The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-11-21
ART OF SNAKE CHARMING,
Eeats Which Are Nothing But Tricks
Of the Trade.

VI Luc AASoO.
A few days ago there appeared in one
Of the daily papers wonderful story
os q snake which was charmed by the
strains OF a jeWs-harp. The story Was
TO the effect that q eountrynan meet
ing a dangerous reptile in the road,
was Mortified at seeing the creature
prepare to attack him. Being an en-
thusiastic performer on the Jews
harp ne Immediately struck up the
tune. "St. Patrick's Day in the Morn
ing" which either paralyzed the ser
pent or sent series Of sentimental cnli!s
down its undulating vertebrae. AT
any rate it discarded all hostile 1nten-
tions and became motionless, Wnen the
countryman mercilessly ground us
head in the dust.
This is an example OF the many
SNAKE stories" which appear constant
ly before the eyes of credulous human
ity. 1t originates, like ali 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, 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 a flute, have led many to be-
lieve that these creatures are extreme
" 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
auiescent, charmed condition as 1t
waves it's body to and fro, is really
in a 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
1t was made to go through a lively
performance without the accompanl-
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 hood and glaring fercely at the
object Of it's anger. When In this po-
siticn It keen eyes watch eagerly for
a chance to deliver a deadly blow, OBJ
serving every movement OF the object
or person in front Of it. If one NOV
es, 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 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 swaylng 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 harmless
nature. Secondly, they are most in
offensive in their habits. The lazy
boa will lie for hours or days motion
less in it's cage, when suddenly awak-
ened from a long nap Is utterly indif-
ferent to what Is going on around it.
After a 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 a 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 II 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
J the object Of their annoyance and dem
onstrating in an exceedingly uncom-
Portable, if not dangerous manner the
power of their scaly bodies. This
characteristic is popularly supposed to
be commonly reserted to by the "boa
CONSTRUCTOR" but the idea is purely er-
roneous and originates from an aver.
sion to the serpent race from which
have sprung innumerable fallacies and
superstitions.