davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

Boston respecting the raising of more
troops and in regard to a suggested in
crease of enlistment bounty, which Wash
ington did not favor
But the next birthday anniversary, Febru-
airy II. 1778 was to be still worse, for it
occurred while the commander-in-chiefw was
at his Valley Forge encampment. which
was the scene of so much suffering.
The birthday of 1779 was very busy
one, for on this point we have the direct
testimony Of Washington himself. In
letter to General Schuyler, dated at head
quarters, MiddlebrooR, IL February, 1179,
Washington tells of the busy time that he
had in Philadelphia, from which lie had
returned the week before, and of the press
of work in trying to catch up since his re-
turn.
In this year, on February H. some of
Washingtons friends celebrated his BIRTH
day at Winchester, Va.
In 1850 az birthday time Washington had
his headquarters at Morristown. On Feb
ruary IL Washington had the satisfaction
of seeing the log huts ready for his SOL
diers, who had been compelled to live in
tents during the winter up to that time.
In 1871 the scene shifts to New Windsor,
N. L, and on the day before his birthday
we find him outlining to Gen. Knox plans
for the Siege of New York and the CO.
| operation scheme with Rochambeau. The
| public celebration of Washington's birth
| day may be said to date from the dinner
! given by the Count Rochambeau to his fell
| low-officers While Washington was a New
Windsor. N. Y. On the day following
| Rochambeau wrote to Washington:
Yesterday Sunday was the anniversary
| of our excelencys birthday. We have put
! off celebrating that holiday until today by
reason of the Lords day. and we will cele-
| brate 1t with the sole regret that your ex-
| eellency be not q witness of the effusior
| and gladness of our hearts"
| In reply Washington wrote to Rocham-
| beau:
THE fiattering distinction paid to the an
| niyersary of my birthday is an honor for
| which / dare not attempt to express my
| gratitude. l cenfide in your excellency's
sensibility to interpret my feelings for this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

that king in the supposed cure of scrofuIa,
or kings evil" 1t is minted upon both
sides, and measures about four-tifths of an
inch in diameter. The ceremony of apply
Ing the cure was for the king, who sat
upon his throne as the patients were led in,
to stroke each In turn upon the face or
cheeks with both of his hands at once,
while they knelt before him. After doing
this amid ceremonies participated in by
his physicians and chaplains the king hung
one of the touch pieces suspended from
n cord or ribbon about the neck of each
patient and finally washed his hands which
last-named action was about the only sane
feature Of the performance.
At one time it was customary for a super
stitious Christian with a stomach ache 10
go hang in his church a little silver pend
ant hammered into the shape of full
length human figure with a very diaboical
expression Of countenance and with both
hands firmly clasped over the affected
organ. Jehovah was supposed to note from
this figure-about two inches high-that
John Smith had eaten too much ap
pies and he instinctively knew that John
was the very fellow represented; yet Ie-
hovah's ability to perceive John in the
original and, by aid Of the latter's superior
form as well as by his more lifelke gesticu-
lation to observe that he had misery of the
bread basket was for some reason doubted.
If someone had both ''tummy' ache and
head ache he had the figure fashioned to
represent him with one hand upon his
digestive and the other upon his reason
ing organ. If it was just pure, sheer
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18
DEEeS FOOT Eoe TOOTH ACHE

given 1t the shape of man" 1t was said
that "he who would take up a plant thereof
must tie dogge thereunto to pull 1t up,
which (the rooD will give a great Shrek
at the digging up. Otherwise. if a man
should do 1t, he would certainly die in a
short space thereafter. Thus, in Romeo
and Juliet, are the lines:
And shrieks like ma1drakes torn out of the earth
That living mortals hearing them mad"
Also, in Henry VI:
Would curses Kill as doth the mandrakes rroap
l would invent as searching, bitter terms
As curst, as harsh, as horrible TO hear"
Mandrake root was formerly in constant
use in amorous lamentations and love po-
lions and was worn I'm amuets to prevent
race suicide. According to Josephus its
most useful property was Its power TO
dispel demons, which could not endure
either its odor or its presence. II Is d
poisonous narcotic and was mentioned by
Dtocorides and other ancient writer's as
an anaesthetic for such as must be burned
or cut that they should not feel the burn
ing cutting
An exhibit illustrative of a method OF
healing in high repute during the seven
teeenth century Is a little phial of sym
pathetic powder" (Calcined copper suIphite
or Roman vitrioD, supposed to have the
power of curing a wound If applied, not to
the wound itself, but to the weapon infiict-
ing IT, or to piece of garment staine1
by blood from the wound. Alongside OF
TINS Will De SHOWN some or the aTmdry
ointment on weapon salve" similarly ap-
piled. This balm was prepared according
70 the following formula:
cor the moss grown on a human skull
two ounces; mumy (gum prepared from
mummies or dead bOdles) half an ounce;
human fat depurated two ounces; oyl OF
line seed twelve drachmes; oyl OF roses and
Bole ArmCniaCk one ounce. Mix them
and by a frequent agitation incorporate
them into an ungent. Into which a spin
ter Of wood the weapon stained with
the patients blood is to be immersed, the
wound during the time of its sanation being
defended from the injury of aer, bound
closely up with clean swathes and mund1-
fed etc These directions are laid down
in profound medical work written origin
ally by job. Bapt. Van Helmont," but
translated and ampliated by Walter
CharIeton. physician to the late king G6J0D
Small wonder that this majesty was later
one of the most valuable acquisitions is
touch plece''-a gold coin Of the time OF
Charles II Of England, such as used by
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

and for the obliging manner in which you
are pleased to announce it.
In 1882 Washington was in PHILADELPHIA
busy with the details of the proposed mill
tary movement south.
on February II, 1873, Washington was at
Newburg and wrote to. Joseph Jones, IN
Congress. in regard to the matter CT the al
mission of Vermont into the federal govern
ment as an independent state, and his hor-
ror at active coercion of the inhabitants OF
that section.
In 1884 Washington, who had been spend
Ing some time al Mount Vernon as prl-
vate citizen started off on his birthday to
visit his aged mother at Fredericksburg
The first popular celebration of Washing
tons birthday anniversary was made IN
Newport In 1884, when the bells were rung,
the houses were decorated and I'm the
evening an entertainment was given on
board an East India ship in the harbor.
At the time of the birthday anniversaries
of 1855 and 1856 Washington was at Mount
Vernon.
In 1888, on February II, Washington
wrote from Mount Vernon letter of con-
dolence to Benz. Lincoln on the loss of MS
son by death.
On February IL. 1870, Washington was in
New York and wrote an important letter
to Edmund Randolph, the Attorney General
In his journal Washington wrote on TINS
day: Exercised on horseback in the lore
noon The following gentlemen dine here
viz, Messrs. Leonard and Groal of Massa-
chusetts Huntington and SturgeS OF Con-
necticut Sylvester of New York, Snnick-
son of New Jersey, Gale of Maryland ana
Bland. Parker and Moore of Virginia.
In 1870 the Society of st. Tammany of
New York held meeting at which 1t was
unanimously resolved: That the I'D OF
February be from this day and ever after
commemorated by this society the birth
day of the illustrious George Washington
President of the United States of America.
This recommendation seems to have been
given consideration, for the next year the
day formally observed was February %
In 1871 Washington was at Philadelphia.
III X
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

Washington was trying 10 organize a Vir-
ginia company in preparation for the eX
petition to build fort on the Ohio.
couple of years later, in 1896, the an
niversary found Washington en- route from
Alexandria, Va, to Boston to find out from
Governor Shirley who was to command the
Virginia forces. Shirley was arbiter of milf
tary matters in the British colonies in
America and he declared in favor of Wash
ington,
On February II, 17G0, Washington was
at Mount Vernon busy with farming in
terests and with some building changes
The journal for this day says Monday
Feb'y 18th. Went out early myself and
continued with my people till l o'clock, in
which time we got the house about go
yards. Was informed then that Mr.. Digs
was at my house upon which l returned,
finding him and DR.. Laurie there.
His successive birthdays al this period
seem to have been but repetitions of this
day, with only variations in employment;
for we find him on
Feb. II, 176S, at Mount Vernon busy with
farming interests, visiting his plantations
and fox hunting. On this birthday the
journal merely says: IL. Went into the
Neck! and returned TO dinner" The Neck
had farm that was then leased to John
Sheridine. On February 10 Washington
Rid to Muddy hole, Doeg Run, and Mill. ="
On February IL, 1863. Washington wrote
In his diary: event ducking TIL dinner.
Mr.. Piper dned here ana Betsey cambridge
came home in the evening"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

belly-ache proper and bad one at that
the sufferer was wont to have merely the
affected part fashioned IN silver, that the
divine eye might lie the better concentrated
upon It, A collection of these Votive offer
ings, acquired by DIR. Flint, are expressive
not only of the cases described, but include
a pendant representing a human hand,
which appears as though 1t might have
been hung In church as an appeal TO divine
aid by some politician of old, who had just
received a delegation of his admirers.
The curator has also obtained some speci-
mems Of ordeal bark" otherwise known
as sassy or mancona. In western Africa,
where all diseases are believed to be due
to witchcraft, 1t is the function Of the ma
tive doctors TO point out the guilty witch,
In each case The suspect is condemned 70
partake of a strong drink of the sassy
concoction, and after doing so much ex-
claim. Am ! a witch?" quite as persistently
as Frank Daniels was once wont to ask
Am / a w zard?' Each time the indicted
one repeats this question one of his judges,
walking behind him-and with fine disregard
for the presumption of innocence" doc
trine-answers in stentorian voice: You
are a witch" If during this long-drawn-
out performance the sassy" treatment has
produced vomiting, the judges with great
gusto pronounce the defendant innocent,
and the recovery of the patient is sup
posed to follow the death of the witch. But
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

if the prisoner does not commit the nui-
sance prescribed the sassy dispensers
continue to pour their decoction down his
gullet until he expires.
A pair of the once famous Perkins trac-
tors Is another interesting acquisition. This
instrument, invented by DR.. Elisha Perkins,
Of Norwich Conn, who lived from 1I40 to
1899, comprises two short, conical pointed
instruments, each fattened on one side one
has the appearance of brass and the other
of steel, the two being applied simulta-
leously by drawing the points over the
affected parts for about twenty minutes at
each sitting. Wonderful cures by these
tractors were attested in the seventeenth
century by eminent jurists, professors ply
sicians and clergymen of both America and
Europe, and the cures were supposed to
result from galvanism.
An amulet valued as a protection against
cholera is a channels bag worn suspended
from the neck and containing a small
tube filed with mercury. The wearing
of this amulet had its origin a century ago
In Germany during a great cholera cpl
demc, during which the workmen in the
quicksilver mines of IStrio were noted to
enjoy remarkable immunity from the dis
ease 1t was at once concluded that quick
silver had some magic power in dispellnS
the pestilence and people commenced wear
ing ii In these little tubes hung about their
necl-S.
The mad stone"-as much in repute to-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18
Modern Methods in China.

Consul General Sammons of Niuchwang
pictures the introduction Of western meth
DDS into China by the Chinese themselves.
His letter describes a visit to the magistrate
of Hal Cheng. who is making many innoNa-
lions, and who desires TO purchase simple
textile machinery Of many kinds. With the
opening of public schools, the consul general
believes that there is market IN CHINA
for American desks and school supplies. As
an evidence that the modernization OF the
wonderful empire Of China has begun the
consul states that the Chinese magistrate
at Hal Cheng has turned two large Eudd-
hist temples and a temple OF ConfGcfils in
Hal Cheng into temples OF modern educa-
ton and modern prison methods.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

was moved to tears The ball was the
most magnificent yet given in this country.
One thousand two hundred persons were
present.
In 1879 washington was at Mount Yer
non and the citizens gave him a bali al
Alexandria But here we again strike the
curious confusion of the dates. The Nir-
giuians celebrated the old day; but Febru-
airy II falling on Sunday, they gave their
ball on the 18th. And this was notwith-
standing the fact that Washington had
grown accustomed to the elaborate Phila-
deIphia celebration on February - Wash
ington's diary says: February 12-Went
with the family to a BAH In Alexandria
given by the citizens of il and its vicinity
in commemoration OF my birthday
In 1893 was celebrated Washington's last
birthday. His diary says: February IL
Went up to Alexandra TO the celebration
of my birthday Many maneuvers We're
performed by the Uniform Corps and an
elegant ball and supper at night. February
u returned home"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

ebratcd this day in any unusual manner
nor To have been especially remembered
by others until he was fifty years old one
may patiently turn over HIS diaries and
volumes Of correspondence looking In vain
Tor direct references by Washington him
SELF TO his boyhood and young manhood
His first three birthdays were spent
UPON tIe Wakefield Farm. where he was
born. From 1873 to 1879 ne lived AT Nount
Vernon and from 1873 until he was sixteen
years old his home was near Fredericks-
burg. ana the week day February Ilths
had found George at work on his studies
His sixteenth birthday was again spent
at Mount Vernon, where his half brother
Lawrence, who had married was living
At this early age Georges school DAYS
were over. and he had become official slir-
veyor for Culpeper county, Virginia and
probably on some of his succeeding birth
days he was tramping over the mountains
with gun and Instruments.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

OF all the birthday anniversaries of his
youth and early manhood, however, that Of
his twentieth birthday must have stood
out above the others. for in the preceding
September the health of his favorite
brother Lawrence had failed and he went
with him to the Barbados. There George
contracted the smallpox and when he re-
turned TO Virginia In February it was
with a face pitted and SCARED by that
dread disease. The day was also saddened
by the knowledge that his brother had re-
ceived no benefit from the voyage, but had
returned home to die.
The birthday of 1851 occurred while
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18


ten i'm the morning and was
baptized We 81 Of April foIlowiug-Nlr.
Beverly Whiting and Captain Christopher
Brooke, Eodfathers. and Mrs Mildred
Gregory, godmother"
SO wrote George Washington Of himself
In his mothers Bible. The scene of
George Washington's birth was an unpre-
tentious home on the banks Of the Poto-
mac in Virginia at a place known as
Wakefield Farm. The site Of this house
IS marked today by monument erected
by the United States government in 1894.
Some effort would doubtless have been
made to preserve this house If II had been
standing in the years of Washingtons
greatness, but fl burned to the ground
when George was a small boy.
AS stated above Washington's birthday
was in 1872. on the 18th Of February. But
land officially made the change in calen-
dar which put future dates ahead eleven
days, thus bringing Washingtons ami
yersary on the 22d. This caused some con-
fusion, and Ii actually happened in certain
later years that some people celebrated
on the nth and others on the I'D. But the
fact that Washington himself long after
1I52 kept TO February IL shows how hard
II is for a man really to feel that when
he was born on the 1lth a change in the
calendar can make II the 22d.
Washington appears neither to have cell
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

At the time of his birthday of 1915 Wash
ington was busy enlisting and arming Vir-
ginian troops, but had not yet been APP
pointed commander-in- chief of the Ameri-
can army.
The birthday anniversary OF 17T7 found
Washington in camp at Morristown, n. j.,
where amid want and suffering he was try
ing to hold together the skeleton of his lit
tie army. On this day Washington wrote
long letter to Brigadier General Knox at
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18
No Attraction Then.

From the Pittsburg Gazette.
Jim-ewhats the best protection against
thieves and bUrglars?
Jack-Liying up to ones ineome!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

edy for hydrophobia. after the bite Of
dog-is shown in several forms. 1t is ap-
piled to the wound, from which 1t Is sup
posed TO absorb the poison, and after use
is soaked in warm milk and water. by
which liquids the virus is supposed 10 be
reabsorbed and the stone made ready for
a future application. One OF the specimens
collected is of halloysite, believed to be
famous madstones Of the world are COM
posed. Il aDsorbs moisture with aNidity
and will adhere to a moistened surface un-
I'll nearly saturated. A highly polished
seed of the Kentucky coffee tree, acquired
for the exhibit. was offered TO the Smith
sopian as a genuine maidstone Of proved
efficacy. for $1,000. Another specimen is
alleged maidstone said to have been
found in a deers stomach by an Apache In
dian. 1t is a pebble Of carbonate of lime
which may, in fact, have been swallowed
with food or water by deer as its sur
face is etched, as if, perhaps, by the
action of the gastric juices. 1t was sent
to the museum as a verta5le maidstone
by a citizen of New Mexico.
a large black spider inclOsed in a wal
nut shell, the latter being perforated at one
end to receive a ribbon to be hung about
the neck, Illustrates a treatment for ague,
esteemed from the time of Dioscorides, the
famous Greek physician. to the present.
Thus in Longfellow's 'Evangeline," we
read:
only beware OF the fever, my friends, beware Of
the feyeri
For ii Is like hat Of Acadan climate,
Cured by wearing spider hung around ones neck
in u nut SHE'LL
Another amulet is a small packet con-
tanning a copy of the Koran, carefully fold
ed, covered with leather and protected
from the moisture of the body by some
resinous application. This IS worn by the
Soudanese warriors as Il protection from
both wounds and disease.
y II
tor ttn tor h-l|. rlI1 nG1
an excellent specimen of snake slough, -
simply the epidermis of a snake. such as
bound around the foreheads and temples
of Englishmen. even unto today, TO cure
headache. It is also used to extract
thorns, being applied to the back of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

February %, 1871, was observed with still
greater formality at Philadelphia. This
being the last OF such celebrations while
Washington was TO be chief magistrate OF
the nation, unusual marks of respect and
affection were paid to him. 1t was in some
degree a parting scene. Mrs Washington
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

A rheumatism Candida partially COM
sumed arc light carbon-carried in the
pockets of Americans Of today as a cure
for rheumstism and neuralgia; a large disk
of copper, such as worn about the neck as
a preventive of neuralgia and cholera;
also a skein Of scarlet silk thread. tied in
the strictly prescribed nine knots and 10 be
worn about the neck as a cure for nose
bleed are among other modern items.
An odd treatment for toothache IS Il
Illustrated by an iron nail such as must be
used TO scarify the gum until II bleeds
after which the nail covered with blood
must be driven into wooden beam up TO
the head. Moreover there is a lock of hair
such as is often cut from the head OF a
child suffering from whooping cough, then
placed between slices of bread and fed TO
a dog. If while partaking the dog should
cough the disease is supposed to be i'm
mediately transferred to him.
In addition to the aforementioned left
hind shoe Of a crOSs-eyed mulc-tO be
carried In the pocket as a cure for cramps
or kept near the bedstead that IL may be
readily seized in case Of nocturnal attack
there is. last, but not least. the right foot
of a rabbit, such as is carried In the
pockets of hundreds of US superstitious
mortals of today a sovereign specific for
rheumatism. The label prepared for this
exhibit Omits, however to specify that the
left hind foot of the same gentle rodent Is
highly priced by poker players II the vic
tinl-that Is the rabbit-has been shot in
graveyard at the dark Of the moon.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS.
Copyright 1906. by John Elsrsth Watkins)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

go NIQUE and Of extraordinary inter-
est is a series OF exhibits illus
traung the representations OF
medicine, now being accumulated
for the National Museum by DIR.
lanes NJ. Fine curator OF medicine, II
already includes a large number of amulets
talismans and fetiches; also paraphernalia
employed I'm exorcism, invocation, incanta-
ton. the laying on Of hands and the royal
touch. Its most striking lesson is that
mankind I'm general IS today every 1ot as
euIlible, when imbued with the dread of
disease as IL was In ancient and medlaeVaI
times In fact the photograph of very
scientific and modern appearing domestic
medicine chest Of the wife Of Ph6TOah
Mentuhotep. 300 3. c.. seen In juxtaposi-
ton to the left hind shoe Of a cross-eyed
mule, such as esteemed by many Ameri-
cans Of today as "a sovereign remedy for
cramps. might suggest TO him who con-
templates the exhibit that the current Of
human understanding has been flowing
backward these five miilcuuiums past.
one Of the most striking Items In the
collection is an excellent specimen of the
KOu-Chi or vegetable lamb" a curious
plant which, although connected with the
ground by "a root, yct-as firmly believed in
England n century hacl-''rejoiced in
sort Of flesh and blood, browsed upon the
surrounding herbs by turning round upon
its axis, or root, until having devoured all
within reach St persisted a victim OF
hunger This peculiar vegetable growth.
known also 20 the Chinese as the golden
haired dog bears a striking resemblance
10 a small QuadrupeI even 10 being deusely
covered with soft gOlden-brOwn hair-llke
growth. II was esteemed as q drug of
marvellous properties by the pharmacists OF
Europe during the sixteenth and seven
teenth centuries, and was believed even by
physicians 10 Doe plant-animal In China
today 81 Is valued as a tonic as wen as a
remover of youth
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

The mad stone"-as much In repute to-
day as centuries ago. as an infallible rem