Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-17
A MODEST SNAKE CHARMER.

The westmorriand County Man who Had
Trained Reptile 20 BesuiIe It's specie.
With strains Of MusIc-The Fate Of Tom
aud Jerry.
He wore an air OF insouciance and oil
Home, Sweet Home on his countenance, O,
he entered THE DISPATCH Office last night.
His home, as II was afterward discovered,
was In Westmoreland county. His appear.
ance at the first glance was not proposes.
ing The shock OF hair which surmounted
his temples of knowledge would demand,
according to q popular superstition, If car
ried by a lady, white horse, either in the
managing editors room or at least coming
upstairs.
He said: 81 an from westmoreland
county, and my name IL Phynn."
"Give us your fin, my friend" genially
responded the city editor.
Mr.. Phynn was yisibly affected; he prob
ably had q few cold-sxterminators before he
came In, and first assuring himself that the
incandesoent light was not In q direct line
Of FIRE with his breath, whispered;
DO you want q musical item7"
Take the elevator, fourth foor, musical
sharp's homej busy now," was the disoon.
nected, but aprsopriats reply OF the city
editor.
"No," said the viEitor. "I Am eontsnt
with my lot, 6oxi50 In the vicinity Of
Gfeensburg. but without wishing 10 pose ~
q philahthropist, or 10 rival st. Patrick Ia
fbolishing snakes from the country, have
plan by which j can rid WestmoFeland
county OF the aphidian race"
"Going 10 make Westmoreiand prohibit
ory?" asked the city editor.
"Naw." replied Mr.. Phynn, 'T suppose
you know the power Of music over snakes,
You have heard OF the Indian snake charm.
ers, who gather the hlimy reptiles BY
thousands. simply by playing 'McGinty' on
q barrel organ, aud then realize on the ID
yestment by selling enraptured snakes 10
dime museums. Well, have better plan
than that You see the presence OF the man
keeps away the more timid OF the snakes,
ana / had cat trained 10 do midnight
opera which answered loi O time, but a
bigger snake than usual came along and
took In the cat one night The most
eminent surgical help was summoned from
the East, but Ii was O clear case OF laudable
pusG and the snake AZ well ~ the cat died.
He was big fellow, too, and ] was going 10
call the snake Jerry and ship him 70 Bar
mum as n case of Tom and Jerry.
~ nextadopted the homeopathic idea, and
resolved 10 secure O musical snake. The
average reptile - notadapted ior the mute or
the cornet, as, although the tongue-and-lip
motion may be perfect. the manipulation OF
the keys proved O poser. At last / secured
a triumph. got black snake, eight feet
long, which lies under a tree on my farm
and PLAYS the accordion. He puts his
tail through one loop of the instrument
his head through the the other, and touch
ing the keys with his tongue, renders
"Annie Lsurie" in manner which would
make the angels weep. The only puzzle 1
have now Is to secure some kind of fiddle |
to be played in q duet with the bow he
makes while rendering sweet strains. The |
snakes of Westmorelsnd come focking in |
droves to hear their musical friend perform,
and am now prepared to furnish all the
museums of the country. You see he never
makes false note, as his tongue is a tuning
fork, and"
AT this moment the electric light plant
slipped a cog, the lights went out, and when
again the room was illuminated the honest
Westmoreland granger had disappeared.
When the Coroner finds an unknown victim
by the riverside he might as well invite
witnesses from Greensburg for investigative
purposes.