Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-13
SECRETS OF SNAKE CHARMING.
FeRts Which Are Only Tricks of the
Trade.

A few days ago, relates the New York
Times, there appeared in one of the daily
papers a wonderful story of a snake which
was charmed by the strains Of a jew's-harp.
The story was to the effect that a country
man, meeting q dangerous reptile in a road,
was Mortified at seeing the creature prepare
to attack him. Being an enthusiastic per-
former upon the jew's-harp, he immedi-
ately struck up the tune, 'St. Patrick's Day
in the Morning." which either paralyzed the
serpent with establishment or sent a series
Of sentimental chills down It's undulating
vertebrae. At any rate, 1t discarded all hos
tile intentions and became motionless, when
the countryman merc,lessly ground it's head
into the dust.
This Is an example of the many SNAKE
stories" which appear constantly before the
eyes OF credulous humanity. 1t originates,
like all Of its kind, from superstitious
sources. Snakes are utterly devoid of any
sense of appreciation of music. They have
no ears, and, although they may distinguish
vibrations Of heavy sounds upon Their deli
cate scales. a voracious, hungry serpent is
entirely ignorant of the presence of a chirp-
ing bird, providing 1t does not see or scent
its prey. The familiar exhibitions of the
East Indian fakirs. during which the deadly
cobra Is made to dance" to the music OF a
flute, have led many to believe that these
creatures are extrt mely sensitive to the
sound of music. But exhibitions of this
character are only tricks practiced by the
clever Hindoo and the cobra, instead OF be-
ing in a quiescent, charmed condition., as 1t
waves it's body to and fro, Is really in a mt
of intense anger.
Not long ago q large cobra was In the
possession of DR.. Joseph G. Thompson OF
Rosebank, s. l., an assistant surgeon In the
United States navy. This reptile was pur-
chased by DR.. Thompson in South Africa
1t was then in the possession OF some pro-
fessional snake charmers. After 1t had left
their hands 1t was made to go through a
lively performance without the accompani-
ment of the weird music Of the fakir.
The operation OF making the cobra dance
Is very simple. The reptile has the char
acteristic habit OF elevating the forward
part Of the body from the ground when an
noyed, spreading its neck or hood, and
glazing flercely at the object OF its anger.
When in this position its keen eyes watch
eagerly for a chance to deliver a deadly
blow, observing every movement OF the OBJ
ject or person in front of it. If one moves,
no matter how slightly, there is a CORE
spending nervous movement on the part of
the snake. Here the entire secret OF the
snake dance Is explained. When the Hindoo
opens the snake basket the cobras rise
ominously to their peculiar position Of de-
tense. He now commands the snakes to
dance, at the same time beginning a lively
tune upon his flute and swaying his body
from side to side in time to the music. The
nervous cobras follow every motion of the
supposed charmer. They are not dancing
to the music, but. intensely angered, are
seeking to revenge themselves upon their
human captor.
The snake charming act Of the bespan-
gled female, with the giant boas and py-
thons at the circus, Is even more simple.
The large snakes used In these exhibitions
are, in the first place, of a m ma
ture. Secondly, they are most inoffensive
in their habits. The lazy boa will lie for
hours, or days, motionless in its cage, and
when suddenly awakened from a long nap
is utterly Indifferent to what Is going on
around it. After a few weeks In captivity
these huge reptiles become very tame and
seem to enjoy being handled by one ia
miliar with their movements. The chief
requisites OF a "snake-charmer" are great
elaboration and sufficient nerve TO handle
a ten-foot boa or anaconda without the
slightest hesitation. a nervous movement
is apt to annoy the serpent. and cause 1t to
bite. While II treated gently and han.
died with movements correspon ling to its
sluggish habits, 1t evinces the utmost good
nature.
Accounts have been published OF large
snakes coiling themselves about the object
OF their annoyance and demonstrating in
an exceedingly uncomfortable. II not dan
gerous. manner the power OF their scaly
bodies. This characteristic Is popularity
supposed to be commonly resorted to by the
boa constructor but the idea Is purely
erroneous and originates from an aversion
to the serpent race from which have sprung
innumerable ~fallacies and superstitions.
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