West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-11-30
SNAKE CHARMING IN NEW
JERSEY.
Mr.. Purdy Pays Eight Dollars and a
Half to See Trick from India.

with a large lot around it,on rather
desolate- looking spot a short dis
tance from South Orange avenue,
about four miles from Newark. He
has never had any reason to suppose
that there were any snakes on his
premises, so that yesterday when a
short man, who had the appearance
of a gypsy, and carried forbidding
face, with heavy beetling brows, un-
der a shock of raven black hair, ap-
preached him as he sat with his
friend, Mr.. James Reunie, on his
verandah, and said: "Shall charm
few snakes for you, gentlemen, all
the same as they do it in India,
where 1 learned my trade" Mr..
Purdy was c little surprised.
"rll do it cheap" continued the
man. Fifty cents for black snake,
seventy five cents for copperbead,
and 81 for a ratGler. us beautiful
weather for charming snakes"
"Where are going to find them"
asked Mr.. Purdy. "You are not
carrying them about under your
clothes, / hope?"
NO." said the man, centemptu.
ously, IL am not. / don't risk my
life that way. They are all in your
garden, and some of them quite close
to you. Ah, you don't believe that
because you never saw one of them;
but snakes is sly. They don't want
to get their heads bruised, and so
they only come out at night. l
know the trail of the serpent when |
see it, though, and l would be will
ling to lay my life that there is as
big a rattlesnake as you ever saw in
that hole at the foot of the apple
tree that your children have been
climbing every day. Shall charm
him out for dollar?'
"Why, that is a rat hole?" said
Mr.. Purdy, scornfully. 'There is no
snake there"
"You may think so," answered
the charmer, "but just say the word
and III soon show you your mistake.
1t won't cost you much to have your
garden cleared. There can't be a
great many of them in it."
"What do you say?' asked Mr..
Purdy, turning to his friend. "Shall
allow him to go ahead? He may
amuse us"
"Mr. Rennie has passed several
years of his life in India, where he
saw something Of snake charming.
He laughed and acquiesced, and the
heavy-browed man was told to charm
all the snakes in the garden at his
own price.
He had rather repellant than a
charming appearance as he pulled
off his coat and prepared for action.
He took from his pockets stout
canvas bag to hold the snakes, a
score or so of pods that looked like
coffee beans, and a short rudely
made wooden flute. He tucked the
bag under his arm, asked Mr.. Pur-
dy to hold the pods and, squatting
in an awkward attitude, as though
he were sitting upon a very low in
visible stool, near the hole, he began
to play slow melody upon his flute.
Gradually the music grew faster,
until it was wild and very rapid, and
soon some leaves in front OF the hole
were disturbed. A serpent was
pushing its head through them, and
before long an immense rattle snake
was visible. 1t had emerged from
the hole, and was evidently angry
as we'll as charmed as it approached
the musician, who moved slowly
back. The snake glided within
reach of his hand, and, with quick
movement, he seized it by the neck.
The next moment it was prisoner
in the bag. Its teeth, however, had
lacerated the charmer's forefnger.
He stuck one of the pods upon it,
and said the bean, which adhered
firmly, would absorb all the poison.
Mr.. Purdy advised him to drink CO.
piously of whiskey. He protested it
was not necessary, but he took
drink for ali that.
A copperhead soon Joined the rat
tlesnake in the bag, and the charmer
| in the course of an hour, had drawn
a snake from every hole in Dir. Pur-
ds's garden. He went away with
two rattlesnakes, four copperheads,
and seven black snakes in his bag,
and $3.50 of Dir. Purdy's money in
his pocket.
II had no idea there was a snake
in the garden said Mr.. Purdy to
his friend.
you were probably right" re-
piled Mr.. Rennie. "Those serpents
have been familiar with each other
for msnths. They are all quite tame
and their venemous fangs are drawn.
The man liberated them in your
garden last night, and called them
back into his bag this morning. 1t
is worn-out trick in India, but !
never saw it played here before"