The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-06-15
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hutchet Out
The Truth
. THE HOOP SNAKE
. GOOD STORY
q BUT PURE FAKE
Q REAL PROPAGANDA

You've heard tell of the famous and
justly dreaded hoop snake.
Yes but you don't believe there is
any such animal, you object.
No? Well, read on, we of little faith.
State of Pennsylvania is promoting
belief in the hoop snake.
Yes, sir, the state is engaged in
hoop snake propaganda, using pictures
and text in an official publication to
show doubters the reptile is not fig
ment of the imagination and that in
the form of a hoop he hunts his prey
on likely hillsides.
The publication is Pennsylvania
Angler, published by the Common
wealth of Pennsylvania Board of Fish
Commissioners.
If pictures and text are taken at
their face value, it's not hard to be-
lieve the hoop snake exists and is in
deed a fearsome critter.
X X x
Of course it must be admitted that
any story in a fishermen's publication
is open to suspicion, in view of the
WSll hllOWH CCIOSllSy VI 1911 ollA oAAOANS
stories toward exaggeration.
But how are you going to doubt the
evidence of your eyes?
Pictures-four of 'em to show the
hoop snake at his deadly work.
First we see the reptile grasping
tail in mouth, preparatory to rolling
toward his prey.
Then the snake is pictured "bank-
ing a turn" in changing its course OF
direction.
Next the snake is seen rolling along
at fast clip.
Last, it is depicted nearing it's sup
posedly doomed victim and letting
loose it's tail and darting tail first for
the strike. In case you don't know
about the hoop snake, it is explained
the dangerous end of him is the tail,
which is alleged to be equipped with
a horn of an exceedingly poisonous
nature.
Paul l.. Swanson, writer of the hoop
snake article, gives some examples
of the deadliness of the reptile.
at seems as if they miss you they
got to strike at something when they
are in that mood, so they usually hit
a cherry tree, which withers and dies
in short order"
(The Cherry Tree hopes it never en-
counters hoop snake).
The author says that the pictures
which accompany his article are the
only ones ever taken of hoop snake
in action. 1t seems the snake was
after his brother Dave and Mr.. Swan
son ran along beside taking the pic,
lures.
"Dave finally got tired,' he AYERS,
"and the snake caught up to him and
let him have it. Lucky thing it only
put hole in his shirt. The shirt turn.
ed bright green in about two hours"
X x X
Mr.. Swanson cites other Wondrous
"facts" in connection with hoop snakes
and winds up thus:
$50 the next time anybody tells you
they amt no hoop snakes, you just
tell them they amt no Sanity Claus
either, but it makes darn good
story"
A lot of propaganda makes "darn
good story" That's why it gets over.
It's so plausible.
Propaganda in pictures and text
painting striking workers with horns
and hoofs is along the lines of the
hoop snake yarn. Pictures and text
sometimes have an air of verisimilitude
but are fakes pure and simple.
So with propaganda designed to en-
tangle this nation in Europe's endless
quarrels. Exposure in recent years
of the oftentimes lying propaganda
employed to get us into the World
War gives ample warning against
present efforts to line us up with one
side or the other. But have we learned
the lesson? Future months and Years
will give the answer.