The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-13
PROJECTS FOR MAKING GOLD.
Some Schemes of AIchemists, An
cient and Modern.
From Household Words.

From Household Words.
The world owes good deal to the old
alchemists who. in their blind search for
the secret of transmitting metals and of
the elixir of life, stumbled upon many
discoveries which helped to lay the foun-
dations of modern chemistry The no
ton was derived from the Arabs, who,
under the Caliphs of Badgad and Cor
dova, had made considerable progress in
chemical science. And when, in the thir-
tenth century. spirit of research and in
vestigation began to stir among the Eu-
ropean nations. the enticement to a short
cut to wealth and power set all the
learned on a pursuit that promised such
marvellous results. The pursuit of the CHI
mera called the philosophers stone
was carried to such lengths that Pope
John XXI issued a bull condemning 10
perpetual Imprisonment those who at
tempted to transform one metal into an
other. This was in 1877; but the papal
prohibition had little effect in checking
the devotion to the secret art. In 1928
our King Edward III issued an order to
bring to him at Ethan, by fair means
or foul, two men who had boosted of
their art to make silver, not for punish
ment but that he might set them to work
for his own benefit and toward the close
of the century, Henry ~ addressed let
tiers patent to professors, mobiles and
priests melting them to prosecute the
search after the philosophers stone,"
as a means of enabling him to pay the
debts of the state.
The respect, however, which princes had
for the ideal science did not extend to the
persons of the adopts, who were laid hold
of without ceremony, and compelled TO
labor at the projection" OF this there
is an instance in the life of Alexander Sea-
ton, who possessed an estate somewhere
on the coast of Scotland. In 1902, while
travelling for his pleasure in Holland, ac-
companied by his wife, he called on a
Dutch gentleman whom he had treated
with hospitality in his own country; and
in the course of this visit had the impru-
dence to exhibit his skill In the art of
transmutation. He pursued his travels to
Basic and afterwards found himself in
Saxony; and on his route so frequently
repeated the same indiscretion that his
reputation as a living source OF treasure
could not fail to reach the ducal court.
The consequence was that he was seized
and shut up in tower
The Duke Of Saxony attempted to work
upon him. first by promises, then by
threats, then by torture; but all in vain.
The unfortunate alchemist submitted in
silence, and his prosecutors, after hav-
ing repeatedly burned his flesh and dis
located his limbs. at length gave up active
measures in despair and trusted to the
effect of protracted confinement.
Michael sandovigius, who resided at era
COW, was then in Saxony, and being HIM
self addicted to the dangerous pursuit,
heard with great interest Of the adven-
ture of Seaton. He obtained admission 10
his prison. and formed plan for his deliv-
erance, which he ultimately effected by
making his guards drunk. He carried him
and his wife to Cracow, and then de-
manded, as the price OF his service. 10 be
Initiated in the mystery of the "phiIoso-
piers stone;" but Seaton. showing him
lbs enianciated body, his shrunk nerves and
powerless limbs, replied that all these
things he had endured rather than dis
close a secret he had won by study and
prayer. He presented him. however. with
a portion OF the precious powder by
means Of which--so the story goes-and
not by any scientific merit OF his own.
sandovigius became famous as an alchem-
list Seaton soon after died, and the perse-
vering friend, thinking there might be
some chemical virtue even In his widow.
married her. and by this means attributed