Year: 1859

rusty and most venomous looking rattesnakr,
OF very large size, crawled leisurely out upon
the grass with which the yard was covered
Ii is the nature Of this species of the serpent
race TO betray neither fear nor excitement al
The presence of man. Deeming themselves secure
in the possession Of enormous tangs and sup
ply of virus sufficiently copous and deadly to
produce almost instant death in man or beast,
they neither hasten TO escape from sight when
discovered nor betray the least alarm when
assailed. 1t Is even the popular faith that they
unanimously give warning before they strike,
by shaking their rattles, which produce a Prcu-
liar, blrring sound, startling TO the nerves and
alarming TO the mind.


The presence OF the performer and of the
large crowd which surrounded him. seemed mol
to disturb or even 20 arrest the attention of the
scaly monster, which, having craW led forth
out Of the box, lay motoness and extended to
is full length upon the grass. The snake ia
mer approached and stimulated an attack BY
repeated and rapid motions towards ITS head
with his foot. The reptile became iurionSIy
irate in moment. Assuming the coil, which
is its natural postionboth for attack and defense,
It darted forth lis tongue and shook its rattleS
with the rapIdity and violence which produce
their most alarming sound. As the performer
continued, at a safe distance, the motions with
his foot, the snake soon became almost blind
with rage. lis head tlattened, It's eyes glittered
like diamond points, and fearful, prolonged
hiss issued from lis mouth. The man adr one
step towards it, WHEN, unable longer to control
its passion 10 strike,h ieaped forward and fell
fuIl length upon the grass, close at his feet.
B-foe 1t could throw itself again into coil, he
srized ii with frm grasp, about six inches be-
low the head, and holding it off at arms length
from his person, lifted it up from the ground.


The Iage and contortlons of the now imprS-
onpt reptile were terrible 10 behold. Through
The air, and round and round the arm Of the per-
former, it twisted and writhed the Cauda ex
tremity OF IFS body, making, all the time, mono-
tonous and fearful wLiz with lis rattles, and es-
saying every moment, to strike his arm or his
person. The spectators shuddered with horror
aud alarm at the sight; but the intrepid eXpeil
menter, confident in his art, betrayed neither
fear nor doubt as to the certainty of his Iii
umph.


From the moment be first seized the make,
he had looked, with fixed, almost an unwink-
ing gaze, into his eyes, which the serpent ap-
paIentlv returned with look equal steady and
fierce. By degrees the contortons OF its body
became less violent, and its efforts to strike less
frequent. The arm of the man was gradually
bent, 50 as to bring the snake, by slow aPproa-
ches, nearer TO his face. Al length, overcome
by the magnetic fascination of his look, it lay
harmless and unresisting in his grasp. He
placed it in his bosom, twined il around his
neck and londled it with his hands. The sub
dued creature, shofn OF its native ferociy, yield
ed itself 10 the power Of its victor, and per-
mitted him to caress and handle it with impu-
nifty.


The spectators broke forth into audible ex-
pressons Of admiration at the accomplishment
of this remarkable feat. The performer passed
his hat around for collection, and soon had
the satisfaction of receiving it back well re-
penshed with coins-the enthusiasm of the
visitors prompting them to make liberal dona-
ton as a reward for the peril he had braved
and the entertainment he had afforded.


Satisfied with bis success, the snake tanner
vanished from the Old Sweet Springs as sud-
denly as he had come. In few days, how
ever, be made his appearance at another and
not very distant waterIng-pace in the Old Do
minion, where he repeated, before wondering
crowd of spectators, the same featS with his
snake. new and most periIous addition was
destined to be made at this place TO tke almost
fabulous list of his achievements.


A countryman brought him, one day, a rat
tlr-snake, recently caught, which was said to
be peculiarly vicious and dangerous. He
bought it, and announced his intention to tame
ii upon the greensward in front of the visitors
hotel. A large crowd assembled to witness the
feat. A vacant space being left in their midst
for the experiment, the Snake-a very large and
most ugly-looking one-was placed upon the
ground and provoked TO anger by feignrd at
tack with the foot of the performer. At the
proper moment he seized 1t, but almost mme-
diately threw it violently upon the ground, ex-
claiming that he was bitten in the hand. The
crowd quickly drew back, and the stunned rep
tile lay notionleSs where il fell.


The man at once applied his lips to the
wound, and sucked it with great eagerness for
several minutes. Finding no relief from the
main which he endured he next made several