SN STORY FROM VICTORIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 117, 19 May 1871, Page 4

SN STORY FROM VICTORIA.

m *>.' . • o — - •■ , the Weekly T%jnes we extract the following story of a snake a la Baron Munchausen; written by a co-respondent styling himself " Hylus ".: — The inevitable snake stories are turning up all over the -.country. I heard one the other day that, amused me. A man living somewhere up-country caught a diamond snake, extracted its fangs, aod made rather a pet of it.'- Among other instructions given to bia strange 1 toy was that of dancing to music. The story is easily explained. Snakes, as any Indian snake-charmer will tell you, are fond of music, and generally evince that fondness by sitting up on their tails, and. gracefully waving their heads. This peculiarity was, in the case I am recording, brought .to perfection. By, dint of constantly j playing on the flute the man so improved the snake's ear that the creature not only-learned to know one nine from another, but to show that he did so. That is to say, when "Annie Laurie " ! was played, the snake would sit gravely up, and move his head with a slow pensive motion. When the air was changed' to a valse the creature would undulate its folds and move its head more quickly; but when " God Save the Queen" was played its whole frame was, agitated, the eyes glistened and glared, proving that if j there be any truth in the Pythagorean creed, the snakp must have at one time ' been, in another shape, a distinguished loyalist. This went on—for some time, the snake gradully improving in its musical ability, till at last the owner I was awalcebed by some one playing on the flute. Several times before he had been awakened by the same noise, but had generally attributed it to his fancy. This time, however, the thing was so unmistakeable that he went to the window aod looked out. It was bright moonlight. What a sight met his astonished eye ! With a cunning worthy of ;'lhe first sDake on record, his diamond-spotted pet had managed to prop his master's flute up against a tree, and having coiled himself round it, was breathing into the vent. As a tune, the result was not what might have been desired by a critical music teacher. But it was attended with results. Gathered round iv a ring were about twenty diamond snakes, all sitting, on their tails, and gravely wagging their heads as his own snake feebly produced a tune" that bore a melancholy resemblance to "God Save the Queen." Most men would have . either -rushed out or retired to bed, and left the place next day. This man did not. He retired to' bed, indeed, I but it vsras to form a plan. The next day after jpferefully locking the door, so that his own snake could not get out, he. stood at the window and slowly played the flute, until after an. hour his patience was rewarded by the sight of the same snakes he had seen before. He continued to play; and, as if appreciative of the improvement in the music over that they had heard the night before, the snakes grew more active in their head motions and less quiet on their tails. For eight nights he continued thjs, and thVough the snaKM rrt;ob>£ry gdiug home •*ahd telling their friends, i^e got an aujlienM of nearly j fifty. To these he, on'jthe ninth night, played" God Save the Qufen" so long and so effectiyej^4feat at last they all sank down in an ecstatic one rather elderly snake absolutely tying himself into j a knot with delight. Then the-mato went out and slew them, aod, another extraordinary circumstance, a dog which would devour a portion of the elderly snake became a dancing dog' ; of' disreputable habits from that day out. The story is strange, but true ; the man's address is at Professor Halford's service.".

Servant - Galism. — The Ballarat Evening Mail gives the following as the latest development of servant-galism in k Victoria: — " A short time ago, the wife of a well-knowu grocer in this city had occasion to engage a housemaid, and a young and evidently respectable girl was chosen to fulfil the duties.. The' engagement took place on a Thursday^ .and the employe ! gave great satisfaction' 1 during the remainder of the week. On the Sunday morning following, as ' Mrs; 'C , ■; .- was engaged in conversation with a gentleman visitor,, the. housemaid entered the room dressed ready for church. Her mistress looked up somewhat surprised, and said, 'lam going out this morning, but you cih ; 'go to chu eh ' this evening, Annie.' 1 .Auoie, howei erj ' could not <see things in that light, and replied with the utmost; npnchalance. . ji *1 1 itttßnd going out both morning and elrening-; it's, what I've been used to,' and-ldfling, putting! the coup de grtiw upon thj u affair ?i you' please pare mv #<*#■*» ;W- * ..capnot use the ; scissors witli my left' Mod,' extending the scissors tohermistressiat the same time. Mrs. C—-— was too .much surprised to

reply fov a^jmefplSj^r two; but after recover ing''?romjUrer 'astonishment said; * You had Jw*fer make arrangements to leave • to-morrow. — it's ievidpirit you> will not suit me.' Annie pip^O herael^qual. [ to the occasion, howeWr, and 'replied^ 'Oh ! there's no nee^jß wait till thcto ; I w i 1 1 sen d a cab;-, roujpT for my bbsOa fter church.' > Witll. Om she bounced out of the apartment, and proceeded to church, after which she sent for her worldly goods and had them removed from what she was pleased to term ' her tyrannical mistress's house.' "