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Show t 1 fT5! BADDY'S tiM Mary Graham Bcnnsr KINDLY SNAKES The snakes did not talk In sounds j such as we make, nor such as even animals make. Their sounds were hissing sounds, and little signs by w h 1 c h they had the means of speaking to each other. But some of their talk will be translated trans-lated into the words we all know and understand. "Curious creatures, crea-tures, people." snld Mr. Garter Snake. "Very curious," said Master Garter "Very Curious," Snake. ' Said Master Gar- "Tliere are about ter Snake. 0 , "s 'i6 'e together," Mr. Garter Gar-ter Snake continued, "and we do not quarrel. They could have any number of us here together and we would not quarrel. "Of course we do not care for snakes of another species as our ways are different. "But you can put any number of snakes together, the keeper says, of the same species of snakes and they will never fight. "You could even put thirty rattlesnakes rattle-snakes together; or dangerous cotton-mouth cotton-mouth moccasin snakes together and they would not hurt each other, nor would they fight, nor would they quarrel. "Yet people come to the zoo and they will have arguments with each other. "They will say unkind things to each other. They will talk about each other. "And then they will say In so superior su-perior and proud a way: " 'Cgh, look at those ugly, squirming squirm-ing snakes. How dreadful they are.' "They talk about us, which Is perhaps per-haps to be understood. They aren't snakes and they don't understand snakes. "But they talk about each other. They will say: " 'I'm mad at Betty. She was so mean to me the other day. I'm not speaking to her.' "Or they will say: " 'Yes, she has always been my friend but the other day i thought she might have come around when I asked her to but she said she was busy so I don't like her any more.' "And it seems strange that they don't notice us and say : " 'Look at those garter snakes. How many of them there are together.' " 'Look at all those dangerous cot-tonmouth cot-tonmouth moccasin snakes together. They do not seem to be hurting each other.' " 'Look at those many, many snakes together. Isn't it remarkable how gentle gen-tle and kindly they are with each other.' "But no, they look down upon us and they quarrel with each other, which we won't do. "We know how to get along together. to-gether. We won't do anything unkind to one another. "Yet people think they're so fine and that we're Just too dreadful for words. "They don't think there is anything bad enough to say about us. "Of course they don't all think this way but many do. "I do wish they would notice us, all so friendly as we rest here together. "They notice us and say that we are dreadful looking but it seems to me that they should follow one example exam-ple set by snakes. "Yes, It seems to me they should do that." And the other snakes said : "Hiss, hiss, It seems to us the same way." This is true. Snakes may have others for enemies and the dangerous ones of one species may not get along with those of an- nthop anoniao But any number rhe Wi" Hav of snakes may be Arguments, kept together of one family and they will never be anything any-thing but gentle and kindly with one another. So, after all, almost every creature has its good points. |