The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-08-25
ART OF SNAKE CHARMING.
Eeats Which Are Nothing But Tricks
of the Trade.

| of the Trade.
A few days ago there appeared in one
Of the daily papers a wonderful story
OF a snake which was charmed by the
strains of jews-harp. The story was
to the effect that a countryman meet
ing a dangerous reptile in the road,
was Mortified at seeing the creature
prepare to attack him. Being an en-
| thusiastic performer on the jews
| harp he Immediately struck up the
! tune. est. patrick's Day In the Morn
ing" which either paralyzed the SER
pent or sent series of sentimental chills
| down its undulating vertebrate AT
any rate it discarded all hostile inten-
tons and became motionless, when the
countryman mercilessly ground Its
head in the dust
This is an example Of the many
snake stories" which appear constant
~ before the eyes Of credulous human
ity. Ii originates, like all Of its kind,
from superSt:tious sources. Snakes
are utterly devoid of any sense of APP
probation OF music. They have no
ears, and although they may distin-
suiSh vibration Of heavy sounds upon
AAACA4 AE~aNa SN<AANSs WI sANANASs ANAS4|
serpent is entirely ignorant OF the
presence Of the chipping bird, provid-
.ng il does not see or scent its prey.
The familiar exhibitions Of the East
Indian fakirs, during which the deadly
sceTa Is made - dance 10 the
music az 5 flute, have led many 70 be-
Geve tina; these creatures are extreme
" sensitive 70 The sound Of music. But
exhibitions 81 this character are only
tricks practiced ty the clever Hindoo,
and the cobra, instead Of being in
luieScent, charmed condition as II
waves its body TO and fro, Is really
N a fit of intense anger.
Not long ago a large cobra was In
The possession of DR.. Joseph C. Thomp-
son. of the United States navy. This
reptile was purchased by DR.. Thomp-
son in South Africa. II was then In
possession OF some professional snake
2harmers. After It had left their hands
Il was made to go through lively
performance without the accompani-
ment of the wierd music OF tbs iakir,
The operation Of making the cobra
dance is very simple. The reptile has
The characteristic habit of elevating
ground when annoyed, spreading its
aeck or hood and glazing fiercely at the
7bject of its anger. When In this po-
sition 1t keen eyes watch eagerly for
4 chance to deliver q deadly blow, OBJ
serving every movement OF tho object
1r person in front Of it. If one NOV
Is, 40 matter how slightly, there Ia a
corresponding nervous movement on
the part of the snake. Here the entire
secret Of the snake dance Is explained
When the Hindoo opens the snake bias.
ket the cobra rises ominuusly TO their
peculiar position Of defense. He now
commands the snakes to dance. at the
same time beginning a lively tune up
On his flute, and swsying his body from
side TO side in time to the music. The
nervous cObras follow the motion of
The supposed charmer. They are not
dancing to the music, but, intensely an
gered, are seeking to revenge them
selves upon their human captor:
The snake charming act of the be-
spangled female with the giant boas
and pythons at the circus, is even more
simple, says the New York Times. The
large snakes used in these exhibitions
are in the first place Of 4 harmless
nature. Secondly, they are most in=
offensive in their habits, The lazy
boa will lie for hours or days motions
less in its cage, when suddenly awak-
ened from long nap is utterly indif-
ferent to what is going on around it.
After few weeks IL captivity these
hugs reptiles become very tame, and
seem to enjey being handled with one
familiar with their movements. The
chief requisites of a snake chambeTH
are great deliboration and sufficient
nerve to handle l6-foet boa, or ana
conda without the slightest hesitaz
lion. A nervous movement Is apt TO
annoy the snake and cause it to bite,
while II treated gently and handled
with movements corresponding to its
sluggist habits, 1t evinces the utmost
good nature. p;
Accounts have beeR published of
large snakes coiling themselves AROUND
the object Of their annoyance and dem
9ngtrating in an exceedingly uncom-
Portable, il not dangerous 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 err
roneous and originates from an aver.
sion to the serpent race from which
have sprung innumerable fallacies and
superstitions. ."