The Saint Paul globe., 1898-06-05
VIOLIN AND vIPERS.

The quarterly Review contains this interest
Ing story of the influence of music on ami
mails. AS an experiment a gentleman took
his violin into geological garden and
played before cage of reptiles. The effect
on the monitor lizard Is first described:
OF the violin he raised his head and was alert
and listening. Then the forked tongue came
out, played incessantly. round his lips; and
as the music became soft and slow the lizard
grew quite still but for gentle swaying Of
the head. In the next cage all heads were
raised. and forked tongues played, while at a
violently back. Such, more less, the
effect of music on all the snakes. The huge
pythons showed not grain of interes and
the boa was almost Indifferent; but the
deadly cobra, which the Indian snakem aster
wins from his hiding place in the cd wall at
Ua Tiny p as the a
gravel at the bottom of his cage but at the
| first note he instantly raised his head, and,
with eyes fixed on the door whence the sound
came, as, the music grew louder. slowly ood
erect on his tail, spread his hood, and swayed
| to and fro, in accordance with the measure of
the tune Every change in volume and tone
instantly produced a corresponding change in
the movements or poise of the snake. At the
tremolo its body was puffed out; at a sudden
change, initiating the sound OF the bagppes,
its hood expanded to the utmost .mGn-
sions, while sudden sharp discord made the
creature eat vince @ as if under smart ma , blow"
to listen intently, walking backwards
and forwards and hilmning a half-formed
grunt of satisfaction. The two grizzl es, at The
first chord assumed critical yet comic
attitude of keen attention. each with Its hesd
on one side, and its paws clasping the bars.
In the lion house every head was turned at the
first sound of the violin, and as it grew louder
his majesty began to wave the black tuft on
his tail from side to side, as cat does when
meditating spring; while the honess MADE
her way straight up to the bars, as II to push
him from the front seat. The old fable OF
the snap of broken string causing terror to
the wolf was next put to the proof, and seems
to be founded on fact. Instantly, at the sud
and with tail between it's legs drew back
with hideous sneer and skunk into corner.
ELEPHANT AND TIGER AS CRITICS.
The flute was chosen to open the concert,
and seemed as potent as the lutte of Orpheus
himself; the huge beast stood listening with
deep attention, one foot raised from the
ground, and its whole body still; a strong
sign of the effect of music on the most rest
less of animals. AS long as the flute con-
tinued the stiffness was unbroken; but at
the first sound of the piccolo all was changed.
Its sharp shrill note was everywhere resent
ed. The elephant twisted round and turned
his back on the performer. whistling, snort
ing, and stamping his feet. Even the ostrich
was offended at the piccolo, writhing its neck,
stalking upeasily up and DOWN, as II in dud-
geon. The tiger, who clearly found pleasure
in the violin, started up in fury at the first
shrill cry OF the tiny pipe, rushing up and
down the cage, and lashing its tall from side
to side. A soft air from the flute brought
fer that the violin and flute which human
taste has approved as the most pleasing OF
Instruments, are, by some unknown law,
most acceptable to the brute creation No
creature seemed wholly Indifferent to the
charm of music, except the seals; while to all
discord was offensive.