The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-24

amusing coincidence. But Delsarte in
sists that he encountered time and again
in the hospitals an inexphcable tendency
Of the imagination of men who were suff-
ering from the results of their own weak
ness 20 project the serpent into their con-
seriousness without any aseertainable an
| tecedent knowledge on the part of the pa
| tent.
This curious fact. if It be fact opens
up most disturbing line Of thought. One
shoulders to think that the serpent can
| crawl out of the unexplored abysses of
our nature and thus confront US.
But quite aside from this aspect OF the
matter, Delsarte's theory of the suscep-
tibiity Of the serpent to rhythm was
| carried TO similar lengths. He found that
the reptile, more than any other animal
was susceptible to a disturbance of what
| he called the "cosmical regularities." He
places rhythm in the sensuous world
| alongside the first degree OF space IN the
| world of form. 1t is the initial apprehen-
sion of the vital nature. always proceed
ing the apprehension OF melody and har-
mony, and in the case of the serpent IS
incapable of development because the
spinal system is complete in itself, and
has no termination in a cerebrum. HIS
| experiments to demonstrate his are
| worthy of Sir John Lubbock, and certain
ly make quick work with the snake
charming business of me Indian fakirs.
He claims to have proved over and over
again that the cobra and the American
| rattlesnake are absolutely harmless NJ
less you irritate them by unrhythmical
action or noise when they a-e not already
irritated by a desire for food. He utter
ly denies to the ophidia1s any v0hticn.
You have seen, he says, the rabbits play
ing upon the body of the python that has
been fed. He will not even recognize
them unless he is moved to it by LIS
stomach. So. also, you have seen the de-
capitated -qttle-nake continue to strike
with its headless body in automatic ODE
dience to its system. Your mounteoank
carries the cobra in his bosom without
fear so long as nothing irritates him. But
should some unforeseen external cause
awaken in him the springs of action, he
is transferred in an instant into a death
dealing monster.
Among other instances cited in illustra-
ton of this theory is that of public per-
former at Madras. who in 1860 was ex-
hibiting with an enormous boa before an
assemblage AS had been his practice for
years, he wound the animal about his
body. While standing thus enteloped be-
fore the people, a muffled sound Of crack
ling was suddenly heard. and the mass of
man and snake fell over to the ground.
The serpent had suddenly crushed him.
and at the autopsy $50 fractures were
counted. On the body Of the serpent
there was a slight rent of about two
inches caused by hidden stiletto that
the man had worn, and to this the In
dian experts attributed the disaster. An
occurrence illustrative of the same fact
came under the writer's notice stu
dent friend had obtained a twelve-foot
South American boa or anaconda for ex-
pertinent. and had in order 20 familiarize
himself and servants with it had it
brought into his study every day and
turned loose AS 1t evidenced no mische-
vious propensities, it was allowed to have
its own way, the better TO observe its
natural habits. On the occasion referred
to 1t had slowly wound itself about a
bamboo rocker with its head laid on the
seat of the chair. While in this position
a Maltese cat came IN at the partly open
study door about eight feet away. There
was a sudden cracking smash, and the
serpent struck the open door, banging it
shut. The chair was crushed into frag-
ments. and the serpent with unexpected
velocity began to travel around the apart
ment. Had this incident been reported
by usual narrator of animal instinct, the
sudden action of the snake would have
90 rib fo1 DIT he 20
was that a projecting splinter of the
chair caused the unexpected construction.
as was demonstrated afterwards when
the snake was subjected to similar ex-
perience while coiled around an ordinary
lime barrel
The snake-dealers learn very quickly
that a serpent is a piece of mechanism
that is comparatively helpless unless the
peculiar conditions of his muscular con-
formation are disturbed. The construct
ors are powerless for any lateral demon
stratiOn. If you can keep one at full
length, he is disarmed This has been
shown over and over again in those ami
maj tournaments which the Rajahs of
India get up for their special amusement.
The pitting of a large python against a
number of jackals Is a frequent diver
sion, and the quadrureds. after one or
two of their number ere killed, invar-
iably range themselves in a line and adj
vance upon the serpent at the moment
when he is extended. They then plant
their feet upon his BODY and hold him
down, and he IS helplessly pounded TO
death. The rattlesnake cannot strike VA
less his body is hrst drawn into conccl-
trio circles. If one of them is in a smrII
hollow log, you can safely pull him OFT
by the head, feat that yon can often see
the Indian boys do. oaly a gopher hole
takes the place of a log.
+ An enormous amount Of occult non
sense has accumulated about the reptil-
ian group that has employed the ingenu-
ity o farchaeologists biologists, and the
olseians. A great deal Of il no doubt
springs from the literal acceptation OF
the Biblical assertion that the serpent
was more subtle than any beast OF the
field, and the after reference Of Jesus %
the wisdom Of the serpent" The appll-
cation Of these sayings literally to the
snake a. wenow know him Is 10 longer
possible Even his power to charm his
prey has gone by the board along with
his power TO tempt But that he glides
in his essential vital qualities on our
planet, a memorial OF the most primitive
forces Of organization. and lurkes IN our
on natures. a constant reminder Of the
= -eri9us triad Of energies within US.
one a. which must cat the dust and go
proue d the conclusion that Francois
Delsas;e arrived at
M