The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-10-13
ART OF SNAKE CARVING.
USats which Are Nothing Rut Tricks
Of the Trade

4 few days ago there apeared in one
o. the daily papers wolderful story
OF snake which was chTmed by the
strains OF a jews-harp. Tie story was
70 the effect that a countyman meet
ing dangerous reptile IN the road,
was Mortified at seeing he creature
prepare to attack him. Being an en-
thusiastic performer or the Jews
harp he Immediately struck up the
tune. st Patrick's Day in the Morn.
ihg' which either para5zed the SER
pent or sent series Of sentimental chills
down its undulating yTtebrae. At
any rate II discarded all hostile inten-
IONS and became motion ess, when the
countryman mercIlessly ground its
head in the dust.
mis- is an example O. the many
snake stories" which appear constant
" before the eyes OF cretulous human
NY. 1t originates, like III of It's kind.
from superstitious sources. Snakes
are utterly devoid Of any sense OF APP
probation OF music. They have no
ears. and although they may distin-
gulsh vibration Of heavy sounds upon
thelr heavy scales, a vorSciOus. hungry
serpent Is entirely ignorant OF the
presence OF the chipping bird. provid-
ing II does not see or scent it's prey.
Inc familiar exhibitions OF the East
tnalan takirs. during which the deadly
'onra is made to dance" to the
music OF a flute, have led many TO be-
tleve that these creatures are extreme
ly sensitive to the sound OF music. But
exhibitions OF this character are only
tricks practiced by the clever Hindoo.
and the cobra, instead Of being in
quisscent, charmed condition as It
waves It's body 10 and fro. is really
in fit OF intense anger.
Not long ago u 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. 1t was then in
possession of some professional snake
charmers. After it had left their hands
It was made to go through lively
performance without the accompani-
ment OF the wierd music OF the fakir,
The operation of making the cobra
dance is very simple. The reptile has
the characteristic habit OF elevating
the forward part OF the body from the
ground when annoyed spreading its
neck or mood and glaring fercely at the
( object OF its anger. When in this po-
I sition 1t keen ey es watch eagerly for
chance to deliver a deadly blow, OBJ
/ serving every movement of the object
OF person in from, ct 10, Ii one NOV
IS, no matter how slightly, there is 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 bas-
ket the cobra rlses OmlnUusly to their
peculiar position of defense. He now
: commands the snakes to dance, at the
/ same time beginning 4 lively tune up
! on his flute, and swaying his body from
side to side in time to the music. The
I nervous c0bras f0lloW 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
4 large snakes used in these exhibitions
are in the first place of q harmless
{ pNNShAiyr lACF lhOoL III
| offensive in their habits. The lazy
boa will lie for hours or days notion
less in its Gags, when suddenly awak-
ened from long nap is utterly indif-
ferent to what is going on around it.
After few weeks in captivity these
! huge reptiles become very tame, and
seem to enjoy being handled with one
familiar with their movements. The
| chief requisites OF snake chamber"
are great deliberation and sufficient
nerve to handle 10-foot boa, or ana
conda without the slightest hesita-
! ton. A nervous movement Is apt to
annoy the snake and cause 1t to bite,
while II treated gently and handled
with movements corresponding TO its
slnggist habits, It evinees the utmost
good nature.
Accounts have been published OF
| larseHsnakes coiling themselves around
the object of their annoyance and DEM
/ onstrating in an exceedingly uncOm-
Portable, II 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.