Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-06-23

SOiu, anu lHOSe Will great ulllCullS,
King Louis had him thrown into the
bastile, although still having the hope
that the ex-monk had actually discov
cred the alchemic process.
When it was finally found that Du-
bois was an impostor, that he had not
actually made any gold, but had
slipped the nuggets into the crucibie
under cover of his mysterious opera
lions, he was promptly ordered put to
death and was executed on the gal
lows, June %, 1887
Doctor Price was an alchemist who
lived in the reign of King George III.
of England. He conducted an expert
ment before the very eyes of the Eng
fish sovereign and apparently pro-
duced real gold. But when King
George appointed royal commission
to investigate he killed himself rather
than face that body.
The prodigality of the Romans ex-
cited the desire for gold, and led them
to pursue the art which promised it
instantly and abundantly Caligu!a
made experiments with view to OBJ
tanning gold from orpiment. Diocletian.
on the other hand, when he became
emperor, ordered that all books on
alchemy-and there were great num-
bers of them at that time-be burned.
A Fable of Alchemy.
Raymond Lully CT Lullius, was one
of the best known alchemists in the
Il.
story of him is that he changed
mass of $4,000 pounds Of quicksilver
into pure gold for King Edward l.
while upon a visit to London Venice
prohibited the study Of alchemy in
1883
In the seventeenth century there
lived one Spartagorosus who asserted
that he had discovered a method for
changing base metals into the precious
ones. He seemed to have ideas sim
liar to those OF some OF the financiers
of our present time. 1t is related that
Spartagorosus lndustriously spread
abroad the news of his discovery"
among the ignorant and credulous
mobiles, and eventually succeeded in
selling it to them FOR lump sum,
having previously arranged to leave
the country Immediately thereafter by
way Of a fishing smack. His plan sue
ceeded admirably and the deception
Melted him an amount equivalent to
about 100000.
1t nearly cost him his life, however,
for his fishing smack became be-
Gained, and came close to capture by
boats of the pursuing and indignant
mobiles. The latter had lost no time in
trying to manufacture gold, and when
the experiment failed set hastily out
in pursuit of the faker.
Thus the story of the lure of al
chemy goes through many crimsoned
page of history-ancient ar modern.
Gold, which early in the history of
the world became priced above all
other metals, has had a fascination
which has led men to do and dare all
to obtain it, and alchemy still has its
disciples.
Professor PeIew's Ideas.
Prof. Charles E. Pellew of Columbia
university in talking on Doctor Lange's
supposed discovery, said:
There have been several quite re-
cent instances of persons who honest
ly believed that they had found the
way to change iron or lead into gold
or silver. About twenty years ago
there was considerable agitation in
France which led to the formation of
the Hermatic society. This society
published journal and conducted
weighty examinations into the books
left by the old alchemists. There are
a number Of persons who live right
here in New York who still believe in
alchemy. | meet them from time to
time.
In the old days there We're many
alchemists who really believed in thei1
art, and there were many. more who
used 1T to deceive. There is a story
that illustrates this.
"a certain alchemist of the sixteenth
century named Botticher showed his
power in the presence of Augustus the
Strong, king of Saxony, and he or
dered Botticher to make him some
more gold. The latter protested thai
this would be placing an unfair
strain upon him, and thereupon the
king promptly clapped him into prison
Botticher protested that he needed
other metals and ingredients to wor2
with and they were supplied. Among
other things he had some white clay
The Birth of Porcelain"
Now at that time the art Of china
making was unknown in Europe. Blu
with this white clay that had beer
furnished him Botticher made the frs
pieces of porcelain ever seen in Sax
orly and sent them as propitiary Of
fering to Augustus. I am not in pc
sition to make you gold at present. HI
told the monarch, but can turn ou
some china for you And that wa!
how the manufacture of porcelain wa!
begun.
after radium," Professor Pellev
concluded, nothing seems too won
! !