The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-06-30
SNAKE CHARMER
TEELS~~T RADE SECRETS.

An industrious snake charmor re.
hearsing behind the scenes of an East
Side half paused long enough in his
work the other day to let out some
professional secrets.
He made no pretense to hypnotic
power, over his sinuous fellow per
formers, but said that everything lay
in a close acquaintance with the
snakes. After that a snake charmer
must be person of eternal vigi
lance
He could never be quite sure what
a snake would do. The snake that
he had handled hundred time with
perfect safety might turn on him the
hundred and first time.
Cne indication was especially to be
trusted. A snake, like a cat; shows
its anger by a slow movement of the
tail. When the tail begins to wag the
snake charmer must put aside the
angry serpent and fetch out another
if his little turn is to be done with
safety
This particular snake cbarmer was
especially skillful in the handling Of
pythons. The python, according to
his account of the matter, being con.
strictor, is usually held to be non.
venmous, but the bite of the python
is to be avoided when the snake is
shedding his skin.
At that time the python is blind
from film that comes over the cast.
off skin. In this condition the crea.
ture is extremely nervous and sensi'
tive, easily provoked to anger and
somewhat venomous.
At other times the python is to be
feared for the blow he strikes. 1t is
like the kick of mule and no man
can stand up against it. The python
strike man in the breast or near the
waist If he is disabled by the blow
the snake may coil about him and do
him mortal harm.
The snake charmer found it neces-
sary for success in his business to
keep three pythons, and, as they cost
from 500 to $500 each, the business
required some outlay of capital. He
could not safely work with strange
snakes. With three pythons whose
temper he understood he could be
pretty sure of always having at least
one to work with.
He had to study the condition of a
snake before undertaking to exhibit it.
The snakes were fed every two weeks,
and the snake charmer found that it
was unsafe to handle them much until
three or four days after their meal.
Iu the early stages of digestion they
required quiet and if disturbed were
likely to disgorge what they had eat
en-. 1t is serious matter to lose a
meal when meals come two weeks
apart. Sometimes a snake would die
from being disturbed too soon after
feeding. 1t was not difficult to re
place a snake, for New York is an ex-
cellent market, but the loss OF a python
was serious matter financially, and a
new snake had to be studied before it
ould be publicly exhibi ite d.
The important thing in picking up
snake was first to distract his at
tention. This was commonly done
by holding cloth in front of the
creature. Instantly the eyes of the
shake were fixed npon the cloth and
then was the moment for the snake
charmer to seize it.
He must take a firm hold just be-
hind the head and not far enough back
to permit the snake to turn upon him.
After that the snake charmer must be
very gentle, and ready upon the slight
est sign of the snakes anger to put
the creature back in his cage and get
out another.-N y Sun.