Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-04-19
THE DEsPISED TOAD.
Popular Hatred of tho Animal Is Of
Great Antiquity.


Great Antiquity.
The unfortunate toad has from time
immemorial been an object Of distrust
and aversion, especially among the
common people. A pleasing tale runs
that a gentleman, walking along
country lane, came suddenly upon
village boy belaboring the crushed
body of a toad with heavy stick and
exclaiming at each blow, I'll larn e
to be a toad!" whereat the indignant
newcomer, seizing the miscreant by
his collar, vigorously applied a cane
to his legs, remarking. 'Tll larn you
to be a boy!" The popular hatred OF
the toad, indeed, Is of such antiquity
and is still so general as to seem in
eradicable. That the creature Is not
dangerously poisonous it Is hopeless
to attempt to convince the ordinary
rustic. Doubtless this belief has Its
origin in the acrid secretion which the
toad has the power Of emitting when
disturbed or annoyed unduly and
which will cause a dog that has in
cautiously picked up toad to foam
at the mouth. Again, the uncouth ap-
pearance of the creature has had much
to do with the feeling Of repulsion
with which it has always been regard
ed. Squat like a toad" Is the phrase
by which Milton describes the evil one
essaying to reach the ear Of Eve.
Superstition, in truth. has laid firm
hold on the toad's misshapen figure.
The belief, not only in the existence of
toad stones,' but in their efficacy as
sovereign remedy for certain 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 1869, "a stone they call
borax, or stelon, which, being used as
rings, gives forewarning Of venom
In the Londesborough collection is
silver ring Of the fifteenth century in
which one Of these toad stones Is set.
They were supposed always to bear
on their surface a figure resembling
toad, being somewhat similar trinkets.
one may imagine, to the scarabaus
ornament of the Egyptians. Another
early writer remarks. "a toad stone
called 'crepandia,' touching any part
envenomed by the bite Of rat, wasp,
spider or other venomous beast, ceases
the pain and swelling thereof" 1t was
believed that when brought near to
poison the stone sweated and changed
color, thus conveying to its wearers
timely warning. Of danger.
1t is to these peculiar amulets that
Shakespeare is supposed to refer in
"As You Like It."
Sweet are the uses of adversely,
Which, like the toad, ugly and ven
omous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.
1t is not probable, however, that the
poet, being poet, Is here alluding to
the eye Of the toad, an object, as all
who are really familiar with the ap-
pearance of this humble batrachian
will agree, than which there are few
more Ill udlulS.
Perhaps the most familiar supersti-
ton in regard to toads is that, still rife,
which supposes them capable Of exist
ing for an indefinite period in the inte-
rior of rocks. stones or hermetically
sealed cavities. Numberless "authen-
tic instances" of this remarkable pow
er have been brought forward from
time to time. The following example
from an old book Is typical: I'm 1893
Mr. George Wilson, a mason, met with
toad, which he wantonly immured In
stone wall that he was then building.
In the middle Of the wall he made a
close cell Of lime and stone, and SEEM
ingly so plastered as to prevent the
admission of air. In 1909, sixteen years
afterward, it was found necessary to
open a gap in this wall for a passage
of carts. when the poor creature was
found alive in it's stronghold. 1t SEEM
ed at first in a very torpid state, but
it soon recovered animation and activi-
ty, and as If sensible to the blessings
SStA$SS@~N-
Of 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 super
stition in regard to their supposed
penchant for a hermit's life. The fall
lacy, however, was completely exposed
by Dean Buckland, father of Frank
Buckland, 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 re-
marked that none Of his victims sur
vived the 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
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 UNI
bragg 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
vision wherein he saw in the heav-
ems his device of three toads miracu-
lously changed into three lilies "or"
on a banner "azur." Such banner he
l..
his lambe."-London Globe.