The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-03-12
THE sSAKE.EATER AND HIS STORY.

THE SNAKE.EATER AND HIS STORY.
In the year 1928, man, under the nom
de guerre of John Thompson, was travel
ing through the United States exhibiting
himself al mske-eater, to the astopish-
ment of the natives. BE had horse and
van, carried his own tent from town to
town, and generally pitched 1t in the
suburbA The tent held about $50 persons
comfortably, aud when John Thompson,
who was his own door-keeper, found he
had q sufficient number within, he closed
the aperture, jumped upon 3 small plat
form, and tinkled bell, upon which cur
tain was raised, and the performer COM
menced his duties. The msn seemed to be
about 90 years of age; his face was thin,
and leaden wannese overspread his fea-
fures but his sunkene eyes had that super
rsnfA brightness so often seen In the
reyes Of the consumptive. His voice,
though faint was musical, but interrupted
BY an occasional cough; and as he re.
moved his crsvat and turned up his wrist
bands over the cuffs of his coat, he pointed
TO box before him covered with glass,
and said, "E any one desires to satisfy
himself with regard to the reptile which
l am now about to devour in the presence
: Of you all, and to restore again from my
throst alive, he win please draw near sad
examine it."
He then turned the box on end dis
playing the glass cover to the audience,
and Disclosed to their sight hideous rat
tlesnake. 1t was coiled, and, when dis
turbed. elevated its spiry head from its
circle, and while Its forked tongue played
with rapid motion, II darted against the
glass, in vain attempts to escape, while
It's rattles continued to quiver with vio-
lent and whizzing sound, accompanied by
that apparent fiaftening of the head which
denotes the highest pitch of resentment.
In dilated eyes shot fire, and the coarse
scales In its coaitorted torn grew rugged in
its anger. There was no mistake about
its being veritable snake
After this the box was put In It's origi.
nal position Of glass uppsfmost A chilly
shudder ran through the audience at the
next performance The make-eater turned
his back to the company, and bent his face
for q moment over the edge of the box,
and kind Of chuckling sound was heard
before he drew forth the horrible reptile
In his hand. The snake now seemed Ian
guild and passive, although the rattles con-
tinued to sound. He then placed the head
of the venomous serpent to his lips, and
opend his mouth, and the long coil began
to descend. 1t was IN appalling sight TO
Zee the huge reptile gradually going down
the throat of . human being. The cheeks
Of the young man began TO dilate, and his
complexion became livid purple. His
eyes seemed bursting from their sockets !;
masses Of foam gathered about his lips !;
and he looked as If he was undergoing the
utmost mortal agony, and even exhibited
the throes of death. On one occasion no
less than twelve Of bis audience were
taken out in fainting fita
After apparently murnbliDg and crush
| ing the fearful meal, the snake-eater again
partially opened his lips. and the forked
tongue of the reptile was seen playing
like threads Of bright red fire between
them. Presently it began to emerge. Il
moved very slowly, a. If held back by
| other serpents who had preceded il, in :he
awful deglatition Of its master. As the
| long, loathsome folds hung from his lips,
and continued to extend, the features of
! the snake ester assumed their wonted as
pect, and in q moment the reptile had
emerged, was replaced in the box, and the
| feat was accomplished.
Then, after seating himself for g few
seconds, to recover from the perilous exc
cutiou of his task, the snake eater arose
and addressed the audience. He desired
them to believe that he hsd wished not to
appk but g snTprise then Ths5e vas,
done, but 1t was q mysterious and undis-
covered one. "They call me mad" he
added, bitterly, land q conjurer, but q
conjurer / am not, and though l have
been mad, am not now. Yet often do l
wish I we're. You will denominate my
calling one of foolish hazard, and perhaps
of disgust; but did you know all, you
would judge me better. thank you
for your attendance; and If l have sue
ceeded in surprising you, my aim has been
won"
THE SNAKE EATERS BIOGRAPHY, AND THE
WAY THE TRICK WAS DONE.
One day John Thompson had performed
in the suburbs of western city, when O.
! gentleman appeared among the audience
who had known the snake-eater under o
/ different name, and in different sphere
of life; in fact, they had been college
chums, and the visitor this evening had
/ considered that the snake eaters lot would
| have been cast in quite q different mould.
The old feIlow-collegians met Eight
years only had they parted, and yet
what changes had taken place in that
perioel
"Wili you 60 back with me to Eng
/ landa" said Thompson's old companion.
"No," answered the snake-eater, al
must die in q land where all those hold
sacred are buried. will tell you my short
but melancholy history, and afterward
don't question me, but keep my secret
Let me spin out the few years allotted to
me as John Thompson, and let me select
the spot where must be buried.
"But to come to facts, my friend; am
not what you think / am. Though re-
garded hereabouts as one who has deal.
am only broken hearted man, the child
of sorrow, and almost without hope.
i Go not speak this for your sympathy,
for human sympathy can but at best
awaken afresh the wells of mournful
tenderness in my breast, without pouring
one ray of sunshine upon the troubled
fountains; they must flow on in darkness
without prospect of day; yet listen to
my story.
About eight years ago, with the spirit
of adventure stirring within me, ! came
from the walls of an English university
to the far western States Of America. ]
wrote to my parents for money; in fact I
asked for my patrimony, and said would
never expect any more from them. They
sent me handsome sum, and sought
with this capital In hand to make trade
with the Indians, and, therefore, took land
close on the frontiers I bought furs from
the natives, and bartered generally with
them. For all the country could produce
gave manufactured articles; and thus !
went on prosperously. My capital
doubled, trebled, quadrupled-in fact, in
all respects l was prosperous. Then fol-
lowed love affair, and 1t was pure love
with me, my friend. The family OF my
aflanced thought lived too much out OF
civilized life, and would not consent to
our union and 30 we eloped, and what
wife she made mel speak not in rhap.
sody, but she was the loveliest being that
, ever inhabited this lower world. None
! could excel her in beauty, and she made
that beauty perfect BY the graces Of 9
mind pure and highly cultivated. Hel
,, voice was melody, her smile burst o
, pure and living light, and her calm, blus
,, eyes were the sweet expositors OF sin
less affection. To speak no more OF hel
! perfections, suffice II to say that l lovs<
! her with my whole soul: She was N,
! idol; her happiness was the center OF my
. every wish, and she was the object o
every aspiration. ~
ave were married; time went on, sn'
: brought me q bud from the rose ha'
: established In my green bower at home
Q We were indeed happy thea. Aloof iron
society, though We missed few OF 1t
; luxuries, we suffered none Of its vexa
!. tions and demorslizing corruptions. Oh
J, Sundays we rode many miles through th
= wilderness to attend place Of worshi
established by the missionaries. and =
hear the word of God read and revealet
q "On the day that my dear little Sara