The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-30

Which. ike the toad. ugly and veu'
nous,

toad Milton gives a still deeper shade tc
the picture. as he describes Satan. who
Sat like i toad; squat at the ear Of Eve
On account, probably. OF this very bad
reputation. which these two eminent an
thorities have thus perpetuated. the toad
OF the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
enjoyed prestige which has in our day
been quite lost IN early times he figured
in mythology, in witchcraft and in med
icine.
In the days of Shakspere when toads
were n power in the world. they We're
believed 70 secrete a most poisonous
venom. hiding for that purpose. under
stones and in dark corners. Emerging
from their concealment. they spat venom
with impartiality al man and beast. The
cattle plague. which occasionally ravishcd
Great Britain. and many mysterious
deaths were generally understood TO be
the york of these animals
There was one antagonist. however.
which was able to meet the toad on its
own ground and triumph in a single com
bat The spider of those DAYS was quite
equal 10 him in venomous qualities
\ certain nobleman of high degree. we
are told. once witnessed duel between
"a toad and q spider. The toad was observ-
ed 10 retire after each round To a GER
tain plant. Finally the nobleman caused
this plant TO be uprooted. whereupon the
toad coming back for its antidote and
finding il gone grew black and burst
asunder. insomuch that we were all as
tonished.'
Another story. equally we'll attested. is
Of some holy monks. who found a toad
sitting on the mouth OF a sleeping brother.
knowing that 10 arouse him was GER
tain death. but TO leave the animal there
was worse chow is not mentionedl there
they carefully transported the sleeper.
toad and all. 10 a corner where spider
sat in her web AT once realizing what
was expected of her. the sagacious insect
spun rope down 20 the sleeper and his
enemy, and promptly burst the toad.
It is sad TO reflect that IN these degen-
crate days toads eat spiders and think
nothing Of il. They are gifted with
patent. reversible tongue, firmly fixed in
front. and with the gummy end free and
pointing down the throat. Sitting immov
able with an unscrutable countenance. the
flies. gnats and mosquitoes which pre-
sumo on this apparent Indifference to all
earthly appetites aud venture too near
are lost; flap goes the tongue, the insect
is gone. and the toad looks as solemn
rs before
Mr.. Charles Dudley Warner, in his
Summer in a Garden" pays a tribute 70
the toad. in the character Of the garden
eT : friend.
In a melon-patch. he SAYS. nothing
so disgusts the beetles and bugs or all
sorts. which delight TO make that spot
their summer-resort, as the presence of
Il stout and agile toad
American toads. by the way. arc Of
different branch of the family from those
Of Great Britain-larger. not so dark In
color and much more agile.
They are regarded as so valuable IN
England that they are imported into
carefully packed in moss, in wooden
boxes. and are sold to gardeners at the
rate Of three or four pounds per hundred.
But the fact remains that their ancient
value and prestige has departed.
Fortune tellers were helpless without
them then. Witches lamentations were
incomplete. The witches in Macbeth be-
gan their wonderful mixture in the bub-
bling cauldron with the
Toad. that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty-one
Sweltered venom. sleeping, got
They further augmented the charm
with toe Of frog.
In the medieval "Physicke BOXES
toads and frogs furnish specifics for
many and various ailments.
Take the right eye OF frogge: lap
it IN russell cloath and hang it about the
bleared. and if the left Eye he greved. do
the like by the left Eye Of the frogge."
\ baked toad, in a bag Of silk. worn
about the neck kept Of the ague. and
toad. alive or dead applied 20 the back
of the neck. stopped bleeding at the nose
4 dtied and powdered toad swallowed
ia spoOnsful formed a love phiIter ire
sistiblc 10 the most obdurgte swain.
Alas. virtue has gone ont of him Toad
and even that precious jewel in his head
has been lost-no trace of It remains
child Of my acquaintance recently made
thorough scientific examination of the
subject and reported as the result. 4
toad's head is partly fun Of water, and
partly empty
There is, however, one spot on earth
where the toad is still accorded some re-
specf Prof Max Muller. himself ma
tive of the ancient Duchy Of Anhalt tells
tha story Of Frau Krotc or Lady Toad
The family Of the Ascanian Princes Of
Anhalt claim n great antiquity. tracing
their descent from Noah. Certain II is
that their records are distinct 10 A. -.
1851. The story Of Frau Krote is told by
Johann Beckmdnn. Historic des Fursteu-
thums Anhalt. Zerbst. 40 Herr Muller
gave il as follows:
1T is said that Princess Of Anhalt. ex-
habit Of dining alone in her room IN the
ducal castle. After dinner she collected
the crumbs OF q napkin and shook them
ont OF the window whereupon a large toad
appeared and swallowed the crumbs.
Some time after. as the Princess and her
husband were sleeping in the same room
an unknown woman. bearing lighted
lantern. appearing. saving that the Lady
Toad sent her best thanks for the crumbs
a.. in ~. f.tn he ora
which must be kept in the Gucai palace
so that the family might prosper and the
race never become extinct Besides. great
care should be taken Of all fires on Christ
mas eve. beCause on the night the palace
might easily take afire and b. DESTROYED
The ring is stiil in existence. Il Is made
IL gold OF 4 pale color. and adorned with
three diamonds The stones are very
old and are not well polished. the two
outside ones triangular the center one
oblong
Herr Muller adds that. 20 the present
dav. all fires are extinguished in the Cas-
tie on Christmas Eve. and the CASTELAR,.
fl company with some servants. patrols
the room until morning
The gold ring ~ Frau krote Is IRE
served with religious care u Il 1spt 81
a small iron safe. carefully hidden aWay
in tae wall - the old castle onlF ne (
reieutng Duke possesses The KY witch
opens the safe
when Herr M5lier was shown this
precious heirloom los TIE puke ~ Anhalt I
himself the greatest precaution WAS taken .
against -verY possible accident and pay (
ficuisrly against thu danger ~ the ring
falling or the foor. WHICH would porfend i
sou.e dire misfortune 20 the reisniag i
family
Profescr 2lrller makes some Ingenious 4
and clever attempts to expiain this le- 4
gcnd 1ut 81 81 great ptfF g. disturb +
il. r.ezre fhe toad ems stronghold
Among the American Indians g is bf-
sIaveI that rouncii u fht gods vas