Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-03-28
THE DESPISED TOAD.
POPULAR HATRED OF THE ANIMAL 3
OF GREAT ANTIQUITY.
In Legendary rs We'll as In Superstf-
tious Lore the Uncoutll and Mis-
shnpen Creature Plays No Small
Pnrt-The Belief In Toad stones.

The unfortunate toad has from time
immemOrial been an object Of distrtlSt
and aversion, especially among the
common people. a pleasing tale runs
that a gentleman, walking along a
country lane, came suddenly upon a
village boy belaboring the crushed
body Of toad with Il heavy stick aud
cXclaiming at each blow. IN larn e
to be a todd!' whereat the indignant
newcomer, seizing the miscreant by
his collar, vigorously applied Il cane
to his LEGS, remarking, "Ill larn you
to be boy" The popular hatred of
the toad, indeed, is of such antiquity
and is still so general as to seem in
eradic"ble 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 Il dog that has i'll
cautiously picked up toad to foam
at tie mouth. Again, the uncouth ap-
pearanca of the creature has had much
to 90 with the feeling Of repulsion
with which ii has always been regard
ed Squat like Il toad is the phrase
by Which Milton describes the evil one
essayins to reach the ear Of Eve.
Superstition. i'm truth, has laid firm
hold on the toad's misshapen figure.
The belief, not Only in tie existence Of
toad stones but in their efficacy as
Il sovereign remedy for certain Ills
which is still common in parts OF the
| country. is of very ancient date
There is to lie found in the heads Of
old and great toads." says Fenton,
writing in 1863. "a stone they call
Aorax CT stelon. which. being used as
rings. gives forewurning of venom
In tie Londesborough collection is a
silver ring of the fifteenth century in
which one of these toad stones is set
'i'hcy We're supposed always to bear
on their surface Il figure resembling a
one may imagine. to tie scarab;eus
ornament OF the Egyptians. Another
early writer remarks. "A toad stone
allied 'erepan;iia, touching any part
envenoneA by the bite of rat, wasp.
spider CT Gtlier NenOmOuS beast. ceases
the pain and swelling thereof 1t
wAs believed, that when brought near
to poison the stone sweated and chang
d co!or. thus conveying to it's wear
rs 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 venomous
Wears get precious jewel in his head.
Is il not probable however, that the
poet, being q poet, is here alluding to
whe are really familiar with the APP
neHraHee of this humble batraclliun
will agree. than which there are few
more beautiful in nature?
Perhaps the most familiar supersti-
ti0:l in regard to to;tis is that. still rife,
Which supposes them capable of exist
ing for an indefinite period in the inte-
ior of rocks stones or hermetically
sealed cavities N,lmberless "authen-
tic instances of this remarkable pow
or have been brought forward from
ime TO time The following exam
sic from an old book is typical: In
49,; Mr. George Wilson. a mason. met
with IL toad. which he wantonly im-
nlred in Il stone wall that he was
tAen building. In the middle of the
wall he made a close cell of lime and
4 of
body and seemingly so plastered as to
prevent the admission of air. In 1859.
sixteen years afterward, it was found
necessary to open gap in this wall
for a passage of carts, when the poor
creature was found alive in its strong
hold. 1t seemed at first in q very tor
,id state, but it soon recovered anima-
ton and activity and, as if sensible Of
tne blessings OF frerdoi.: made its way
70 3 collection of stones and disappears
ed It is Known that toadS can exist
eor q iaig time without food. and it is
generally b. .ievtd that they live to
gree. -, and doubtless these two Pc
cu!i.:l.:!cs have had much to do with
tllc superstition in regard to their sup
fal!acy, ACWCver, was completely eX-
poses! by Dean Rucliland father Of
Prank Ecei:.ane, TIC ,c.o""t naturalist.
80 ,,1,,, 10 ti.e iroubie OF testing The
truth Of TIE theory by an exhaustive
series 6: c*nGriE!cnts 1t need only be
-. = IT,. "snn Of his victims STIR
.le1. ;!le s,,.;yai"tion
II ,c5clid y As ~ Slil]erstitious lore
tA.' io;.si l.. as 10 sss:a.i part 1t may
moi ! x;siie::""-. .i.4oWn ;!,:t the tleur-
de- sis cf F! Gee H'a& originally in shape
b toad. THUS at least runs the tale,
Clovis king OF France. bore on his ban.
ner thc device Of three toads, or 'botas,'
as they W1,'. called in old French, His
BAPTISM gave great ,uil.a.c to the Ar-
ans Who rcbelied and assembled
large host against Lia under King
(Nlcv;.- x,-b;,r an b;e. ,,,,,, -