tells a hopeful pur a.t
chaser not to allow poor polly any water for
thre-e months. This , Mr. Cross mys Is aa
absurd as It Is cruel. Equally ridiculous Is
I ' the notion that salt will kin a bird. Quite
to the contrary , Mr. Cross' treatment for 9t
digestion la to place a cup of warm , salt
water In the cage , where the little creature
can freely help hlmseK : "The sarao remedy
that I would take myself , " said the doctor ,
"In CAM of dyspepsia. "
Mr. Cross has recently Improved upon his
original clever method of setting broken
THE EXCELLENCE OF SYRUP OF FIGS
is due not only to the originality and
simplicity of the combination , but also
to the care and skill with which it is
manufactured by scientific processes
known to the CALIFORNIA FJQ Svitup
Co. only , and wo wish to impress upon
all the importance of purchasing1 the
true and original remedy. As the
genuine Syrup of Figs is manufactured
by the CALIFOHNIA Fia Svnup Co.
only , a knowledge of that fact will
assist one in avoiding the worthless
imitations manufactured by other pur-
ties. The high standing of the CALI
FORNIA Fie SVKUP Co. with the medi
cal profession , and the satisfaction
which the genuine Syrup of Figs has
B > 7 n to millions of families , n lies
the name of the Company a guaranty
of the excellence of its remedy. It is
far in advance of all other laxatives ,
as it act * on the kidneys , liver and
bowels without irritating or weaken
ing them , and it does not gripe nor
nauseate. In order to get its beneficial
effects , please remember the name of
the Company
CALIFORNIA PIG SYRUP CO.
SAX rMAKOIICO , Cat
LOCUTII.I.E. KT. WEW T KK. w. Tt
bones. InetcAd of n quill ho now uses
tlno t tube * , such aa are manufactured ( or
capsules. Around the broken limb he first
binds n bit of antisepticcottou And over this
slips a. sufficient length of the gelatine
tube. When the limb IB set lie has only to
pTaco It In warm water for awhile and the
fliiup llttlo cylinder dissolves.
Although with good care parrots may llvo
to . bo 100 years old , they load air blrddom In
the number and variety of their disease * .
The English nightingale Is the moat delicate
of nil the Ultra songsters , and rarely live *
more than six months or a year In cap.
ttvlty.
Mr . llotUlu Drfrndu llcmrlf.
SAN FRANCISCO , Dec. 23. Mrs. Cordelia
Dolklii was mi the witness stand In her < > \\n
defense today. emphatically denied that
she wrote anonymous letters sent Mrs. Dun
ning , or that she nulled tl s candy which
caused the drath of Mrs. Dunning and her
sister , Mrs. Dcane. Yesterday she denied
that she purchased ( he handkerchief sent
Mr * Dunnlns's Htllo daughter , or that sh
purchased nny candy from Haas' store , from
which -the candy came.
Woman's Work. .
COVINGTON , Mo. , Jan. 29.
I could not do my housework -
work when I commenced to
take Wine of Cardui , but 1
can do it all now , and have
gained nine pounds in weight.
I think it is a fine medicine ,
MRS. W. C FOSTER.
The woman who goes about her homework , ilngtag and
nlllng , with the ruddy alow of health upon her cheeks , U a sub
ject for a painter * * masterpiece. There 1 $ no more Inspiring
slant on the earth. But there arc thousand ! of housewives tortured -
tured and broken down with diseases and drains peculiar to
women. Many of them are utterly unable to do their hou *
work. They drag out a miserable existence ! working away a *
well as their strength allows. For these women there ls hope In
Wine of Cardui , that long-tried and almost infallible vegetable
cure for irregular menstruation , leucorrhoea , falling of the womb ,
headache , backache , and the lena line of diseases of a kindred
nature. The above statement ol Mrs. Foster Is a message of
hope to her suffering sisters.
LAMES' ADVISORY DEPARTMENT. Will they go and do likewise ?
ttor idvlc * la ou requiring ipe- Will they continue to be mar-
1 l direction ! , ildro i , rlTlniljmp-
tarai. LaMif AAntonDtfortintnt , tyn when Wine of Cardui
The Cb U oo M cUcl eOo. them ? It
CbiUaooot , T nn. Is ready to rescue
Is for them to decide.
The Price for a Large Bottle Is $1.00. At Drug Store * .
luugandthi-nnttiuulilex. bend ( or proof of It. ' It dues uot'alckcn or disagree
with the stomach. Sate tor all ages.
Dr. Kay's Lung Balm.
Wrlto us , Giving nil symptoms plalolr and our Physician will give
FKEK ADVICKi fiS-i ) K "ouk of Sold liy UruggUt * or ncnt by .mall ,
recipes nnd 11 FREE SAMPLE. Price , 1O cent * lid 35 cent * .
Addroj Dr. B. J. KAY MEDICAL CO. , ( WrslernOffice ) Omaha , Neb.
"THE MORE YOU SAY THE LESS PEOPLE
( REMEMBER. " ONE WORD WITH YOU
SAPOLIO
* V
FOR A HISTORY
OF THE EXPOSITION P&
*
T * ? The Bees souvenir editions together
If contain a complete history of the great
jg * enterprise , illustrated with beautiful |
" half-tone engravings. We have a few *
copies left of the
( Junt 1st )
$ -iu Peaca Jubilsa Editions
for
They contain pictures of the Grand
-Court , the illumination , the build
ings , the midway , all the officers , the vL
directors , the Indian camp and sham % "
battles , McKinley , his cabinet , the
heros of the war all about the Peace
Jubilee all about the Exposition.
The Bos Publishing Co. ,
Omaha.