The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-11-27
ART or SNAKE CHARMING.
Eeats Which are Nothing But Tricks
Of the Trade.

A few days ago there appeared in one
Of the daily papers a wonderful story
OF q snake which was charmed by tie
strains Of a jews-harp. The story was
to the effect that countryman meet
Ing a dangerous reptile in the road,
was horrifed at seeing the creature
prepare to attack him. Being an en-
tiusiastic 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 verteDrae. Al
any rate it discarded all hostile lnten-
tio2s and became motionless, "nen the
countr-man mercilessly ground It's
head in the dust.
This is an example Of the many
SNAKE stories" which appear constant
Iy before the eyes of credulous human
ity. It originates, like all OF its klnd'
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 chirpirg 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
" sensitive to the sound OF music. But
exhibitions ce this character are only
tricks practiced by the clever Hlndoc.
and the cobra, instead OF being IN a
uuiescent, charmed condition as 1t
waves it's body to and fro, is really
in fit Of intense anger.
Not long ago large cobra was IN
the possession Of Dr.. Joseph c. Thomp-
son, Of the United States navy. TEls
reptile was purchased by DR.. Thomp-
son in South Africa. 1t 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 accompani-
ment of the wierd music of the fakir.
The operation Of making the cobra
dance is very simple. The reptile mas
the characteristic habit Of eleVatlns
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-
sition it keen eyes watch eagerly for
chance to deliver a 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 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 0as-
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 boas
and python at the circus, is even more
simple, says the New York Times. The
| large snakes used in these exhibitions
are il 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 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 il treated gently and handed
with movements corresponding to rs
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 uacom-
Portable, if not dangerous manner the
power Of their scaly bodies. This
Characteristic Is pepularly supposed to
be commonly reserted to by the "boa
CONSTRUCTOR" but the idea is purely ec-
roneous and originates from an aver
sion to the serpent race from which
have sprung innumerable fallaciss and
superstitions.