The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-22
THE DANCING RATHER.
Was High, Low, Jack and the
Game.
Nv EDWIN WEBSTER.


Isl Evans really was powerful hand
with the fiddle said Deacon Todgers,
reminiscently. land in his own opinion he
was, high, low jack at the music game.
One day ST read in a history about an old
cove named Orpheus, who lived in Greece
and used to play in such a fashion that
animals followed him, and even the stones
tried to dance. For once ST was stagger-
ed, and sort of doubtful about his own
speed as a musician.
:" 1T seems a shameful thing ST observ-
ed in his mournfullest tones, for the pride
of Pike county to admit that he can't
compete with some foreign dago I will
confess. though, that when it comes to
moving stones 1 prefer q sledge hammer
and a charge of dynamite even to the in
fuence of my own dulcet playing But if
not only this Orpheus but even Indian
fakirs can persuade snakes to dance, the
task ought to be an easy one for a skilled
musician dealing with such intelligent ami
mails as Pike county rattlesnakes. It's
my opinion that the rattlesnake has a
wealth of music in his soul which has
never been appreciated by a hurrying
world.
90 The sight of a couple of rattlesnakes
tripping the light fantastic toe while you
played a two-step would be an interesting
one told 81 In my bland, sarcastic way,
for l thought he was talking foollshness
but even if you can train them to do it,
I don't see where you come in for any
profit. Your undoubted talents have made
you popular at gatherings of the elite of
Pike county, and have brought you in
fame and the money. But how you are
going to gather in coin OF the realm by
officiating as the orchestra at a social
gathering of the first families of the
snake clan is a problem I'll almit I can't
solve
Isl looked nightly hurt at my biting
words.
You're way off the trail. deacon he
replied in a grieved way. It's no rattle
snake cotillion I'm trying to get up. Now
do l look for my pay from the unassert-
i've rattlers themselves? My plan is to
train the snakes to do some Individual
dancing to the strains of sweet music. In
dian cobras are taught TO do ii in a half
hearted and imperfect manner. But
when your Uncle 81 Evans gets his band
of trained rattlers TO dancing the hornpipe
people viii flock from far and near TO see
them. EXhilarating exercise for the
snakes, and well deserved compensation
for the worthy man who trains them are
included in my scheme
1T struck me there was a good deal in
what 81 said, IL he could carry out his
plan.
Man and boy, I've known Pike coun-
~ rattlesnakes foT years l told him en-
couragingly. and / never saw one lose
himself In the whrling maze of the cou-
chee-couchee, or bob gracefully around in
an effort to execute skirt dance II
would be novel exhibition and one that
l would be willing to pay literally TO
witness
THE next day 81 started out early, and
snakes being plentiful. by noon he had on
hand an interesting exhibit OF young raj
tiers. He shut them up in a big box
with a glass door. The snakes put in their
time rafting angrily and striking at 81
every time he opened the door to put i'm a
new victim. II would have been hard to
find more unpromisng looking collection
Of candidates for a dancing class. But 81
wasn't a bit discouraged.
Loving harmony and tender Kindness
could hardly be expected from a lot of un-
trained young rattlers, snatched from hap
Ply homes and hurled promisculously into
a box with a glass door, he said cheer
lily. Wait until they have enjoyed my
fostering care for a few weeks, and had