Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1889 — THE MAID AND THE VIPER. [ARTICLE]

THE MAID AND THE VIPER.

An Exciting and Painful Experience witl a Snake. In the family of a settler who reside* some half a league from Paramctta was an invalid daughter of an extremely nervous temperament. She was sleeping one summer afternoon in a hammock swung between two standards in the shade of the piazza, when she was suddenly awakened by feeling something cold and moist clinging about hCr throat. She-put her hand to the spot and clasped the body of a snake just back of the head, and, with & horrified cry, wrenched with all het strength to wrench it away. This wastue first instinctive action of the moment, but so great was her terror that she speedily lost all consciousness of her position. Her baud, however, still grapsed the snake where she had first seized it, and with such convulsive force that the creature was rendered powerless. The cry of the terrified girl brought the father from with in the house, who instantly came to her relief; but in the fit which her fright in duced her hand slowly contracted about the creature’s throat with a force Which she could not possibly have exerted when awake, and, before her fingers were unclasped by the aid of a bit of hammock cord the reptile was completely strangled Fortunately the creature had not bitten the girl before she seized it and after that it was unable to do so. It is said to have been four feet long and of a jyoisonoui species. . ' < • Dumas. ‘ The daily life of. Alexander Dumas is a model of regularity. He is out of bed nt 6:39 in summer and not later than 7 o’clock in the winter. His first breakfast consists solely of a glass of milk, and the second which occurs at noon, is a very plain meal. He dines at 7 and is usually in bed by 10. ’ Every day he takes a walk of some length. All his work is done before 4 o’clock in th* afternoon.