Snake Charming Women, Part 2: Emily Pompon and the Two Nalas

Nala Damajanta*, the Original Hindoo Snake-Charmer, was born Emily Pompon - perhaps. That is what the Brooklyn Eagle reported, in a useful article detailing the real and stage names of a slew of performers. The surname Pompon, however, sounds dubious. She came from Connecticut (as you will see later on) and I have not yet found anyone of that name from there. Nor have I been able to find much (for this post) about the Palmers (if I do, they will have their own space, as they sound like an interesting lot).

In the fall of 1884, Emily had a little spot of trouble with Mr. John Palmer, her manager, and decided to strike out on her own. She advertised in October 1884 that she has "severed [her] connection with John Palmer" and would fulfill all contracts made by him for her. Others wishing to engage her could contact her directly through Forepaugh's Dime Museum in Philadelphia.

John Palmer did not like this one bit. he bought a large ad of his own in the next issue of the Clipper:

In last week's Clipper, Nala Damajanta (so called) whom I had engaged for the last three years, has the audacity to advertise that she had severed her connection with me and was ready to fulfill the engagements I had made for MYSELF AND ACT.

MANAGERS ARE HEREBY WARNED that the Title of NALA DAMAJANTA, Original Hindoo Snake-Charmer, is my own invention and trade mark, and I have the title registered in different ways of spelling the above NAME, and any infringement will be prosecuted to the full extent of the Law.

I, JOHN PALMER, son of the great JAMES PALMER, whose Gymnastic Performances and Ceiling Walking caused such enormous success in London, Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Russia and other large cities in Europe from 1856 to 1880, hereby declare [that last week's ad]...is a deliberate falsehood.

He adds (capitals raging) that he has got another Artist to use the Nala Damajanta name and act. That Artist would be fulfilling the contracts made- not Emily. She would be arriving from Europe very soon and would surpass "the former lady" both "in costumes and doing the act."*

Emily didn't care. She was sassy, outrageously outspoken and afraid of nothing - neither of John Palmer's raging capitals, nor of any snakes, either. She went right ahead with her plans to tour as Nala Damajanta in Forepaugh's traveling circus.

A timid-sounding reporter in Burlington, Vermont met her while she was touring in the Forepaugh circus in 1884. He asked her: "Are you not afraid that the great anacondas may some time crush you in their powerful folds?" He got an answer full of double-entendres:

"Afraid of being squeezed to death?" said Nala Damajanta, scornfully. "La, no! I lived in Connecticut all my life, and our pastor - his wife wasn't congenial, you know, and he was one of these old bald-headed boys who are always yearning for an affinity and all that sort of thing - oh my! he could just give a python points on squeezing!"

And she wrapped a twenty-three-foot python about her waist, and the enormous snake caught on and shut up until its eyes stood out like sleeve-buttons, and its tail was set as rigid as a poker with the immense strain, Nala Damajanta half closed her eyes, leaned back her head and said dreamily: "Tighter, you dude; brace up and take hold of me, can't you?"

* Pompon is a French name, and it is possible that the Eagle was referring to the European, second Nala. The name fits the personality of the first Nala so well, however, that I am assuming that it belongs to the first Nala (also, a French lady would be likely spell her name Emilie).

** The name "Nala Damajanta" was probably derived from a story about a prince named Nala and a princess Damayanthi - see here and here. A movie called Nala Damayanthi was made several years ago, loosely based on the original folk tale, see here.

SOURCES

[Untitled ancedote], Puck, July-Sept. 1884, p. 284.

"Not What They Seem," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sept. 11, 1887, p. 10.

Advertisements from the New York Clipper, October 4 and 11, 1887.