The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-02-09
: ART OF SNAKE CHARMING,
PHnts which Are Nothing Bet Tricks
Of the Trade.

Of the Trade.
A few days ago there appeared in one
0f the daily papers q wonderful story
u snake which was charmed ~ the
strains Of a jews-harp. The story was
20 the effect that q countryman meet
Ing . dangerous reptile IN the road,
was Mortified at seeing the creature
prepare to attack him. Being a en-
thusiastic performer on the Jews
harp he Immediately struck up the
tune, "St Patriek's Day in the Morn.
Ing" which either paralyZed the SER
pent or sent series Of sentimental chills
down its undulating VertebraA At
any rate 1t discarded all hostile inten-
lions and became motionless, when the
eountryman mercileSsly ground its
head in the dust.
This Is an example Of the many
snake stories" which appear constant
ly before the eyes of credulous human
lty. 1t originates, like all of It's kind,
from Superstitious sources. Snakes
are utterly devoid Of any sense OF ap-
probation Of music. They have no
ears, and although they may distin-
suish vibration OF heavy sounds upon
their heavy scales, voracious, hungry
serpent Is entirely ignorant of the
presence Of the chirping bird, provld-
Ing it 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 flute, have led many to be-
tieve that these creatures are extreme
ly sensitive to the sound Of music. But
exhibitions of this character are only
tricks practlced by the clever Hindoo,
and the cobra, instead of being in a
uuisscent, charmed condition as 1t
waves its body to and fro, Is really
In @ fit OF intense anger.
Not long ago q large cobra was In
the possession Of DR.. Joseph C. Thomp-
son, Of the United States navy. This
reptile was purchased by DR.. Thomp-
Oon in South Africa. 1t was then in
possession of some professional snake
rharmers. After it had left their hands
1t 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
Vie characteristic habit Of Olevating
the forward part of the body from the
ground when annoyed, spreading Its
aeck or hood and glaring nsrcsly at the
object Of Its anger. When in this po-
sition It keen eyes watch eagerly for
chance to deliver q deadly blew, OBJ
Ierving every movement of the object
or person in front Of it. II one NOV
ss, no matter how slightly, there is a
corresponding nervous movement on
the past Of the snake. Here the entire
secret Of the snake dance Is explained
When the Hindoo opens the snake has.
ket the cobra rises ominously to their
peculiar position of defense. He now
commands the snakes to dance, At the
same time beginning lively tune up
on his flute, and swaying 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 boal
and pythons at the circus, 10 even more
simple, says the New York Times. TIT
large snakes used in these exhibition:
are in the first place Of Harmless!
mare. Secondly, they are most in
offensive in their habits. The laEy
boa will lie for hours or days motion
less in its cage, when suddenly awak
ened from long nap 10 utterly indif
ferent to what Is going On around 1t
After a few weeks In captivity thes,
huge reptiles become very tame, ant
seem to enjoy being handled with on,
familiar with their movements. TIT
chief requisites of a snake chamber
are great elaboration and suff1cien
nerve to handle 10-foot boa, or ana
eonda without the slightest hesita
ton. A nervous movement is apt Il
annoy the snake and cause 1t to bite
while II treated gently and HANDLED
with movements corresponding to it,
slugglst habits, 1t evinces the utmos
good nature.
Accounts have been published o
large snakes coiling themselves arount
The object of their annoyance and dem
frustrating in an exceedingly uncom
Portable, II not dangerous manner tn
power Of their scaly bodies. Thi
characteristic 10 popularity supposed t.
be commonly resorted to by the "bo
constructor" but the idea is purely er
roneous and originates from an aver
sion to the serpent race from whicl
have sprung innumerable fallacies an
H,tparctit{0na