Sunbury American

THE ARAB AND HIS SERPENTS.

A Paris correspondent of the St. Louis Republican says:—I stopped to see some of the numerous shows, which are in full operation during the holidays. I found myself at last within a circle where an Arab was showing off with seven or eight great serpents I wanted to turn and go away, but the crowd had become so great, that I found I could not move, and was obliged to remain a witness of certainly one of the most curious and frightful spectacles ever offered to the public. The snake charmer was seated on the ground, after the fashion of his country, with his snakes all around him, two or three of them were of the most enormous size, almost as large as a full grown boa.— He would take them up in his hands let them wind around his legs, arms, body neck and head; stick out their forked tongues and kiss him on the hands, the lips, the eye-lids, and present their heads or tails to him, as he commanded them.
While the spectacle was proceeding in the most successful way, one of the largest snakes slipped off unnoticed by the Arab, or apparently so, and dragging itself along, got out of the crowd, every body you may be sure, giving him a clear space. Just outside of the circle two dogs were playing together. The serpent no sooner espied them, than he raised his head; and in another moment was busy winding himself around the body of one of the unfortunate animals.— The poor dog really screamed with fright.— It was like the screams of a human being. The Arab no sooner heard it and understood the cause, than he got up, went to the spot, and without touching the serpent at all, spoke a few words, and the creature instantly uncoiled itself slowly—until it left the dog free, and I assure you one of the canine race never ran as fast as that dog did, as soon as he got loose. The surprise of the spectators of this scene knew no bounds, and pieces of silver were literally showered into the Arab's turban.