The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-10-24
ART OF SNAKE CHARMING.
Feats Which Are Nothing But Tricks
/, Of the Trade,

Feats Which Are Nothing But Tricks
i; 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 a jews-harp. The story was
to the effect that a countryman meet
ing 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. "St. Patrick's Day in the Morn
ing" which either paralyzed the ser
pent or sent series Of sentimental chills
down its undulating vertebrae. At
any rate it discarded all hostile inten-
tions and became motionless, when the
countryman mercilessly ground its
head in the dust.
i This is an example Of the many
snake stories" which appear constant
ly before the eyes of credulous human
Iity. It originates, like all OF its 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-
guish vibration Of heavy SOUNDS upon
! their heavy scales, a voracious, hungry
serpent is entirely ignorant OF the
presence Of the chirping bird, proVid-
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-
lieve that these creatures are extreme
Iy 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 a
quiescent, charmed condition as 1t
waves its body to and fro, IS really
in 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. It was then in
possession Of some professional snake
charmers. After it had left their hands
it was made to go through a lively
performance without the accompan1-
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 elevatiag
the forward part of the body from the
ground when annoyed, spreading its
neck or hood and glaring dercely at the
object Of its anger. When in this po-
sition it keen eyes watch eagerly for
chance to deliver deadly blow, OBJ
serving every movement Of the object
or person in front Of it. II one NOV
es, no matter how slightly, there is
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 rises ominously 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 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 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 a harmless
nature. Secondly. they are most in
offensive in their habits. The lazy
boa will lie for hours or days motion
less in its cage, when suddenly awak-
ened from long nap is utterly indif-
ferent to what is going on around it.
| After faw weeks in cantiVity 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 it to bite,
while if treated gently and handled
with movements corresponding to its
sluggist habits, it evinces the utmost
| good nature.
Accounts have been published Of
large snakes coiling themselves around
the object of their annoyance and dem
onstrating in an exceedingly uncoU-
Portable, if not dangerous manner the
power Of their scaly bodies. This
characteristic is popularly 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.
Dog-TisEt Gates.