Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-11-16

hCkNACS INV Tvs 6GeNNkf eNO WIG
Supply Was In No Danger Of Giving
Out and Losing Him Job
Among the numerous Objectionable
and dangerous creatures peculiar to
the orient none is more repulsive than
the snake. One shoulders inVOluntarily
as one thinks OF its wigg,ing body and
vicious characteristics During my
residence in India I never felt safe
from its presence. had my closets.
bed and even my bathtub searched ev-
cry day lest one should be found coiled
up In some corner. writes Eliza X
Van Bergen in the Christian lntelli.
gencer.
j was always on the watch for the
creatures and ever in mortal terror Of
treading on one. 1t never occurred 20
me TO sleep without n light. and
stick was always near at hand lest
might find one unawareS and be un.
prepared TO meet it. I even looked
upon my thin mosquito curtain as
slight protection. for il would at least
break its fall should a snake tumble
down suddenly from the ceiling.
The creatures have decided pref
erence for cool. damp places and often
choose the bathroom and sometimes
the tub for their habitation. much 10
the discomfort OF its rightful habitue
II is not unalloyed bliss 20 live In a
place infested with serpentS. With
such formidable enemies. one never
forgets TO be cautions. nor 10 guard
against their presence and sudden at
tack. II makes one alert 10 bo IN the
midst OF danger and adds spice to life
Well. as started out 20 say. my
garden was infested with snakes. ana
! was persuaded to have native
charmer summoned 10 lure them
away. His hldeous occupation. weird
lamentations and strange pets sur
round the snake charmer with a pc
culiar fascination. His magnetism
and ski are considered phenomenal
in the east
This specimen was tall and lank and
had deep. cavernous eyes and an alb
stracted air Some Of the creatures
were coiled around his wrist. which
n de him still more repellant He
handled them as II they were per
fectly harmless. About the neck he
wore n chain with flute attached
Two other jugglers accompanied him.
similarly attired. but minus the
snakes One carried a closed basket
on his arm
He stopped Mt a respectful distance
10 make his "salaam." which is the
customary salute OF the country. Then
he approached the aloe hedge which
inclosed my grounds. squatted himself
tailor fashion on the grass and began
10 produce weird. plaintive sounds on
the flute, 10 which music the reptiles
entwined themselves around him and
seemed TO sway their bodies 10 and
fro.
After some time n snake appeared.
gliding slowly and stealthily out from
the hedge toward the spot where It
heard the enchanting music The
charmer allowed II 20 come quite
close and TO wind itself around his
arm. Another followed and yet an
other. while the other two men stood
by holding basket ready 10 receive
them as soon rs they unwound them.
selves Al least a half dozen ap-
peared and were disposed OF in this
manner After being captured they
appeared rs IL in stupor.
Horrihed with his performance. I
begged him 10 stop and babe him
leave the place lie assented and.
picking up the basket. departed with
the snakes without ever ceasing 10
play his uncanny tune. His compan-
ions gathered up the rest Of his be-
longings and followed him. | paid n
certain sum for each snake thus dis
patched.
He came repeatedly thereafter and
went through the same performance.
conjuring up more reptiles and dispoS
Ing Of them in the same way until |
began TO suspect some trickery lie
refused to allow the snakes to be kill
ed. insisting that they were sacred and
must NOT be put 10 death II looked
as II he replaced the snakes In the
hedge after removing them, and thus
he multiplied their number and in.
creased his gains
was finally forced TO have him re
moved by the police and threatened
with punishment In order TO keep him
away. Nothing would persuade me 70
permit one OF the fellows TO enter my
premises again.