The Sunday Oregonian., August 10, 1902, PART FOUR, Page 29, Image 29

THE SUNDAY OKEGONIAN, PORTLAND, AUGUST 10, 1902.
29
FROM LADDERMAN TO DEPUTY-CHIEF
Chapter IV.
17 OU'aiE that crack driver Cress Is
V "blowing about, aren't you?"
Dan Halo blushed redly. "I
don't know that I'm a crack," he s.ald
modestly, "but the chief says I can drive."
He looked straight Into the twinkling eyes
of Adams, president and faculty of the
School of Firemen, and something in the
fc-arlcss gaze pleased the veteran. He
slapped Dan on the back.
"Well, Hale," he raid, "you keep at
work and we'll makeyou something bet
tera crack life-saver. What's the weight
and height?"
"I'm Ave feet nine and I weigh 160."
"That's good! You're just the build for
a ladderman and If you work out, you
ought to get the medal, the Victoria cross
of the department. The medical examiner
marked you 95. Now look about for a
couple of minutes till school is called."
This happened on the morning after
Dan's first day in the department, and-tno
scene was the rear of headquarters. A
five-story building faced the yard and at
tho base a net was stretched to catch the
men In case they fell. All sorts of ladders I
lay about, and even an old engine stood
under a shed.
Here every man put In six hours a day
for 30 days of his three-months' probation.
During the rest of the 21 hours the men
were assigned to the various houses where
they took part In the routino life.
The 14 new men made up the class, most
of them older than Dan, though several
were not yet 25. The chief had a theory
that tho younger men fitted best into the
service
When Adams reappeared before them, in
place of the natty uniform he had worn
(as chief instructor, he ranked with the.
battalion chiefs) he had on a faded suit.
About his waist was a broad leather belt,
elx Inches wldo and double strapped. At
tho back were two loops, while in front
was a snap hook five inches long. On his
arm he carried a number of these belts,
which he threw on the ground before him.
"This." he explained, "is a life belt. You
never go up a ladder or enter a house un
less you have one on. It's a third hand,
and as useful as a monkey :s tail. If you
are on a ladder you hook this on a rung
and have "both hands free. If you are
standing on a fire escape you hook on that.
You can use it anyway. When needed an
ax Is carried in a loop at the back. Now
put them on, and strap 'em tight."
The men, laughing at each other's ap
pearance, buckled on the bolts, and Adams
led the way to the net. He swung up as
easily as a circus acrobat and balanced
on the yielding surface like a rope-walker.
The men fell all over tho net, to the
amusement of the old men of the engine
company stationed at headquarters. Soon
they caught the knack of balancing on the
r.et, and the scaling of life-saving ladders,
the alphabet of the firemen, were then
passed up.
These were poles from 12 to 18 feet long,
with a hook at tho end 2& feet long at
the top. The hook was notched, to en
able it to grip a sill, and on either side
of the poles were pegs to serve as rungs.
"This," explained Adams, "is the easiest
way to climb. If a window is down Jab
it through the glass. If it's up rest it on
the sill, but be sure that the notches bite
into the wood. Then climb up, straddle
the sill, raise the ladder to the next win
dow and make the next story. Now try
it"
As Adams worked It looked easy enough,
but it proved no Joke to handle the heavy
pole, and it was 10 minutes before any
one got it right. Dan was first to catch
the knack, and was about to climb when
Adams stopped him. "That will do," he
said, "let Horton try."
Horton was a longshoreman, who made
up In strength what he lacked in skill.
He succeeded in fastening the hook, "but
when he reached the window he sat calm-
STUMPY'S WONDERFUL
NE day, when the winds were blow
ing wild, Stumpy climbed up to the
attic where his left-over play
things were kept and brought out two
of last year's kites. Then he found some
strong, dry wood, and set to work to
make the frame for a monster. Tho pa
per from the old kites was a deep blue,
light as tissue papor, but nearly as
sirong as linen. He bought a neyj ball
of twine, so tough he could not break It.
The brldgo-cords and the tail were at
tached carefully, a large white star was
pasted on each corner, and the kite was
done. Sir Thomas Liptpn himself was
not prouder of his yacht than Stumpy
was of his kite.
The first breezy day it had its trial
trip. What a success it was! Graceful
and steady, it roso with never a dip nor
a dive. With even a mild wind Stumpy
could hardly hold It. He was only a
little fellow, anyway, very slondor and
small for his" years. That Is why the
boys called him Stumpy. After flying
the klto a few times he found that by
tying the cord to a small cart he had
the kite, would draw him along.
Now Stumpy's home was at tho foot
of a high hill that reached away to tho
west Many and many a time he had
watched the sun go down behind it and
had wondered what there- was on the
other side. One fine Summer afternoon
he and some older folks had taken a
walk to the top of the hill, and beyond
It Stumpy saw wide fields, tall woods, a
deep valley, and then more nills that
were higher yet, and so far eway that
they looked blue lo tho distance. Then
camo the question what could there be
beyond them?
When Stumpy found out what a won
derful kite ho had he began to think
it would be fine fun to fly it from tho
top of the big hllL The more he thought
about it the more he wished to try It.
He was almost certain he would not be
allowed to go if he should ask, so ho
said nothing. Indeed, ho did not mean
to go, but ho did keep thinking about
it
One day, when there was almost a
gale, Stumpy took his kite and his cart,
and, going around behind tho barn, he
started slowly up the hill, intending to
go only part of the way. The farthor he
went the less he was Inclined to stop.
Tho truth is he did not stop until he
reached the very top, nearly a mile from
home. It was lonely enough up there,
and the wind almost carried him away.
Then Stumpy thought of his kite. He
would try it Just once, now that he had
gone so far. and afterward he would
hurry back home , before he should be
missed. The wind' took the kite straight
off toward the blue hills, far away in
the west, and almost before he knew it
the cord was all run out. By some
good luck a loop in the end caught a
little hook in front of the cart, and by
good luck. too. the boy sat down Just
as the cart began to move. .
You will hardly believe that the. kite
lifted cart. Stumpy . and all, right off
the ground, and took them sailing
through the air! People ran out of their
houses to gazo at the sight. It was
Joiiy fun until Stumpy happened to
th.nk of his, wee pet rabbits at home
with nothing to eat. Then ho was sol
sorry ho had come that 'he nearly cried. I
STORY OF A FIGHTER OF FIRES
BY EPES WTTHROP SARGENT
JUST AS HER STRAINED HATtDS RELEASED THEIR GRASP, HE CAUGHT HER ABOUT THE WAIST.
d :
ly on the sill with both feet hanging over.
"Straddle!" shouted Adams, and when
Horton seemed bewildered he turned to
Dan:
"Go up there. Hale, and show him."
Dan set his ladder, and climbing a lit
tle awkwardly, reached Horton. Throwing
one leg inside the window, ho quickly
raised the ladder to the second floor, and,
standing up, made the third floor. Here
he- sat watching the others till they were
ablo to set the ladder and slowly make
their way up the side of the house.
Racing was not pormitfed, but when
Dan and Horton started bn different win
dows, Horton, who was jealous of Dan's
skill, gave him a look that roused the
young fellow's ire. With a rush they -went
at It, but Horton was green, and Dan was
sitting in the window of the fifth floor
when Horton had barely reached the
fourth. If Adams saw the raco he gave no
sign.
Bit by bit the men were led through the
drill. They wore taught to slide down a
rope when there was no' time for a ladder.
They had to carry down the stuffed figure
of a man. and a series of demonstrations
showed that the prdper way was to have
the weight resting on the left shoulder.
Then they 'rescued each other, and
learned how to swing from one window to
another, to raise ladders, to carry hose up
a building, and to build chains of scaling
ladders, each man carrying his own ladder
and swarming up those already placed.
Adams regarded Dan as his star per
former. He had not only the advantage
of flexibility, but he was more familiar
with the work. He made rapid progress.
ana one aay wnen corbyn, the chief of
the department, entered- the yard to look
Almost before he knew It Stumpy was
near the tops of the far-away hills that
he had wondered about so much. They
wore higher, than any he had ever seen
before, and in most places were tfcovored
with woods. Ho noticed that his kite
was letting him gently down to the
ground. He sa'w, too, that ho was go
ing to land right near a log cabin such
as he had read about in his story books.
If the cart had been one of Santos Du
mont's regular flying machines, and
had been steered straight toward a hay
stack at one side of the lot. It could
Ever- skin In. the room Tra
the subject for a tory.
not have done much better than It did.
It bumped against the stack, and tipped
Stumpy out. The cart might have gone
rattling on alone, except for a big man,
who came running out of the cabin in
time to catch Stumpy with one hand
and the cart with the other.
"Well! Youngster, that beats any kite
I ever see or ever heard tell of. I've
been huntln' these mountains for nigh
30 year, and never yet see such an odd
lookln' bird as you be. I reckon you'll
want to come and rest your wings a
while, won't ye? I'll' haul in your kite
and wind up your cord for ye. Whit
taker! How she do pull! No wonder she
carried ye right through the alri boy.
Luck enough to land here, too, when
ye might just as, easy have dropped
plump by the den of some hungry old
bear."
"Where am I?" whimpered Stumpy. Tho
great cap. the hairy coat, the heavy, high
boots and. worst of all, a big knife in the
man's belt, were enough to frighten any
little fellow, and It is no use to siy
Stumpy was not afraid. Still the rough
man's eyes were kind, and even his voice
had something to it that made Stumpy
sure ho was not going to be eaten up.
When the kite was hauled in they went
together to tho cabin. On the floor in
front of the fire there were large skins
of wild animals; another covered the scat
and bick of a chair that was set for
Stumpy. The man himself stood by th
chimney, looking as if ho didn't know
HOW DAN HALE WON THE "THREE TRUMPETS."
over the new material, he nodded ap
provingly to Adams as Dan made a partic
ularly pretty display.
"There's a likely chap-. Who is he?"
"Hale. He's with 9 engine."
"Well, we'll have to keep an eye on him
and put him with a truck. He'll work
well with the ladders."
When Dan left the training school Ad
ams shook him warmly by the hand.
"You'll do me credit, boy," he said. ' v-ome
up and Bee an old man sometimes."
That very night there was n fire around
the corner from the house, Gordon's gro
cery burned llkcttlnder. Imperiling the lives
of the tenants overhead. It was a new
building, five stories high, flanked on
either side by low two-story buildings. By
the time the engine had dashed up the
two lower floors were ablaze. The ten
ants overhead were huddled In the street
bewailing their losses.
Dan, by this time, could turn out with
the beat of them. He was the first off the
tender as it drew up at the hydrant, and
It was he who seized the hose and paid
it out as the cart went down to the fire.
By the time the hose coupling was com
pleted Old 9 fairly shook the street with
the vibration of the heavy machinery.
At this Instant a frightened cry arose
from yie crowd. In the fourth-story win
dow, old Mrs. Callahan Tvas preparing to
Jump. The truckmen rushed for the life
net which Is carried on. every piece of ap
paratus, but before they Could stretch it.
Dan had seized a scaling ladder. Though
the flames were showing through the second-story
window, he fastened It In the
sill. Up he went, and when he swung his
leg over the sill he could feel the fierce
fceat No. 8 had a second line of hose by
KITE
IT DRAGGED HIM OFF A HILL AND BORE HIM
TO THE LAND OF BEARS AND PANTHERS
whether he was more amuzed or puzzled.
Then ho happened to think the boy must"
be hungry, so he brought him a big piece
of bread and meat. Oh. how good it
tasted')- In 10 minutes after eating Stumpy
was fast asleep. v
When he awoke it was nearly dark. His
eyes opened wide and looked in wonder
about the little cabin. Again ho asked,
"Where am I?"
"It's easy enough to tell where you be,
youngster, but what bothers me is to
knowj"who you be and where you came
from. Just now you aro In 'Dave Barton's
cabin, 'way up on the Ramapo Mount
ains. I have hunted here nigh as long as
anybody can remember. Everyone" 'round
here knows Dave Barton and his dog Nig.
I guess even the bear and wildcats from
Big Knob down to Black- Gully have
heard tell of us. You Just call me Uncle
Dave. But lawsy, boy, where did yo.u
come from, and how did you happen to do
It? I reckon ye hardly know. What Is
your name?"
"Stumpy."
"That fits ye fine. Well, Stumgy, where
did ye. fly from?" f -
"I flew my kite frbm the top of the high
hill. Mamma doesn't know I went up
there, and I haven't fed my rabbits,
either. I want to go home. Uncle Dave."
Tho tears started from his eyes. Nig,
who seemed to know something was
wrong, came and1 laid his I chin on
Stumpy's knee. So they became acquaint
ed, and so Stumpy forgot his rabbits and
his tears.
"Now, Stumpy,"" said Undo Dave, "you
stay with me and Nig tonight. We'll keop
you safe and tell you all the bear stories
you want to hear. Tomorrow we'll start
you off for home."
Stumpy slid out of his big chair, and
was soon Interested in the guns, powder
horns, shot bag, cartridge belt hunting
knife, deer horns, bear claws and the like
that he saw about the room. After sup
per ho began toask questions. Every
skin in the room was the subject for a
stnrr Vlr. on.1 Cf ... -
Uncle Dave was in the big chair, smoking
his pipe, and telling how he had caught
tho different animals.
Here was the skin of a panther that
came prowling .around a campflre one
night away back in tho woods. Nig had
gone after it In the darkness, . but had
COtu c badIy whPPed ana covered
with blood. Undo Dave watched for a
long time, until at last he saw In the
darkness two flery spots that ho knew
must be the panther's eyes. Aiming his
rifle as best he could, he fired. There
wasn't another sound all night Next
morning the panther was found lying at
full length 40 feet from the camp. Uncle
Davo let Stumpy put his Angers through
& ouu Miumui rtcio an ino noor.
. u ""ure "le ouuet passed.
nrtrn
that time, and as he again raised the lad
der a stream was sent In through an ad
Joining window, drenching out the flame
for a moment. This gave him a chance to
work more quickly. Up he went, as stead
ily as if he were at school.
Mrs. Callahan, crazed with fright, 'was
hanging from the window sill by her
hands. At last Dan threw, the hook Into
the 'sill beside her. Going half way up he
snapped the hook on the ladder, and Just
as her strained hands released their grasp
he cUght her about the waist. In another
moment a 35-foot ladder was raised, and
she was carried down.
When the report of tho fire went in.
Cross wrote in the section of the printed
form devoted to "remarks":
"Probationary firemen Daniel Hale, of
engine company 9 rescued Mrs. Dennis
Callahan, aged 45 years, from the fourth-
floor window In the following manner
Upon the arrival of hook and ladder com
pany 4 he seized a scaling ladder and im
mediately climbed tho front of the build
lng. and on reaching tho window of the
fourth floor Mrs. Callahan was taken out
and carried down to the third floor and
passed "to flreman Henderson, of hook and
ladder company 4, who was on the "35-foot
ladder raised by that company and by
him she was taken down the ladder to the
street.
"I respectfully Tecommend that the name
of probationary fireman Daniel Hale bo
placed upon the roll of-honor for personal
risk. I would further recommend that he
bo transferred to tho hook and ladder
branch of the service, because of his abil
ity as a life-saver."
Dan-'s first step upward had been tak
en.
(Copyrighted. 1902.)
Uncle Dave, "belonged to the biggest
bear I ever caught, and the keenest one,
t,oo. I knew from his tracks that he was
around, but.lt was a good while before I
got a shot at hlrb. Nig see him before I
did) but knowed better than to flght hlra
alone. At lasUl got a shot at him one
day as he was comin' across the clearln'.
Tho wind was blowln' my way, eo ho
couldn't scent me. I was In tho woods
and thought I had him sure. It was a
fair shot with; a good aim; but, young
ster, that bear Just shook his head, gave'
an jigly growl, turned a little bit to one
side .and trotted off into the woods. Then
I commenced a-settla' traps for him. Ho
i .
snapped the traps every time and got tho
bait At last I got an extra big trap. It
was not easy to spring, and that fooled
him. r reckon he slammed It about until
he thought the danger was all slammed
out of it and then put his paw in for the
bait Well, Stumpy, he was a caught
bear, but he wasn't my bear yet He Just
went off with the trap, chain, log and all.
Nig showed me the way he went, and wa
finally found him near his den, where tho
A
'iirr iKzx ukj: ycvkexo ctoqs
TOE
f ; -j i
Sailing: throakh the air.
.
cliff, ready fo flght It out Nig went at
him, but one blow from the big paw sent
him rolling. Then It was my turn. If he
had been just i little wise he might have
known that my first bullet would find Kis
heart" ' "
"Poor fellows," said Stumpy, stroking
the fine long fur.- "Is'nt it cruel to kill
them. Uncle Dave?"
"Well, you may think so, youngster,
but you know I'm a hunter."
Before the next story was over
Stumpy was asleep. Uncle Dave put a
light covering over him, and there he
slept all night as snug as if he had been
in his own little bed, carefully tucked in
by his mamma.
The next day. In the afternoon. Uncle
Dave and Stumpy walked down the
mountain side, across the wide valley and
up the hill on tho other side. Tho wind
was blowing the right way to carry
Stumpy home now, and they soon had
the kite in the air. It pulled all Uncle
Dave wanted to hold. "Quick, youngster;
thero you go. Come and see me again
some time. Good-bye!"
"Good-bye, Uncle Dave!" shouted
Stumpy, while the cart bounced along
over the fields. Barely had he reached
the top of the hill when the cord broke.
It Is not easy to toll, nor even to guess,
what might have happened If It had brok
en sooner. Now the cart ran of itself
down the hill, and Stumpy was soon at
the back door of his own home. Somo
how he thought the best thing to do was
to go straight up the back stairs to bed.
Porhaps his mammi would find him there
next morning safe and sound. And so
she did. Nobody ever asked him where he
had been the day before, and for the long
est time Stumpy kept tho secret all to
himself.
RABBIT TELLS THE
- BOY A STORY
"WHY HIS HIND LEGS ARE SO
LONG, AND WHY HE
HAS NO TAIL
4( 7 0U should understand," began th,o
JL rabbit as he ceased hopping
about and eat down In front of the boy,
"that a rabbit is not a har.e, although
many people speak of him as such. A
hare is much larger than a rabbit and
has longer ears and legs In proportion.
The two differ also in what they like to
eat And you should know ' that tho
American rabbit differs from tho Eng
lish and Australian rabbit being smaller
In size, far more active, and preferring a
home In a hollow log to a burrow in. the
earth."
"I never could understand why a rab
bit's hind legs were the longest," said
the boy as the habblt paused.
wen, I will tell you. Tho rabbit is
no fighter. He is. a 'runner instead. He
can bite you hard enough if you take
hold of him, as his teeth are sharp and
strong, but he won't stop to bite if he
can get away. His long hind legs not
only enable him to outrun mosfdogs, but
to spring over logs and brush heaps and
whatever else may be In the way. And
there's another thing. Tho rabbit has
so many enemies that he must always be
on his guard, and his long hind legs per
mlt him to get his head above the grass
ana iook arouna. His eyesight Is very
sharp, and his hearing is acute, and ho
can smell danger ten times as far as you
can smell smoke. If I hadn't wanted to
talk to you you couldn't have approached
wiuun nair a mile of me."
"But why are rabbits bob-tailed?
ubtvcu me ooy. "ine 'coon, possum.
woodchuck, fox and other animals have
long tails."
"It is because he Is a runner," replied
the rabbit "The 'coon and 'possum and
squirrel are climbers, and tho woodchuck
is a digger. If a rabbit had a fong tail
it would be a nuisance to him in the
thick grass and bushes. The fox, who
has a long tail. Is both a runner and a
digger, but In a fair run I can beat him
all to pieces. If he ever catches a rab
bit It Is by.vSly work. We make our
homes mostfy In hollow logs, and If we
had long tails they might catch and
hold us. One time a for who ran me
Into a hollow log and went in after me
caught his tall on a silver and was held
fast until he starved to death."
"What enemies do you have?"
"Well, there' are tho hawk, the owl,
tho fox, the dog, the wolf, and man him
self. Of course, 'there are no wolves
around now, except in tho far West, hut
the other enemies keep me busy. The
hawk, the dog and man are on the look
out for me by day, while the fox and the
owl are watching for me at night The
hawk catches sight of mo as he sails in
the air. so high that you can hardly
make him out and down ho drops like a
bullet Sometimes vthe rabbit escapes be
ing hit by dashing into the bushes, but
ho is not always- lucky. The owl is much
to bo dreadea. He sits quietly on the
limb of a trco or the roof, of k. barn, and
when he makes his dash a rabbit has to
be a good dodger and runner to escape
him. Twice in my life an owl has knocked
me over, but both times I escaped him.
As for the fox, if he does not catch his
rabbit as it comes out of a log, or can
sneak softly up when it Is feeding, he
will get none at all.
"And what do you eat?" asked the boy.
"Our favorlto food is the bark of young
applo trees, and there Is no doubt we
often do great damage to fruitgrowers,
dul we cat tne leaves of cabbages, tur
nips, carrots, parsnips and celery, where
a garden Is handy, and when not we get
along on thistle, dandelion, chlckweed,
catnip and other plants. I have many a
time made a good meal of an ear of corn
or nave nibbled at armies. The ratahlf
can find food wherever he coes. Winter
or Summer. The only bad times for him
are when the snow Is so deep that
he can't go about He then digs down
to the frozen earth and nibbles at the roots
of weeds and grasses."
"You havo nice, soft fur," said the
boy, as he bent over and stroked the
rabbit
"Yes; and that's why men hunt me as
they do." replied Bunny, i "In tho first
place, the furrier makes three or four
kinds out of my fur, all to bo sold under
false names and for a good price, and In
the next all the best felt hats, both for
men and women, are made from my hair.
I don't believe you know that but any
hatter will tell you so. My Bkln Is made
Into gloves, belts, pocketbooks, etc., and
any scraps left over go into the glue-pot
As an article of food I am worth 25 cents
or more, but with my pelt and all my
value is half a dollar and more. That's1
all today. I haven't had any dinner yet
and must hop about after it and I think
youra is ready at home. Next time you
come to see me I'll tell you why a rabbit's
foot is considered lucky."
Bip eccaHc 0.0 lie ctrrriNd cnet.
WTrra pjiovsp 30 aFcuoJifs-AWDic?iT
ykxc rrsftcK tut ths mptmofr blad; roTUssi
TO MAKE A VIVARIUM
NOW IS THE TIME TO START A HOME
FOR TINY WILD CREATURES
ONE of the most delightful things
for boys or girls to own 13 a viva
rium. Viewed purely as a toy, it
makes tho most satisfying kind of one.
But unlike ordinary toys or games, the
owner never grows tired of It For be
hind the glass front of the vivarium tho
mystery of life unfolds Itself constantly
and shows itself in. all Its phases.
The vivarium simply is a cage only,
with glass to take the place of bars. A
large aquarium of the ordinary square
kind will answer nicely If it is covered
with wire netting. But a more satis
factory way is to make a vivarium to
suit one's self.
The interior should be arranged to re
semble a small forest The bottom should
be covered an inch or two with coarso
gravel, pieces of broken brick or crock
ery about the size of a pigeon's egg.
Old corks will answer the purpose. The
object 13 to get proper drainage. What
ever Is used should be covered with
spagnum mess, to be had from any flor
ist for a few cents. This keeps the soli
from working down among the broken
pieces. Cover this spagnum with two or
three Inches of well-rotted leaf-mold, to
be found In any piece of woods. A min
iature tree can be used In tho center or
placed artistically at one side, or a limb
can be cut and placed to resemble a dead
tree for tho animals to climb. Stones
covered with moss can be found in the
woods, and a lake should be arranged
with a prety pebble bottom, to be mada
by depressing into the soil a china or
enameled-ware dish, the edge carefully
concealed with moss.
A convenient size for a vivarium Is 3
feet long, about 20 inches wide and 2 feet
high. Four wooden pillars will bo re
quired for the corners, into which the
glass sides and ends are inserted. An
old broomstick answers the purpose very
well. Cut the pillars Into the desired
lengths, and cut two grooves the whole
length of the pillars and at right angles
with each other. Or, the pillars may b
square, of any well-seasoned wood, th&.
grooves being cut with a chisel or plane.
Make two woo'den frames, mlterlng the
corners, with grooves on all four sides,
to hold the top and bottom of the glass.
Tho glass Is inserted In the grooves of
tho frames, and the ends of the glass in
the grooves In tho pillars. The frames are
THE FINISHED VIVARIUM.
then screwed or nailed to the top and
bottom of the four pillars that hold the
frames in place.
The pillars may be mada of pieces of
zinc bent In "L," shape, and nailed to the
top and bottom of the frames. If zinc
pillars are used, four narjow pieces of
wood, one for each corner, about one
half Inch square, running from the top
frame to the bottom, and fastened at
both ends to tho frame, will hold the
glass In place, and the outside edges may
be covered in the same way, so that no
grooves will be required.
Tho case must be provided with an
easily movable lid. Make a light frame
of four narrow pieces, to fit exactly into
the top of the case, and over this frame
fit a piece of zinc, neatly perforated for
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Parts of vivarium and imple
ment! for capturing speci
mens. ventilation. The zlne should t
a quarter of an Inch all around larger
man xne irame, to prevent the lid from
falllnvr Into tho ease, nnrt th nntmnio nr-
insects Inclosed for them to eat from get
ting out.
In tho center cut n. round hnlf fnrr n
Ave Inches in diameter, and to the under
side solder a nleeo at fin rolr nttin
completely covering tho hole.
a. piece or zinc somewhat larger than
this oneninir hole should he rlvtori tn it
on the unner side, so that th tinl ran
be partly or entirely closed, in order to
reguiaxe uie neat ana moisture. The cov
er frame can be kent in nine hv
screw hook at each end of the case.
The bottom should be made of two or
three matched boards. Rs
to select well-seasoned wood.
knots. I
In a well-heated hotiK n mm nf Mo
kind needs no artificial hnt hut- tn
cold climates, or where the room Is not
weu ncated. a tin boiler made from any
good-sized can mav hi fastVni tn
bottom of the case and heated by a little
lamp like the arrangement of the heat
ing apparatus in an Incubator.
Lizards should have access to the rays
of the sun. and also must have covering
unuer wnica mey can retire. Frogs,
I 5 X
it
A
toads and newts must have plenty of
clean water, shade and somo sun. Be
careful not to place in the same case ani
mals which live in ftyir of each other.
Frogs and toads should not be confined
with certain snakes, nor lizards with
large bullfrogs.
Vivariums used as fern-cases must be
particularly well drained and ventilated.
When watering, sprinkle gently, so there
will be no surplus to drain off on the
bottom. If it is desired to sprinkle freely,
a hole or two should be bored In the bot
tom of the case, and. after watering, a
pan or pall placed to catch the drip.
Small ferns and plants can be obtained
in the woods to fill the case, selecting
plants that suit the fancy, such as maid
enhair ferns, tradescantla. etc.. and tho
nearest florist will supply both ferns and
plants for those who choose to get them
In this way.
Abutilons give the appearance, of a min
iature maple tree, and other plants sup
plied by the florist can be used as de
sired to complete the arrangement such
as farfugium. begonias, cyperus or um
brella plant, rubber plants, marantas and
small palms; orange and lemon trees aro
also suitable. The soil can bo completely
covercd with moss between the plants,
adding greatly to the appearance of tho
case.
Our green-spotted garter snake Hve3
well In confinement where it will occa
sionally breed, the young being produced
alive. There are many varieties of this
snake, and when full grown they aro
about three feet long. Their food is frogs,
lizards and small toads. The black snake,
a beautiful and common Teptile. and, on
account of its unusual activity, called
the "racer." Is most Interesting in captiv
ity. The king snake is a great favorite;
and one of the best for the beginner;
Jt is easily tamed and very beautiful, hav
ing the appearance of a piece of old ivory.
Milk snakes are good also.
When staging on an expedition to col
lect specimens, a meal bag and stout cord
should be carried. AVhen a snake is seen
in the grass or among the bushes pull It
out into an open space with a forked
stick. This forked sticked is shown in tho
Illustration, as is the "snake stick."
which is made by fastening a strap to
the bottom of a long stick, passed through
a hole and reaching to the other end. The
hole is made slantlnir sn tho tmn will
1 draw up easily. The snake Is held by
pinioning with the forked stick so the
loop of the snake stick can be slipped
over his head. Then the strap Is drawn
tight and tho captive Is held firmly and
safely.
Noosing and unnooslng the captive thu3
can be accomplished by drawing up and
loosening the strap, without touching tho
animal. Vicious and poisonous snakes
are handled In zoological gardens In this
way.
No animals. In their manner of taking
food, are more capricious than snakes;
sometimes they seem ravenous and will
take food In enormous quantities, and
sometimes they will refuse to eat until
they die of starvation. This difficulty oc
casionally Is overcome by artificial feed
ing, and many after artificial feeding re
cover their appetites, taking their regular
rations again. Sometimes the mouth la
opened forcibly and a small animal, dip
ped in milk. .Is forced down the throat
and then worked down the gullet by the
manipulation of the fingers. Another plan
13 to givo pieces of meat or portions of
animals, dipped in milk and pushed down
the snake's throat with a smooth stick.
Another plan is to fill a tube with suit
able food, pass tho tube down the gullet
of the reptile and then the contents of th&.
tube are discharged by means of a stick
which Just fits the tube, and is used as a
ramrod to force tho food from the tube
into the reptile. Tho tubes can tie filled
with chopped meat.
While snakes aro tho most common in
mates of vivariums, there are so many
dainty and beautiful little creatures in
almost all woods whero there are pond3
that there Is no reason why the beginner
should bother with snakes at all. A
charming vivarium that the writer saw
contained nothing except a family of
newts. Newts are the tiny creatures
found in most forest ponds that the boys
call lizards. They are brown, with gor
geous crimson spots along the back and
sides and down the graceful broad tail.
They soon become tame enough to take
files out of one's hand. Care must bo
taken to keep the vivarium top shut when
they are in it. for they are great jumpers,
and leap straight into the air for several
feet when they see a fly or mosquito.
Tho small green frogs, also very com
mon, are Interesting inmates. The little
red toad, to be found by even casual
search In most suburban and country
gardens. Is a queer pet that will amuse
one day atjfcr day. Tree frogs also are
highly desirable.
During the Summer the vivarium can
be utilized as a cage for insects also.
Many of the butterflies bear confinement
very well, and grasshoppers do not seem
to object to It at all. providing they are
not handled or frightened.
The best way to collect these creatures
Is with a wide-mouth butterfly net After
having "scapped" them, turn them out
of the net without handling them, into a
large tin kettle, where they will not In
jure ODe another. If you capture newts
and frogs at the same time, place there
In separate receptables. for the lumbering
frogs would Injure or kill the dellcata
things.
Never handle any of the creatures that
you catch. The human hand is a clumsy
machine for touching the lower creatures,
and even the most careful handling is
likely to hurt some fragile bone or limb
on the little beauties. It takes animal
collectors years and years to train their
hands so that they will not harm their
captives, and whenever possible they avoid
touching them even then. The proper
way to do is to spill the prisoners out of
the net Into the receptacle in which they
are to be carried home. Arrived there,
cover the mouth of the receptacle with a
large piece of netting, and let the crea
tures hop or slide into it Thn you can
place the netting, with them In It. very
gently into the vivarium, and withdraw it
after they have crawled out of Its folds.
Thus you avoid either the danger of their
escaping or hurting themselves In strug
gles against you while trying to avoid
capture.