To this strange man’s home the writer called a few day§ ago, and was immediately conducted to Mr. Stanley’s office. When I entered Mr. Stanley was the sole visible occupant, and he greeted me cordially.

Immediately following mutual introduction the conversation turned upon snakes a subject in which the host soon proved himself perfectly at home.

After a somewhat lengthy dissertation about the many different species of reptiles, I interrupted him with the question :

‘ ‘ Have you any live snakes now in your possession ? ’ ’

“ Several,” was the prompt answer.

Then to my amazement and horror he opened a box and took out two large rattle snakes.

“ These are my especial pets ” exclaimed Mr. Stanley.

“ Are you not afraid of being bitten ? ” I inquired in awe-stricken

tones from my vantage seat behind a sofa.

‘ ‘ Not in the slightest. ’ ’ I have been bitten by snakes time and again, with their glands full of poison. The reason I am not dead is because I have a cure for snake-bite, and I have never known it to fail.

“Snakes,” continued Mr. Stanley, “ are like other animals.” If you are not afraid of them they are not afraid of you. If you shrink from them, they will strike at you, and sometimes pursue a man. But, if one shows himself not afraid, they are mastered, and will subject themselves to any treatment short of injury.

“ Yes, I’ve been bitten hundreds of times. Took here! ” holding out his hands, which were covered far up at the wrists with little white scars. “ Everyone of those is a snake-bite, some poisonous, some not.”

“ There is not the lightest use in extracting a snake’s fangs, for no snake exists which will not grow a new fang in forty-eight hours. Why, the rattlers produce a brand new fang in thirty-six hours.”

Mr. Stanley has among his collection several species of snakes which he has for exhibition purposes, all under six feet in length, which he only feeds once in every six weeks, but gives water every day.

“ Have you any other snakes ? ” I asked, Mr. Stanley. “ Certainly.”

“ May I see them ? ” I asked, as I emerged from the protection of

the sofa.

The lid of a box was opened and I gazed, with my hair standing on

end “ like quills upon the fretful porcupine.”

The life and adventures of the American cow-boy : life in the Far West / by Clark Stanley, better known as the Rattle-snake King. : Stanley, Clark. : Free Download,...