New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-19
THE SNAKE CHARMER.
HOW THE ANACONDA IS suBDUED.
A WOMAN WITH BLACK EYES THAT CAN FAsCi
NATE SNAKES AS WELL AS MEN

Mother Eve, got herself and all her dcSccnu"n's NV
such pile of trouble through one of them tna' inc
average man or woman feels such an inSuhcuNe IT,
uuenance for them AND il is perhaps because hui
man nature is full of paradoxes and what repeis aso
attracts that the snakecharming woman Is necessary
adjunct of a dime museum, and always draws i"cIo
s something Of the fascination exercised by chamber
of horrors about the spectacle oil "ona" VII"
big anaconda coiled around her waist
The particular woman who attracted the aucnuon
NJ n rsnor,cr had a most romantic French name &C
eorinc 10 the flaming posters that adorned the outside
of the show but the reporter confdentially In
formed by the animated skeleton and tho missing
link that her name was q" Mrs. smith,
at IS a curious fact said the skeleton, who was
Of a speculative turn Of mind, " that woman amt
considered 70 account at charming snakes unless
She has French or Rooshun ltslyan or some
outlandsh name. Cali her Mrs. Smith an she
wouldn't be worth her board at the business. but
call her Madame Chic jog iGccry- s0methn' Som
Mexico an people Just swarm 10 see her NOW
skeletons stand up under their own proper names
an draw an therefore consider skeletons superior
to snake charmcrS.'
The missing link" who didn't seem much given
10 forming opinions on his account. Gefcrn-
italy acquicscei in this Wow. but added that mis-
sing links" had to Get rcchrstcncd when they en-
tered the show business.
At this moment the Skeleton was seized with
fit Of coughing 50 violent that 1t threatened 10
bu,>t him asundcr and While the - link admins
tered TO him a wcllmcart but vigorous pounding
on lhc back the reporter look advantage OF the
opportunity to withdraw and seek the snake charm
ing woman She seated on chair and hic
anaconda was wound once around her waist. The
rest of Us length lying loose in her lap. in her
right hand she held the snakes ugly head. She
was 2 brunette ord handsome enough 70 charm any
thing The reporter murmmcd something to tina:
effect
"Yes You had better speak low when you pas me
commitments She Ici Fed. her eyes twinilng mis-
chlcvo:sy. for the giant over there IS my husband
Pcs awfuy jealous and when he COTS mad he weighs
ten Times huca - &c does now
A. there sad lttlc dude disposed 10 be
facciiouS. is that aaw-a worm. dorcher know =
No. i's aav-a mashcr. donchcr know would
YOU like try how IL can aT-inash p responded MIS-
smith alas Madame jeanette De la etc, with OK
cclen Tlrlcry.
Tie dude dropped his eyccass and became deeply
Interested in the Egyptian mummy
Tito snake began stir rs coils on The womans lap
Don't speak, please she said earnestly
She moved the hand which held The snakes head
until the head va, pointing straight al her face.
SIR then fastened her uSrors black eyes on the two
small tc2chcrou, eyes OF The snake Her eyes seemed
10 expand and the snakes TO get smaller superb,
quecny. she looked her features and whole bearing
seemingly expressing intense mental effort. The
snake appeared. at first TO avoid her gaze; then f
ceased stirring and lis head dropped limp and stless
In her hand
Now YOU may speak" she said
THAT was very pretty"
"Oh. indeed. there fake about that. II l
hadn't mastered the snake he would have whipped
his tail into that third loop lie forming and squeezed
me until my bones cracked unless somebody came 10
my assistance and cut him in two. \ bear can't
hag tighter than an anaconda can squeeze. This IS
only the third time that have performed with this
snake. and he is disposed 10 be ugly unless look
after him. While Wa chatting my eyes went of him
and l suppose he felt there was an opportunity to
exercise what he regarded his legitimate business
Yea observe that always hold the snake by the hca
that can compel it 10 look me in The face. linen
when | get my eyes on it l subduc it,"
How ?"
"Ah. that's than can tell
you. What causes the bird or the mouse
that feed to the snake to powerless when the
snake faStens its eyes it? What IS it that enables
ono man to mesmciizc another? All know is that
look at the snakes eyes and Will it, with all my might
TO yield 10 me. When DO that seem 10 feel some
thing going ont from me-elcctriciiy -mssnetlsm-l
don't know what. l feel aterwaid as though had |
engaged in physical struggle with something and |
conquered There's where tho pleasure comes in. |
You may not believe It, but when concentrate my Will !
TO subdue that snake the excitement is iniense-'he
enjoyment exquisite. / suppose it is something Ike
what a soldier feels when the music plays as he |
marches TO battle"
How do you acquire that power?'
1t isn't acquired It's born. Many people possess |
that power, undoubtedly, who don't know Of H. Quite
accidentally found that l had IT, mover |
had that fear OF snakes that most |
people have When quite glIl noticed some chill |
dren running from garter snake. What possessed |
me 10 do IL don't know but picked IT up fastened !
my eyes on lis eyes. and found myself willing it TO
submit Then it fell into sort of stupor. and found
that could do with it what liked. This discovery |
that l could Subdne the snake 50 that it became ell
tirey passive in my hands, pleased me- began TO
i'll aIyo-
lecng, Of course. snakes that are not venomous
Then when circumstances took turn that Lad
10 my living, l took to the business 1t
pays good deal better than sewing or school teach
Ing or selling dry goods
How do you fist 90 10 work with anaconda -
II first give IL a bath OF warm milk. This il seems
to enjoy hugely. and soothcd by It and anguid
Then l try TO get it in position where l
can fastcn my eyes on It's eyes This often
requires great deal Of patience for the snake tries to
avoid it, seeming 10 feel that ii a contest IN
which it VIII get worstcd. But the opportunity
comes at last and when the snake droops its head
listlcssly l know that have charmed it and can
safely put my hand it, The next operation is
easier and the snake IS quickly rendered passive.
With each operation it becomes more docle until
can pcifor with II in public. But always one has
to be careful for the snake is liable at any time
try squeezing. You can tell by the way IT moves
It's coils when it is going to do that, and then
charm 1t mcsmerze it until IL is passive; but if
you frightened and get bewildered you can't exer
else any control the snake. and tho snake viii
actually try to charm YOU have hal one or two
narrow escapes through carclcSsncsS. The worst |
place TO have snake Is around yOar neck because |
e ,aEeS very e SgusnE there 10 make you ee
aedi more around Tie waist, you know !
Are the anacOB1as Troublesome - keep "
81 should sag they require great deal moro ,
care than baby. They liable 10 catch cold
when confined. lOu have 10 throw warm blankets
over them and exercise all of keep them
property warm. Ihcn they arc mighty particular
what they cal The only things thai thor :,
ougy agree with them white mice and guinea
pigs, chickens and squads, and these have be given
10 them alive. The snale doesn't seem to enjoy cat
Ing unless 1t FIRST charm the animal or bird. | 4
lave never found It possible 10 keep long and
they expensive 10 buy
Here the reporter observed the gan. stalking Il
toward his wife and concluded that he had about ex ,,
aft sfedt fpcf hon !