SNAKES ON THE STAIRS

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1781, 10 July 1926, Page 6

SNAKES ON THE STAIRS

Some people find "snakes and ladders'" quite an exciting game, but "snakes on the stairs" may be still more exciting, as the staff of a Paris tourist agency discovered recently. A Hindu snake charmer was buying tickets, and while so engaged placed a trunk on the floor of the office. The trunk looked good to a small boy, who proceeded to investigate. He unfastened the lid and a snake abut ten feet long wriggled out to freedom. The small boy, his curiosity satisfied, dashed wildly to the door' and disappeared. Snakes, it appeared, had no attraction for him.

Meanwhile the fugitive snake, finding the road clear, proceeded up an iron staircase to the manager's room on the floor above. Two smaller snakes followed the explorer, and thei three, finding a wastepaper basket handy, made themselves at home in that. When the snake charmer returned to his trunk he found his snakes gone, and he at once reported his loss. For a time panic reigned in the agency. Finally the Hindu sat down and started l to play on his flute. The music speedily drew the snakes from their hiding place; the little procession made its way downstairs, and the lost property was carefully shut up in the trunk again.