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Literary
December 3, 1937
The Midland Journal
Rising Sun, Cecil County, Maryland
What is this article about?
Humorous essay advocating charity towards snakes, recounting a Kansas drugstore rattlesnake used for alcohol prescriptions during prohibition, referencing the Garden of Eden serpent's role in sin and news, and extending sympathy to decimated groups like old Republicans.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Virtues in Snakes.
SOMETHING I said recently about the folly of killing every snake on sight, without investigating the snake's character, brought a flock of letters from readers who don't like snakes.
Even a so-called venomous snake may have his better side. In Kansas, in the old local option days, you could get a drink only on a doctor's prescription, excepting in case of dire emergency, such as a snake bite. So every properly run drug store kept a rattlesnake on the premises to serve the citizenry. And the only time a drug store rattler ever refused to bite a thirsty stranger was when he was all worn out from accommodating the regular local trade.
And what though it was a snake that led Eve astray in the garden of Eden? He may have brought sin into the world, but wouldn't we have missed a lot of spicy reading matter in newspapers if he hadn't?
Yep, I plead guilty to thinking an occasional charitable thought for any decimated and vanishing group. I feel that way about old line Republicans and mustache cups and red woolen pulse-warmers.
SOMETHING I said recently about the folly of killing every snake on sight, without investigating the snake's character, brought a flock of letters from readers who don't like snakes.
Even a so-called venomous snake may have his better side. In Kansas, in the old local option days, you could get a drink only on a doctor's prescription, excepting in case of dire emergency, such as a snake bite. So every properly run drug store kept a rattlesnake on the premises to serve the citizenry. And the only time a drug store rattler ever refused to bite a thirsty stranger was when he was all worn out from accommodating the regular local trade.
And what though it was a snake that led Eve astray in the garden of Eden? He may have brought sin into the world, but wouldn't we have missed a lot of spicy reading matter in newspapers if he hadn't?
Yep, I plead guilty to thinking an occasional charitable thought for any decimated and vanishing group. I feel that way about old line Republicans and mustache cups and red woolen pulse-warmers.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Nature
What keywords are associated?
Snake Virtues
Rattlesnake Anecdote
Biblical Serpent
Vanishing Groups
Charitable Thoughts
Literary Details
Title
Virtues In Snakes.
Key Lines
Even A So Called Venomous Snake May Have His Better Side. In Kansas, In The Old Local Option Days, You Could Get A Drink Only On A Doctor's Prescription, Excepting In Case Of Dire Emergency, Such As A Snake Bite. So Every Properly Run Drug Store Kept A Rattlesnake On The Premises To Serve The Citizenry.