"Yes, 1 like snakes. 'They make clean, interesting pets. Perhaps snakes will become more popular with people when : they learn more about them." By Nina Marbourg : ON'T you think he Is really beautiful? Look a D at the marking. It is perfect." : a The speaker was Miss Gladys Ditmars and she was singing the praises of her newest pet, a large king snake, that she held in her hand. Blowly and gracefully the snake glided up her arm, and she ran caressing fingers over the cool, glistening, firm body. Miss Ditmars is the 14-year-old daughter of Curator Raymond Ditmars of the Bronx Zoologi- esl Gardens in New York city. Mr. Ditmars is pne of the world's leading specialists on reptiles and Gladys has long evinced an interest in the serpents that have become her father's life study snd work. The Girl with Strange Pets In all probability there is not another young woman in the countrywho has such strange pets as has Miss Ditmars. .. Several snakes, a baby alligator and a monkey<comprise her miniature Zoo. These are her private property, but, being . = the daughter of the curator of the reptile house, she is In a position to be on familiar terms with the many reptiles kept there in glass cases. Recently Curator Ditmars and his family went 5 to South Carolina to obtain new specimens for the ~ @oo. The main object of the trip was to secure a ; gopd sample of the diamond-back rattler, the 'largest and most dangerous species of reptile in - the United States. It was Gladys Ditmars who earried off the honors of the expedition, for surely enough this 14-year-old miss captured just such B rattler as her father coveted. From head to tail Miss Ditmarsa catch measured 10 f, ~~ Of this accomplishment Miss 'Ditmars speaks _ in a most matter of fact way. "A little colored boy in the party," said Miss Ditmars, "came into the house one day and said had seen. a snake in the berry patch. tricks, but snakes, although they will not learn tricks, are decidedly interesting to study, and tb one who becomes interested in them are very beautiful, "Perhaps snakes will become more popular with people when more is learned about them; and when you stop to consider that in the United States there are 04 species of snakes that are Growing. up with Sympathy for All Living Creatures, d Gladys Naturally Is Fon non-poisonous and only 17 that are poisonous yon can see that they are not as dangerous as most 'ople think. I don't believe that a small king snake, a garter or an indigo is half as dangerous & pet for a child as is a cat or dog. One never knows when a cat or dog will scratch or bite: ail EE is i i Hr wie Sordi of Little Alligators, Too. The Daughter of a Famous Reptile Expert, Who Was "Brought Up" With Them, and Tells Why She Likes Them Better Than She Does Cats--A Plea for the Usefulness of Snakes That Is Backed by Uncle Sam. "When you stop to _ consider that in the United States there are 5 94 species of snakes that are non- poisonous and only 17 that are b poisonous, you can see they are not as dangerous as most people think." a to have such pets. But I have never heard them say that they think it dreadful to have such a pet as a mon- key, cat or dog, any one of which is more dangerous than a garter snake." Perhaps through his thorough knowledge of reptiles Mr, Ditmars € is prejudiced in their favor. He explains the liking of the average child for a snake in a v logical manner. i$ "Children," said Mr. Ditmars, "are not, as a rule, afraid of snakes. It is imot until they have been warned of dangers that they become timid. It seems to me that in sc boy, or, an adult, is ignorant of this akes indiscriminately. Teach boys For Gladys Snakes Will Be Good Even While They Are Being Photographed. LL Gladys at the Age of Three with a Big Snake Among Her Dolls : and Other Piastbinge : "more about reptiles has come at a very good ses~ son, for recently the agricultural department of the United States has out an appeal to the public fo cease killing less snakes. Cali fornia has Gladys Can "Wear" a Snake as Comfort 'ably as the Ordinary Girl Could a Feather Boa. WP disagreeable when once you become accustomed to it. Perhaps when the educational campaign res garding snakes is carried out the old horror of. them will disappear. After thousands of years the virtues of the snake will be discovered and he will find his rightful place in the sun. Fish Dishes - J coher sinc = blue, weak, ling, cod or any other kind -of fish must receive instant at- tention at the hands of the cook. Scale, cut off the heads, open and clean the inside, then dust with pepper, salt and wrap in a wet linen cloth. Place beside the ice until ready to cook. For boiling, rinse the fish thoroughly, tie in a eloth and put on to boil in cold water, boil from 10 to 30 minutes, according to size. Serve with any fish sauce liked. For 'baking, wash, stuff with savory stuffing, oil all over and place in a baking pan with a cupful water and seasoning. Bake 80 to 40 minutes, according to size and weight. For broiling rinse, ofl over, put on grid- fron and cook. skinside down. For frying rinse and fry in hot fat. Rip in egg and crumbs or in batter if red. Norma Fish Pie: Boil any white fish in the usual way, drain and flake it. Have ready a good cream sauce, season well and add the juice of an onion. Line a deep pieplate with