Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-10
THE ALCHEMISTS OF OLD.
Some Extraordinary Delusions That 0c-
cupied the Minds Of Wise Men In the
Middle Ages-Eiixirs of Life and Uni-

| cupied the Minds of Wise Men In the
Middle Ages-Elfxirs of Life and Uni-
versal Pnnaceas.
| One of the most extraordinary delusions in
the history of human evolution is the search
for elixir Of life and the philosophers stone,
which occupied the minds of medieval alchem-
lists. How far these two were Identical is left in
some doubt by the more mystic and incoherent
authorities. Originally. indeed they seem to
have been one-the substance which in Geber's
phrase would "heal" the baser metals into the
convalescence of gold would certainly exert
similar effect upon the human body, would
purge the impurities therein, restore
youth and indefinitely prolong life.
Most alchemists agreed that 1t was some form
OF liquid gold. Roger Bacon recommended
gold dissolved in aqua regia, claiming that it
had kept him alive for 20 years, and that he
had heard of an old man being restored to
blooming youth by its use. But people drank
Of this solution, and still death was not BAN
ished from the eaEth. Bacon himself died.
Then the advocates of potable gold fell back
upon new explanation. The gold OF COM
merce was not the proper article, put only the
gold produced by the touch of the philosophers
stone
But whatever the ingredients of the elixir,
says Boston Globe writer two things were
held to be certain by the most intelligent and
learned minds of the middle ages: First, chat
such an elixir did exist; and. secondly, that it
had been discovered at various periods, but
had been lost either through the seltshness OF
the individual, who kept the recipe close
secret, or else through the dullness OF intelli-
gence which prevented any but the most IA
vored mortals from penetrating to the esoteric
meaning of the chaotic tumble OF words in
which the secret was revealed
Some Extraordinary Stories.
There was Axtephino. for example. who in
the twelfth century published book on the
art OF prolonglng human life. Certainly. no
one could be a better authority on the subject,
for at the date of publication he was in the
1O25th year of his age There could be no doubt
about this He said SO himself. He had
known the great men of antiquity. had con-
versed with them familiarly, and was never at
loss for an answer when questioned
as to their personal appearance, manners
and characteristics. His disciples even
attempted to prove that he was Apol-
lonius of 1yana, who lived in the time OF
Christ and whose life and pretended miracles
formed the subject of a biography by Philos-
tratus. There was Nicholas Flannel, who, at
the age of so. discovered the elixir Of life, and,
according to the more modest story, was en-
abled to proIong his life for a quarter OF CEN
tury longer, although, according to his more
enthusiastic disciples, he did not die at all. and
even now may be travelling around somewhere
in company, perhaps, with the wandering Jew.
Other alchemists, like Roger Bacon, pos
sessed brazen heads which were SO far ami.
mated that they could speak and predict the
future. It was even whispered that other
philosophers had succeeded in making
homunculus-a sort of elf or fairy. Paracelsus
boldly gives a recipe for producing one. As
Disraeia remarks, there was greatness OF
mind in this Philosopher, who, having furnished
a recipe to make fairy, had the delicacy to
refrain from its creation. Even the serious
minded Baptista Porta does not deny the possi-
bility of engendering creatures which .at their
full growth shall not exceed the size of
mouse" but he adds that "they are only pretty
little things to play with"
Superstitions Die Hard.
Long after the doctrines of alchemy had
been exploded, long after the learned had
abandoned the search for the philosophers
stone and the elixir vit9, these marvellous
legends retained their hold upon the popular
mind, and gave fruitful opportunity to i'm
posters. In the sixteenth, and even in the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries pretended
alchemists travelled from town to town selling |
elxirs which would restore youth and beauty
and prolong life for ages. There was the
famous DIR. Dee, for example. an Englishman, |
who, in 1851, claimed to have found the elixir |
among the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. Peo- |
pie came from far and wide to see man who |
could never die, and to be sharers in his i'm |
mortality at fair commercial equivalent
wealthy Polish nobleman, Count Albert |
Laski, came among the rest. He was cordially |
received, his horoscope was read, it was pre-
dicted that he should become the owner of the |
philosophers stone. should live for centuries |
and become the King of Poland. But in order |
that all these things should be added unto him |
he must first leave England. taking with him |
the doctor and his assistant, with their wives +
and families.
The happy family proceeded to Poland. and
for several years the doctor and his assistant
lived CHEEKY life on the counts estate, spend
ing several hours every day in the endeavor to
transmute iron into gold. But somehow the
experiment always failed at the very moment
it ought to have succeeded. At last when the
count was almost ruined, he disembarrassed
himself of his visitors. But they readily found
other victims to fleece 1t is gratifying to note
that DR.. Dee finally died in penury in En-
gland.