The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-08-08
A CHARMER OF SERPENTS.
She Gives Her Views on the Bust.
ness. but Prefers MatPimony.

"To-night appear for the last time (;
for the last time shall be known as the
snake charmer."
SO said a well-known snake oharmer
to Boston Globe reporter few days
ago.
"what profession do you intend to
take upp" inquired the reporter.
"None. have just got married, and
since the man in New York museum
died from the effects Of being bitten by a
snake, my husband insists that I shall
give up the business"
"How long have you been in II 9'
"Ten years. I first visited this coun-
try in 1874, appearing in the ring hand
ling snakes In what was known as the
SNAKE den.' have been at museums
In various parts Of the country. Not
long ago / met an elderly gentleman,
became engaged to him, and we were
married."
"were you ever bitten by snake?"
"Several times. Here on my right
hand Is where python bit me year
and half ago. On hot day, like this,
you see the hand Is black and purple.
have been bitten by boa constructors
quite often. The bite Of the python
and boa constructor causes swelling and
much pain, but never results In death.
"ln handling snakes you must let
them see that you are not afraid OF
them. Never take them by the head, as
1t Anglers them, but clasp your hands
about the center Of their body. Now,
these boa constructors in this case, are
in n bad condition to handle. Their
mouths are full Of oanker, and, as you
see, have shut one off from the rest.
His mouth Is completely filled with
canker, and II / was to handle him he
would crush me to death. The lady
who was here before came did not UNI
derstand the business, hence the oanker.
baths. Snakes should be placed In
water several times each week. The
canker starts In their stomachs
and works up from there into their
mouths. There is not much i
can do for them. 1 keep their mouths
as clean as possible by using such rene
dies us we apply when troubled with
oanker ourselves. To give them medi-
cine take them by the under jaw and
gag them by choking. Having gagged
them 1 place the compound in their
mouths, and, as the saying is, the deed
| Is done"
"what's the average price of snakes9''
"You can not get good one for less
than 800. One must understand the
business to buy. as a snake that may
look all right is liable to be nearly dead
Canker prevails among them to great
extent, and you must examine theiI
mouths to see that 1t has not eaten into
| them so they will die.n
SLOW long do snakes live when they
are handled every day, as you handle
thesep"
=="Between three and six months. but
as a general thing not more than three
months. Ii does not agree with them to
be handled. The largest one here wal
an old fellow when caught, and a savage
one, too. Do you see the punches on his
back? Well, they are buckshot. Let
back, so you can satisfy yourself"
The reporter mustered up courage and
satisfied himself that the snakes bach
was full Of buck-shot.
| ave feed them once month, giving
them three pigeons" continued the
charmer. "Sometimes they will not cal
more than two. 1t takes them two
weeks to digest this food"
"What species OF snakes do you pre-
fer to handler"
"The pythons, for they are far bette
tempered. Then, again they are s,
handsome that really love them. Why
let the sun strike them and their skim
shine like diamonds"
81 should think the snakes would b,
heavy for you to handle"
"They are, and If there is anything
that makes me glad to get out of the
business 1t is that. After handling then
am always faint. Snake charming Il
agift, and for any one to attempt 1t tina
has not got the gift is to oovet death
My father and mother before me wer
snake charmers."