The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-14
STRANGE CURIO.
Clam Shell Bears Peculiar Figure of
 Woman.

From. the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
 A curio. the origin of which no scientist ever has been able to explain, ornaments the mantel in the parlor of Dr. Charles T-uckett, 8 St. Louis spiritualist. This curiosity is the exquisitely carved figure of a partially draped woman on the In- side of an ordinary river clam shell, which was found forty feet deep in clay near Lexington, Mo, a number of years ago.
 The figure looks as though it might originally have been fashioned out of potters clay, but trickling water and the action of chemicals far below the earth's surface have brought to pass a sort of petrification which causes the dainty bit to resemble alabaster. It has attached itself to the shell, which is also in state of semi-petriflcation and stands about half open.
 How the wonderful little figure got into the shell, by whose hand 1t was fash toned, and how it came to be below the earth, imbedded in ancient clay, is more than any of the several scientists who have studio dthe curio are able to say. It is hardly to be expected that the mys- tery of this strange find will ever be un- raveled. pr. Tuckett has long since given up the attempt and now permits the odd thing to lie on his mantel merely as an ornament. He shows 1t, however, to all his visitors.
 For q number of years the doctor prac- ticed magnetic healing, but has given 1t up naccount of his age. It was In this way that he obtained the queer curiosity which now lies on his paror mantel.
 He did not practice magnetic healing for money, but simply among his friends who are suffering. He was visiting d.. T II while there met a family in which the wife had been helpless from rheumatism for two years.
 The doctor treated her with his per sonal magnetism, and she was cured. The grateful husband then presented Dr. Tuckett with the strange curiosity before mentioned This pleased the doctor more than any other present could have done, and he now looks upon it one of his most cherished possessions. The manner in which it came to his hands. its baffling mystery, and it's peculiar beauty all ap peal to him very strongly and make him prize the queer old shell, with its cary ing very highly.
 The man who presented the strange bit of carving to the doctor told him how it was found. Some well diggers were drilling on a farm belonging to this man, when suddenly their drill struck some
  drew the drill and ran down hook on wire, by means of which the strange shell was drawn to the surface.
 It was coated with yellow clay, which they brushed off, and the dazzling white figure was exposed to view. Part of the clay covering was allowed to remain on the thing evidence of the place and manner of It's discovery. The dried and caked clay is still on the outside of the shell, though the inside where the cary ing is, has been washed and is now snowy white. with just tinge of gray something like a white billiard ball when 1t first begins to grow colored.
 The carving of the female figure Is an exquisite work of art. The figure is clining and leans on one elbow. A mass of softly folded drapery forms the back ground and a part of this drapery lies over the otherwise nuce figure.
 Every feature of the tiny face, which Is not more than half an inch long, IS wrought out with wonderful dexterity. the nose, the eyes, the lips, the ears. all in miniature. are perfect The face of the woman even wears a marked express sion of gentleness The form of the body and limbs is very shapely and artistic, as Is the general pose of the figure.