Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 165, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1916 — STORIES from the BIG CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORIES from the BIG CITIES

Why Snakes Roamed in Classic Chicago Suburb

CHICAGO. —It was Main street, Evanston, the classic suburb of this city. It was after midnight—some minutes past the time when a great industry In Chicago closes up for a day. The thick-set man was ambling slowly along the walk, at peace with the world. He

was even singing. Suddenly he stopped; a small garter snake had wriggled across his path. The song ended. The man closed his eyes, and laughed foolishly. Then he opened them again. This time there were two snakes on the walk. The man threw his hat at them, Janghed nervously, and walked on. And every few feet he saw more snakes.

Three college students, walking arm in arm, exuberant vocally, stared stupidly at the snakes, turned and ran. A thin man with his hat askew screamed that he was bitten. The reason? —The “tub scouts”—the boys of the block, annoyed at the regular Saturday night and Sunday morning demonstrations on Main street, collected two pails of snakes Saturday morning and put them to work.