The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-12
THE UNSIGETLY TOAD.
Some Interesting Lore Which 1t Has
Inspired.
London Globe.

London Globe.
The unfortunate toad has from time i'm
memorial been an object OF distrust ana
people. "A pleasing tale runs that a gentle
man. walking along a country lane, came
suddenly upon a village boy belaboring the
and exclaiming at each blow, I'll larn zee
to be a toadi" Whereat the indignant new
conner, Selling the miscreant by his collar,
vigorously applied a cane to his legs, re-
marking, I'll larn you to be a boy!" The
popular hatred of the toad, indeed, is OF
such antiquity and is still so general as to
dangerously poisonous it is hopeless to at
tempt to convince the ordinary rustic.
Doubtless this belief has its origin In the
acrid secretion which the toad has the pow
er OF emitting when disturbed or annoyed
unduly, and which will cause a dog that
has incautiously picked up a toad to foam
at the mouth. Again, the uneouth appear
ance of the creature has had much to do
will the feeling of repulsion with which 1t
has always been regarded. Squat like a
toad" is the phrase by which Milton de-
scribes the evil one eSsaying to reach the
ear of Eve.
Superstition, I'm truth. has laid a firm hold
on the toad's misshapen figure. The belief,
not only In the existence of 'toad-StoneS,"
but in their efficacy as a sovereign remedy
for certail ills, which is still common in
parts of the country, is of very ancient date.
There is to be found in the heads of old
and great toads," says Fenton, writing in
1863. "a stone they call borax or stelon,
which being used as rings give forewarning
of venom. In the Londesborough collection
is a silver ring, of the fifteenth century, in
which one of these toad stones is set. They
were supposed always to bear on their sur
face a figure resembling a toad; being some
what similar trinkets, one may imagine,
to the "scarbaeus" ornament of the Egyp-
tians. Another early writer remarks, "A toad
stone called 'crepandia,' touching any part
envomed by the bite of rat, wasp, spider or
other venomous beasts. ceases the pain and
swelling thereof" 1t was believed that when
brought near the poison the stone sweated
and changed colors, thus conveying to its
wearers a timely warning of danger.
Perhaps the most familiar superstition In
regard TO toads is that, still rife, which sup
poses them capable of existing for an in
definite period in the interior of rocks,
stones or hermetically-sealed cavities. Num-
berless authentic instances of this re-
markable power have been brought for
ward from time TO time. The following
example, from an old book, is typical. I'm
1898 Mr.. George Wilson, a mason. met with
a toad, which he wantonly immured In a
stone wall that he was then building. In
the middle of the wall he made a close
cell of lime and stone, just ft for the mag
nitude of its body, and seemingly so plas-
tered as to prevent the admission of air.
In 1903, sixteen years afterward, 1t was
found necessary to open a gap in this wall.
for a passage of carts, when the poor
creature was found alive in its stronghold.
1t seemed at first in a very torpid state.
but 1t soon recovered animation and ac-
tivity; and, as If sensible of the blessings
stones and disappeared" 1t is known that
tOads can exist for a long time without
food, and it is generally believed that they
live to a great age: and doubtless these two
peculiarities have had much to do with the
superstition in regard to their supposed
penchant for a hermits life. The fallacy,
however, was completely exposed by Dean
auckland, father Of Frank auckland, the
great naturalist, who went to the trouble
of testing the truth of the theory by an
exhaustive series of experiments. 1t need
only be remarked that none Of his victims
survived their incarceration.
In legendary, as in superStitiouS lore, the
toad plays no small part. 1t may not be
generally known that the fleur de lis Of
France was originally In shape of a toad.
Thus, at least. runs the tale. Clovis, King
of France, bore on his banner the device
of three toads. or 'botes' as they were
called in old French. His baptism gave
great umbrage to the Arians, who rebelled
and assembled a large host against him un-
der King Candat Clovis, while on his way
to meet the heretics, was granted a vision,
wherein he saw in the heavens his device
of three toads miraculously changed into
three lilies "or" on a banner azure" Such
a banner he caused to be instantly made,
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